{"id":373444,"date":"2011-04-08T01:53:01","date_gmt":"2011-04-08T01:53:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.net\/2011\/04\/08\/tour-report-fabulous-day-for-quiros-pgatour-com\/"},"modified":"2011-04-08T01:53:01","modified_gmt":"2011-04-08T01:53:01","slug":"tour-report-fabulous-day-for-quiros-pgatour-com","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/04\/08\/tour-report-fabulous-day-for-quiros-pgatour-com\/","title":{"rendered":"Tour Report: Fabulous day for Quiros (PGATOUR.com)"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

By Melanie Hauser, PGATOUR.COM Correspondent<\/i><\/em><\/p>\n

AUGUSTA, GA \u2014 Alvaro Quiros bounced into the press room with a huge grin on his face.<\/p>\n

His eyes were dancing as he scanned the room, glanced at the leaderboard and heard \u2014 for, oh, the kajillionth time in the last 15 minutes \u2014 that he had just polished off his best round at Augusta National. Best by 10 shots.<\/p>\n

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<\/p>\n

Quiros<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

As in a 7-under-par 65, which just happened to slide him into a tie for the 18-hole lead with Rory McIlroy.<\/p>\n

“I was talking with my caddie about it, walking the 18th hole,\u201d he said. “It looks like I was playing in the Sunday afternoon in the leading group.\u00a0 I mean, it was a very nice feeling.\u00a0 Because normally, I\u2019m watching this situation through the TV sitting on my sofa.\u201d<\/p>\n

He paused while everyone laughed.\u00a0 “But it was a very special moment I have to recognize.”<\/p>\n

Special? Try fabulous. Try amazing. Try unbelievable.<\/p>\n

Wasn\u2019t this the same guy who, when asked if he could follow in Seve Ballesteros\u2019 footsteps and win here, he replied, “Seve had the hands of an artist while I have the hands of a bricklayer?\u201d The guy who relies on bombs off the tee because “everybody knows I\u2019m not the most skillful guy with a 58 in the hands.”<\/p>\n

He smiled. “At the opposite situation, that\u2019s Seve.\u00a0 He was obviously one of the best ones in general, but especially with the short game.\u201d<\/p>\n

The engaging, gregarious and highly-entertaining Quiros had a little bit of everything Thursday afternoon. Length off the tee; soft shots around the greens. The ability to escape tough situations. Touch with the putter. Brilliant quips and perfect timing on their delivery.<\/p>\n

And, oh, a new attitude.<\/p>\n

Which explains how his previous Masters rounds \u2014 78-75 in 2009 and 75-75 in 2010 \u2014 were a distant memory.<\/p>\n

“The two previous years, I came to the Masters thinking that I can play well, shoot low,\u201d said Quiros, who won the Dubai Desert Classic earlier this year. ” And this one was my main mistake.\u00a0 My main mistake, because it\u2019s a golf course \u2011\u2011 it\u2019s too tough.\u00a0 Every single situation has to be measured.\u00a0 I mean, the risk, the reward; and today, I was very happy making pars.\u00a0 This is why probably shoot 65.<\/p>\n

“If I push myself to shoot 65 from the first tee, I tell you, probably it will be the same, 75, 76, like the previous years.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thursday he enjoyed the moment. And the pairing with Gary Woodland and Jhonattan Vegas. All are bombers. Quiros birdied the last two holes to get to 7-under; Woodland the last four to get to 3-under. He also got credit for an assist at 17.<\/p>\n

“Just before me, Gary Woodland holed the same putt almost on the same line, so I just have to follow the leader,\u201d Quiros grinned. “Follow the line.”<\/p>\n

Quiros couldn\u2019t have asked for a better pairing or a better first-tournament round with new caddie Gareth Bryn Lord, who used to caddie for Robert Karlsson. They chattered all day, which was by design.<\/p>\n

“He\u2019s a completely new caddie,\u201d Quiros said. “So we have to talk a lot of things.\u00a0 We need to improve.\u00a0 We need to figure out how we are going to do it.\u00a0 And this is why we are talking as much as you see me.\u00a0 And at the same time, when you are playing well, everything is happiness.”<\/p>\n

Why the change? He grinned again.<\/p>\n

“I changed \u2011\u2011 well, I know that it\u2019s difficult to believe \u2011\u2011 well, no, it\u2019s not difficult,\u201d he said. “Somebody who knows about golf will understand perfectly.<\/p>\n

“But it\u2019s like in soccer, or in football:\u00a0 When a team is playing bad, you cannot change the 22 players.\u00a0 The only thing that you can change is the coach, isn\u2019t it? \u201d<\/p>\n

He paused again for the chuckles. Impeccable delivery and timing, huh?<\/p>\n

” In my case, it\u2019s the same,\u201d he said. “You know, I cannot change myself.\u00a0 Well, I\u2019m trying to change myself but it doesn\u2019t work.<\/p>\n

So probably the only decent way I can change the cut is I change something.\u201d<\/p>\n

As for the next few days?<\/p>\n

“As I said, 65 is my best score by 10 shots, as the people said every single moment,\u201d he said, delivering yet another perfect line.<\/p>\n

“But my target will still be the same.\u00a0 Tomorrow, a drive on the first hole and make the cut.\u00a0 I will be very pleased to make my cut in my third appearance in the Masters.\u201d<\/p>\n

Click here to view Quiros\u2019 scorecard<\/a><\/i><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Mickelson\u2019s round OK, but leaves work<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n

By Helen Ross, PGATOUR.COM Chief of Correspondents<\/i><\/em><\/p>\n

AUGUSTA, Ga. \u2014 A year ago, Phil Mickelson hit what turned out to be the defining shot of his third Masters victory when he threaded a 6-iron between two pine trees and onto the green at the par-5 13th hole on Sunday.<\/p>\n

He ended up making birdie, not eagle, but no matter. It was vintage Mickelson and only served to add to the wildly popular lefthander\u2019s lore.<\/p>\n

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<\/p>\n

Mickelson<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

When Mickelson came to the 13th tee on Thursday in the first round of his title defense, his drive went left instead of right. He found himself waist-deep in the azaleas \u2014 abundant in hues that nearly matched the color of his pinkish-maroon shirt \u2014 but he still managed to punch out and make a solid par.<\/p>\n

In a way, that hole came to define Mickelson\u2019s first round of 2011, too.<\/p>\n

The 70 he posted was serviceable, even if it left the defending champ, who had shot 16 under last weekend on the way to victory at the Shell Houston Open, somewhat disappointed. He\u2019s five strokes off the lead held by Alvaro Quiros and Rory McIlroy.<\/p>\n

“It\u2019s okay, just okay,” Mickelson said. “I didn\u2019t shoot myself out of it but I didn\u2019t make up ground on the field the way I wanted to, so I\u2019ve got to go do it tomorrow.”<\/p>\n

Mickelson only hit four fairways \u2014 which left him dead last in that category among the field of 99. But he managed to find 12 greens in regulation and took 29 putts. He made three birdies and didn\u2019t drop a shot to par until the final hole.<\/p>\n

“I missed it in spots where I could get up and down, in spots that I knew the chip, I had a good angle, and that\u2019s why I was disappointed on 18,” Mickelson said. “I tried to miss it left, I\u2019m shooting right up the pin and it was a pretty easy shot and I didn\u2019t get it up and down.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“But I scrambled well today to stay in, but I also let four or five good birdie opportunities slide. I\u2019m going to have to capitalize on those opportunities tomorrow if I\u2019m going to go low.”<\/p>\n

Click here to view Mickelson\u2019s scorecard<\/a><\/i><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n

A real pain in the neck<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n

By Melanie Hauser, PGATOUR.COM Correspondent<\/i><\/em><\/p>\n

AUGUSTA, Ga. \u2014 Padraig Harrington never got warmed up Thursday morning.<\/p>\n

In fact, he almost didn\u2019t make it to the first tee.<\/p>\n

Harrington was swinging\u00a0 left-handed to loosen up when he felt the pain. He left range to get his neck worked on, made it to the tee and shot 77.<\/p>\n

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<\/p>\n

Harrington<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

“It just kind of clicked and I\u2019m not able to move to my right,\u201d he said. “\u2026 I went back in, I didn\u2019t get a warm\u2011up really at all.\u00a0 I spent about two minutes on the putting green and I really couldn\u2019t do my warm\u2011up at all because I had to get back out and get treatment and all that.\u201d<\/p>\n

He didn\u2019t take any painkillers.<\/p>\n

“I was hoping it would go away, it actually got worse on the course,\u201d said the three-time major champ. “Maybe I should have taken the pain killers. There you go. It didn\u2019t cross my mind.<\/p>\n

“But I couldn\u2019t keep my head in position at impact. I had to come up on all my shots. And when you\u2019re doing that you can hit it right and left.\u201d<\/p>\n

Harrington did birdie the fifth to get to 1 under but bogeyed the sixth and double-bogeyed the seven to jump to 2 over at the turn. He bogeyed his way around Amen Corner, birdied Nos. 15 and 16, then doubled the 18th.<\/p>\n

He knows it will take a miracle to make the cut.<\/p>\n

“Absolutely,\u201d he said. “You know, it\u2019s tough when you can\u2019t hit the shots, yeah.\u00a0 It would be just hard enough to make up the numbers, but as it is, you know, we\u2019ll see how it goes.\u201d<\/p>\n

This isn\u2019t the first time he\u2019s been troubled with neck pain. It started at the 2002 PGA at Hazeltine.<\/p>\n

“It\u2019s very much under control now,\u201d he said. ” I do a lot of work on it.\u00a0 And it doesn\u2019t give me too much trouble during the year.\u00a0 But it\u2019s always going to happen.\u00a0 You know, sometimes.\u00a0 And I would love to tell you that there\u2019s more I could do, let\u2019s say, aside from cutting my head off.\u201d<\/p>\n

But there isn\u2019t. And, no, withdrawing wasn\u2019t an option.<\/p>\n

“I wouldn\u2019t,\u201d he said. “That\u2019s just my nature.\u00a0 I would always have a go.\u00a0 But it wasn\u2019t much fun.\u201d<\/p>\n

The toughest thing? He felt like he could contend this year.<\/p>\n

“It\u2019s very disappointing,\u201d he said. “I prepared very well, I was in good form, but it was not to be.\u00a0 Such is life.”<\/p>\n

Click here to view Harrington\u2019s scorecard<\/a><\/i><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Choi in contention again at Augusta<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n

By Brian Wacker, PGATOUR.COM Site Producer<\/i><\/em><\/p>\n

AUGUSTA, Ga. \u2014 Thanks to five birdies over his final six holes, K.J. Choi is exactly where he was a year ago at this time, only it\u2019s the first round and not the last.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Choi, who tied for fourth last year following a final-round 69, opened this year\u2019s Masters with a 67 that has him just two shots off the pace of Rory McIlroy and Alvaro Quiros.<\/p>\n

One reason why Choi, who was also third in 2004 and tied for 15th in 2003, has had success here is because Augusta National reminds him a lot of Seoul Country Club, where he won the 1999 Korean Open. Both venues have tall pine trees and the greens are firm and the winds gusty.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel comfortable because I know where to hit the ball on to the green and I know where to attack the fairways,\u201d said Choi, who had seven birdies on the day. \u201cThe fact that there are so many galleries here on both sides of the hole, it really enables me to focus. It\u2019s easy to set the target.\u201d<\/p>\n

One other thing that might help Choi this week: Putting three hybrids in the bag for this tournament.<\/p>\n

Choi said it really didn\u2019t help him much on Thursday because he got off to a slow start, but once he gets used to them they should make a difference.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith any new club and any new routine you pick up, you need at least three weeks to get accustomed to it,\u201d Choi said. \u201cIt\u2019s been two weeks since I\u2019ve put the clubs in the bag.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just need to stay patient and keep using the clubs and I think it will be good from there on.\u201d<\/p>\n

Click here to view Choi\u2019s scorecard<\/a><\/i><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Almost a great round<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n

By Melanie Hauser, PGATOUR.COM Correspondent<\/i><\/em><\/p>\n

AUGUSTA, Ga. \u2014 He was two holes from a great round. But Y.E. Yang just couldn\u2019t hang on.<\/p>\n

The 2009 PGA champion bogeyed the last two holes to fall out of what would have been a share of the first round lead. Instead, he finds himself in an all-Korean share of second with K.J. Choi going into the second round.<\/p>\n

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<\/p>\n

Yang<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Yang was 4 under on the front nine and, after dropping a shot at No. 10, he eagled the 13th to get to 5 under, then birdied the 15th \u2014 two putts from 12 feet \u2014 and No. 16 \u2014 with another 12-footer \u2014 to tie Rory McIlroy.<\/p>\n

“I saw myself in the leaderboard tied with the leader,\u201d he said. “I guess I got a little bit overzealous in the last two holes.\u201d<\/p>\n

On No. 17, he drove\u00a0 left into the trees, hit a hybrid into the bunker and missed the par putt.<\/p>\n

“It\u2019s a bit disappointing to finish off two bogeys in a row, and go back down to behind the leader,\u201d he said, ” but at the same time still a lot of golf left, and it\u2019s been an overall good experience so far and I hope that it doesn\u2019t end prematurely.\u00a0 I hope it goes along for three more days.”<\/p>\n

As for two Korean players tied near the top?<\/p>\n

“It\u2019s a very good course for Koreans, for us,\u201d he said. ” It\u2019s atypical of a Korean course, so if you\u2019re on a good day, I think that it\u2019s to our advantage, really, this course is.<\/p>\n

“So, and it definitely builds on the confidence and the momentum.\u00a0 Although it\u2019s a year apart, still, coming over here and putting on a good performance in one of the best arenas possible I think it only builds upon your confidence.<\/p>\n

“Hopefully, it doesn\u2019t dwindle and I can ride upon it for three more days.\u201d<\/p>\n

Click here to view Yang\u2019s scorecard<\/a><\/strong><\/i><\/em><\/p>\n\n

Immelman in familiar surroundings<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n

By Helen Ross, PGATOUR.COM Chief of Correspondents<\/i><\/em><\/p>\n

AUGUSTA, Ga. \u2014 There\u2019s something about Augusta National that brings out the best in Trevor Immelman.<\/p>\n

The man who won the 2008 Masters spent the better part of the next two seasons nursing an injury to his left wrist that required surgery in October of 2009. In each year, though, the South African posted his second-best finish of the season at Augusta National \u2014 a tie for 20th in his title defense and joint 14th in 2010.<\/p>\n

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<\/p>\n

Immelman<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

So it should come as no surprise to see Immelman on the leaderboard again after Thursday\u2019s first round of the 75th Masters. Immelman\u2019s 69 left him in a tie for seventh, four strokes off the lead held by Rory McIlroy and Alvaro Quiros.<\/p>\n

Immelman got things off to a good start Thursday with a birdie on the first hole. But he gave that back with a bogey at No. 6 and was still even par when he made the turn after he followed a birdie at the eighth with another dropped shot at the ninth.<\/p>\n

Everything changed, though, on the back nine as Immelman started to hit his stride. He eagled the 15th with a driver and 5-wood to 6 feet, then ended the round the way it started with a birdie at the difficult 18th.<\/p>\n

“I started off a little bit shaky maybe is the right word,” Immelman said. “(I) was kind of just missing my shots, wasn\u2019t really committing very well, but my short game, really, helped me on the front side.<\/p>\n

“And then from about 10 onward I started feeling a little bit more comfortable and hitting some shots out of the middle, and then I made a great 3 on 15. And then I had three putts in a row inside 10 feet the last three holes.<\/p>\n

“All in all very pleased with my round.”<\/p>\n

And as for the wrist injury? Immelman is finally feeling no pain \u2014 literally, as well as figuratively \u2014 and it\u2019s showing in his performance on the golf course.<\/p>\n

Immelman has only missed one cut this year, and it came in his 2011 debut in Phoenix. Since then, the two-time PGA TOUR champ has cashed five straight paychecks and came to Augusta on the heels of his best finish of the season, a tie for 12th at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.<\/p>\n

“My wrist is all the way back,” Immelman said. “I would say this year, from about November, December last year, I didn\u2019t have to worry about it as much, and I could go ahead and start practicing stuff I wanted to practice. At that point it just became a matter of me getting in the right practice and trying to get rid of all the bad habits I got into playing injured.<\/p>\n

“So that\u2019s been a process, and it\u2019s been pretty good on the range.\u00a0 And I\u2019ve started taking it better to the golf course.\u00a0 You know, every week seems to be getting a little bit better, but I\u2019ve still got a long way to go to get back to where I was.”<\/p>\n

Click here to view Immelman\u2019s scorecard<\/a><\/i><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Leaderboard update: Yang in with 67<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n

AUGUSTA, Ga. \u2014 Thanks to three birdies in a four-hole stretch in the middle of the back nine, Y.E. Yang is just two shots back of the lead after an opening-round 67 Thursday.<\/p>\n

Yang posted birdies on Nos. 13, 15 and 16 and finished the day with seven birdies in all. He also matched his career-low score here \u2014 he shot 67 in the opening round last year before finishing in a tie for eighth, which was also his best finish in the Masters.<\/p>\n

That was also the only other time Yang broke 70 in 10 previous rounds at Augusta National.<\/p>\n

The only other player on the course with a chance to catch Rory McIlroy is Alvaro Quiros. He\u2019s 5 under with three holes to play. He\u2019s made six birdies and one bogey so far.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Ricky Barnes is three shots back, along with Matt Kuchar, after just finishing off a 68. Eight others are currently at 3 under with play winding down.<\/p>\n\n

Kaymer shoots 78, puts No. 1 in play<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n

By Helen Ross, PGATOUR.COM Chief of Correspondents <\/i><\/em><\/p>\n

AUGUSTA, Ga. \u2014 Martin Kaymer didn\u2019t exactly play like the No. 1 golfer in the world on Thursday during the first round of the 75th Masters Tournament.<\/p>\n

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<\/p>\n

Kaymer<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The 26-year-old German shot 78 \u2014 his highest round ever at Augusta National. So suddenly the perplexed Kaymer is in danger of missing his fourth straight cut at the Masters.<\/p>\n

In fact, only four players shot higher than the enormously talented German did, and two of those play the Champions Tour.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor me it was very difficult,\u201d he said. \u201cEvery day that I played here was a tough day so far. So, yeah, \u2026 I was disappointed, because there\u2019s some golf courses that suit you and some they just don\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

Should Kaymer make another early exit, there are plenty of players waiting in the wings to take over the No. 1 spot in the world. In fact, five could end Kaymer\u2019s reign at six weeks come Sunday and here are the scenarios.<\/p>\n

* Lee Westwood needs to win.<\/p>\n

* Phil Mickelson needs to win and have Kaymer finish lower than solo second.<\/p>\n

* Luke Donald has to win and have Westwood finish lower than solo second and Kaymer finish outside the top three.<\/p>\n

* Graeme McDowell needs to win and have Mickelson finish lower than solo second, Westwood finish outside the top four and Kaymer finish outside the top 55 or miss the cut.<\/p>\n

* Tiger Woods needs to win and have Mickelson finish lower than solo second, Westwood finish outside the top four and Kaymer finish outside the top 18.<\/p>\n

Kaymer, who has won five times in the last 15 months \u2013 including the PGA Championship, is at a loss to explain his lack of success at Augusta National.<\/p>\n

He decided to change his preparation this year \u2013 taking the last two weeks off. Kaymer spent the first back on the practice range back home in Scottsdale and the second in the Augusta area playing golf with his father and his brother.<\/p>\n

Still, the frustration continued. In seven rounds now at Augusta National, Kaymer has only broken par once and he has never shot in the 60s.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was trying to hit good golf shots today and not playing very well,\u201d Kaymer said. \u201cMy putting was okay, I think my short game was definitely better than the last three, four, years, but I just didn\u2019t hit the ball as good as the last two or three years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n

So what\u2019s next for the frustrated Kaymer? To be honest, he\u2019s not really sure. But he might see if he could pick the brain of his countryman Bernhard Langer, who has won two Masters.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s not really a game plan,\u201d Kaymer said when asked about Friday\u2019s second round. \u201cI think that I don\u2019t really know how to play the golf course. I don\u2019t know, I can think about another hour or hour and a half or two hours, and I just don\u2019t really find a solution.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think that maybe I got to sit down with Bernhard Langer later and ask him. \u2026 I think that I can only get good advice from him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

Kuchar keeps the hot hand going<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n

By Mike McAllister, PGATOUR.COM Managing Editor<\/i><\/em><\/p>\n

AUGUSTA, Ga. \u2014 In his first eight starts on the PGA TOUR this season, Matt Kuchar has six top-10 finishes. While he hasn\u2019t yet won an event in 2011, no other player has put himself in contention more times through the first three months.<\/p>\n

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<\/p>\n

Kuchar<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

So anybody surprised that Kuchar went out Thursday in the first round of the Masters and shot a 4-under 68 to put his name on the front page of the leaderboard \u2026 again?<\/p>\n

Certainly, Kuchar isn\u2019t.<\/p>\n

“I feel like that\u2019s the way my golf game has gone,” Kuchar said. “I feel like I\u2019ve put in great word with (coach) Chris O\u2019Connell and he\u2019s made me a better, more consistent player.<\/p>\n

“I feel like I don\u2019t have to go to the range and hope I can find it. I feel like I can, most of the time, know where it is and know where the ball is going. It\u2019s a great feeling.”<\/p>\n

Kuchar started quickly on Thursday, finding himself 4 under through eight holes. A bogey at the ninth derailed his momentum but he put together consecutive birdies at the 14th and 15th holes before finding himself between clubs on the par-3 16th and guessing wrong on the wind.<\/p>\n

Still, so solid was Kuchar that he “didn\u2019t feel like I was doing a whole lot of grinding; it felt like a lot of good opportunities,” he said.<\/p>\n

A Kuchar win at Augusta would be a popular one, since he was a star golfer at Georgia Tech, the alma mater of Bobby Jones.<\/p>\n

But in four previous Masters appearances, Kuchar has never finished inside the top 20. His 68 on Thursday was just the second time in 15 career rounds at Augusta National that he\u2019s broken 70.<\/p>\n

Still, he\u2019s never had quite the hot hand as he does now. He finds himself three shots behind Rory McIlroy.<\/p>\n

“I\u2019m really pleased with where I finished,” he said. “It\u2019s a great spot. Played solid golf. Rory is 7 under \u2014 that\u2019s fantastic.<\/p>\n

“The conditions were there. \u2026 If ever you could shoot a good score, it would be today. But 7 under is pretty amazing.”<\/p>\n

So would a seventh top-10 finish be for Kuchar this season. Of course, a win would be better.<\/p>\n

Click here for Kuchar\u2019s scorecard<\/a><\/strong><\/i><\/em><\/p>\n\n

Snedeker pleased with position, life<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n

By Helen Ross, PGATOUR.COM Chief of Correspondents<\/i><\/em><\/p>\n

AUGUSTA, GA. \u2014 With three top-10s in eight starts this season, Brandt Snedeker thinks he\u2019s playing the best golf of his career right now.<\/p>\n

He doesn\u2019t attribute it to a swing change, though. He hasn\u2019t altered his putting stroke either.<\/p>\n

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<\/p>\n

Snedeker<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Actually, Snedeker will tell you he\u2019s simply more comfortable in his own skin these days. And a big reason is that he became a father for the first time on March 3 when his wife Mandy delivered the couple\u2019s daughter, Lily.<\/p>\n

“I feel great,” Snedeker said. “\u2026 I feel really comfortable with where I am in my life. I also have a newborn at home, so that\u2019s exciting. Gives me something else to focus on instead of my golf game so much, so I don\u2019t live and die by Thursdays and Fridays anymore, which is nice.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“Just having a lot more fun with it, so I feel like this is going to be a really good year.”<\/p>\n

Snedeker certainly got off to a good start at the Masters on Thursday as he made four birdies and dropped just one shot to par. His 69, which was his third round in the 60s in 11 attempts at Augusta National, left him tied for sixth, four strokes off the lead.<\/p>\n

“I drove it really good today and made a few putts here and there,” Snedeker said. “I missed a few short ones which kind of frustrates me because I played really well from tee to green.\u00a0 But overall you can\u2019t complain with that opening round, and I\u2019m going to go home and watch it on TV.”<\/p>\n

Snedeker has success at Augusta National to drawn upon after tying for third in 2008. He started the final round alone in second, two strokes off the pace being set by Trevor Immelman, but Snedeker\u2019s bid to catch the South African vanished in a 77 that Sunday.<\/p>\n

On Thursday, though, the Huck Finn lookalike was extremely solid as he played in the fourth group off the tee. He hit 15 of 18 greens and 12 of 14 fairways while taking 32 putts.<\/p>\n

“It was out there for you,” said Snedeker, who answered his only bogey by reeling off three straight birdies starting at No. 13.\u00a0 \u201cIt was soft this morning. You were able to go out there and hit a hybrid into 15. It rolled to about four feet.\u00a0 That\u2019s not going to happen later on in the week,<\/p>\n

“So I enjoyed the nice, soft conditions and had a bunch of good looks. The greens are rolling perfect. They\u2019re not too crazy quick yet. But I\u2019m sure this afternoon they\u2019ll be moving. Took advantage of a good morning and a good tee time.”<\/p>\n

Click here to view Snedeker\u2019s scorecard<\/a><\/strong><\/i><\/em><\/p>\n\n

By Melanie Hauser, PGATOUR.COM Correspondent AUGUSTA, GA \u2014 Alvaro Quiros bounced into the press room with a huge grin on his face. His eyes were dancing as he scanned the room, glanced at the leaderboard and heard \u2014 for, oh, the kajillionth time in the last 15 minutes \u2014 that he had just polished off \u2026\"\"<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n

Continue Reading:
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By Melanie Hauser, PGATOUR.COM Correspondent AUGUSTA, GA \u2014 Alvaro Quiros bounced into the press room with a huge grin on his face. His eyes were dancing as he scanned the room, glanced at the leaderboard and heard \u2014 for, oh, the kajillionth time in the last 15 minutes \u2014 that he had just polished off his best round at Augusta National. Best by 10 shots<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-373444","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard"],"yoast_head":"\nTour Report: Fabulous day for Quiros (PGATOUR.com) - Ghanamma.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/04\/08\/tour-report-fabulous-day-for-quiros-pgatour-com\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"Tour Report: Fabulous day for Quiros (PGATOUR.com) - Ghanamma.com\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"By Melanie Hauser, PGATOUR.COM Correspondent AUGUSTA, GA \u2014 Alvaro Quiros bounced into the press room with a huge grin on his face. 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