Huh Got Off to Good Start with 4 Under

Huh Suk-ho (29) got off to a good start in the first round of the 2002 Japan PGA Tour (200 million yen for rewards), ranking himself at 5th.

The first round was held yesterday at the Miyajaki Phoenix Country Club. Huh recorded 6 birdies with 2 bogeys, putting himself on the same plane with Garcia (Spain).

With rains from time to time, Suh did a bogey in the 10th hall (par 4), from which the round started. In the 11th hall, he made up for the loss with a birdie, and snatched up the second birdie in the 13th hall.

Continuing the par save, Huh encountered a crisis in the 18th hall (par 5). His shot fell into the back of the pavilion. Moreover, his third shot landed on the bunker. Huh broke through these hardships with the far save. Deep into the first round, he succeeded in getting out 4 birdies and 1 bogey, advancing himself to the second round with good records.

Huh has won the championship of the Japan PGA Tour already once this year. Next month, teamed up with Choi Kyung-joo, he will represent South Korea in the last game of the World Golf Championship Series.

Kim Jong-duk (41) also performed well despite the injury of his right arm muscles, earning himself the 10th place (3 under with 68 strokes).

On the other hand, Tiger Woods (USA) got off to a bad start with 4 bogeys, giving the first place to Clark (Ireland). He just got ranked at 32.

Choi had a problem with putting, wrapping up the first round, ranked at 43rd. Choi`s performance with the driver shot and iron shot was not bad. What put him in the hot water was the green`s feed where he lost 7 chances of making a birdie.

After the game, Choi said, "I took off 2 weeks. I guess that`s why I had a difficulty in putting. But I think I can make up for the lost in the second round. I`m in good condition."

Young-Sik Ahn ysahn@donga.com