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Birdie binge puts Allenby ahead at Bob Hope Classic

Actor Joe Pesci watches his shot during the first day of the Bob Hope Classic golf tournament at the Bermuda Dunes Country Club in Bermuda Dunes, California, on Wednesday. PHOTO: AP

Robert Allenby got the benefit of a late-morning tee time and went on a birdie binge in the afternoon on Wednesday on the way to a 9-under 63 and a two-shot lead in the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic.

Mark Calcavecchia and Craig Kanada were tied for second at 65. Phil Mickelson made his debut for the year with a 70, and defending champion Chad Campbell also had a 70.

The leaderboard initially had Allenby finishing at 12-under, but the volunteer tracking his score had done his math wrong. Allenby did his correctly on his official scorecard.

After the start was delayed anywhere from half an hour to an hour because of frost on each of the four courses used for the tournament, Allenby began his round at La Quinta Country Club around 11am, an hour later than scheduled.

Overnight temperatures dipped to minus 3oC and it was around freezing play was scheduled to begin at 8:30am as a record cold snap continued in Southern California.

Allenby began on the back nine of the 6,,456m La Quinta layout, was 4-under by the turn, then made five more birdies during a bogey-free round.

The 2007 Classic Girls, from left, Ayla Webb, Lindsey Sowles and Jessica Jean Arvan, watch a shot down the first fairway as golfers tee off on the opening day of the Bob Hope Classic golf tournament in Bermuda Dunes, California, on Wednesday. PHOTO: AP

His putter, which he had forgotten in his hotel room but had time to retrieve because of the frost delay, carried him.

Three of his birdies came from within 4 feet of the hole, but he made several 20-30 footers, including rolling in two from around 25 feet to birdie his final two holes.

The 35-year-old Allenby is coming off an eighth place finish in Hawaii last weekend. A native of Melbourne, Australia, he first played on the tour in 1993. He won twice in both 2000 and 2001 and has earned more than US$13.5 million in his career.

Fred Couples, the 1998 Hope champion, withdrew because of a sore calf. Mark Wilson replaced him.

David Duval, who shot a tour record-tying 59 on the final day to win the tournament in 1999 and hasn't finished higher than a tie for 48th in the event since 2000, shot an opening 67 this time.
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