Britain-Ireland holds off Continental Europe rally to retain Vivendi Seve Trophy

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The Britain & Ireland team retained the Vivendi Seve Trophy, but only after a nerve-wracking final day in France.

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PA Sport and Associated Press 

Series: European Tour

Britain & Ireland held off a strong fightback from Continental Europe in Sunday’s singles to retain the Vivendi Seve Trophy 15 1/2 to 12 1/2.

The defending champions had a commanding five-point lead heading into the final day. But Continental Europe won Sunday’s first five singles to level the contest with each team on 11 1/2 points.

It took narrow wins by Ian Poulter, Scott Jamieson and Mark Foster to clinch victory.

“Losing five and a half points out of the first six was a big body blow to the team,” Britain & Ireland Captain Paul McGinley said. “But fortunately the guys at the end came through when I really needed them.”

Spanish golf great Seve Ballesteros created the event, a biennial competition, to help Europeans get more match-play experience outside the Ryder Cup. Continental Europe captured the inaugural event in 2000, but Britain & Ireland have since won the trophy six straight times.

Thomas Bjorn beat Lee Westwood 2 and 1 to earn the first point and spur Continental Europe’s comeback. The two-time winner on the 2011 European Tour made four birdies and capitalized on three bogeys from Westwood to rally from 3 down.

“Lee came out this morning and was sensational the first few holes,” Bjorn said. “It was just a case of hanging on and hanging on, but a couple of mistakes and it let me back in. I played some nice stuff near the end, but it was a hard-fought battle.”

Francesco Molinari outplayed Jamie Donaldson 4 and 3. The Italian had a bogey-free day, sinking three birdies to add a second point for Continental Europe.

Anders Hansen edged Simon Dyson by a hole and was Continental Europe’s best player, winning three out of four points in the event.

Alexander Noren cruised to a 4 and 3 win over Robert Rock. The Swede was 5 up at the turn and protected his lead on the back nine despite two bogeys.

Miguel Angel Jimenez defeated Darren Clarke 4 and 2 to tie the contest at 11 1/2 to 11 1/2. The Spanish veteran made the difference by winning four holes on the back nine as the match was still all square at the turn. British Open winner Clarke performed poorly, making five bogeys and a double.

Nicolas Colsaerts trailed by two but the Belgian birdied the 15th and holed an eagle on the 17th to halve his match with David Horsey.

Jamieson beat Pablo Larrazabal by a hole to give Britain & Ireland a 13-12 lead. Larrazabal had three bogeys and a double bogey to go 4 down after 10 holes and could not fully recover despite three birdies and an eagle on the back nine.

“We knew they were going to come out hard and fast,” Jamieson said. “They certainly got the momentum going. I saw on the 15th green the first five matches and that we had lost them all.”

“I knew my point was probably going to count and be a deciding one. I was proud that I hung in there and made it count.”

Poulter edged Matteo Manassero by a hole. The Italian teenager led until the 15th but Poulter birdied the last three holes to fire Britain & Ireland to a 14-12 lead.

“Matteo played very solid today,” Poulter said. “He made me have to win my match. I was aggressive in the last few holes and it paid off.”

The World Match Play champion was the best player for Britain & Ireland, earning four out of five points.

“What a man to have on a team,” McGinley said about Poulter. “It’s not just the way he plays golf and his love of match play, but his personality is infectious around the place. Absolutely infectious.”

“I would have him in the team every day of the week. No doubt about that. And I think the Americans would too if they could.”

Foster birdied the 17th and parred the 18th to beat Raphael Jacquelin by a hole and secure victory for Britain & Ireland.

Peter Hanson halved his match with Ross Fisher to hand Continental Europe a 6-4 win in Sunday’s singles, but that was not enough to prevent Britain & Ireland from clinching the trophy.

Britain & Ireland entered the contest as underdogs as they were missing the top-ranked Luke Donald and the last two U.S. Open champions, Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell.

All the players on the Continental Europe team were in the world top 100, while Britain & Ireland had three players ranked outside the top 100 -- Foster, Rock, and Jamieson.

“I’m kind of relieved,” McGinley said. “We were underdogs, then we became strong favorites going into the singles and we just about got over the line.”

Horsey finished all square against Colsaerts to halt Europe's run of five straight wins at the start of the day, while the European fightback further derailed when Jamieson finished 1 up against Larrazabal to swing the momentum back in B&I's favor.

"It feels amazing and I'm pleased for the boys," said Foster after his victory-clinching round. "I was playing really well and then lost the pace of green for four or five holes and I left Raphael back in and I knew I was in for a game then and I had to refocus. It would have hurt a lot if we hadn't won today and I'm glad to pull through."

McGinley was delighted that his cocktail of experienced hands and rookies had come good when the pressure was on -- and in particular reserved special praise for Vivendi Trophy newcomer Jamieson.

"Lucky I had the team well balanced out, and had not just experience but guys in form balanced throughout the team, so they came through in the end," McGinley said. "Scott Jamieson's match was huge, that kind of turned the tide in our favor. I actually focused mostly on Scott's game, I walked every shot with him from the 14th. I knew how pivotal that match was going to be and he was brilliant.

"I wanted Scott to keep playing pretty conservatively coming in there because it was difficult conditions, and he did exactly as I said,” he explained. "I'm so proud of the way he's come through this week, and he's just one guy. David Horsey as well, a huge half point there.

"I get a huge sense of satisfaction seeing someone like Scott or David Horsey coming though the way they did. Mark Foster as well, it was pivotal that his game stayed one up, that it stayed in the red or it stayed in the green and it never got into the blue, and he did that. And of course Ross Fisher was a rock at the end."

McGinley always had faith in his players to produce a strong finish despite their nightmare start to the final day.

Sunday singles:
Thomas Bjorn, CE, def. Lee Westwood, BI, 2&1
Anders Hansen, CE, def. Simon Dyson, BI, 1 hole
Francesco Molinari, CE, def. Jamie Donaldson, BI, 4&3
Alexander Noren, CE, def. Robert Rock, BI, 4&3
Miguel Angel Jimenez, CE, def. Darren Clarke, BI, 4 & 2
Nicolas Colsaerts, CE, halved David Horsey, BI
Scott Jamieson, BI, def, Pablo Larrazabal, CE, 1 hole
Ian Poulter, BI, def. Matteo Manassero, CE, 1 hole
Mark Foster, BI, def. Raphael Jacquelin, CE, 1 hole
Peter Hanson, CE, halved Ross Fisher, BI

Pre-Practice Transcripts: August 25th

Posted Aug 25, 2008

By BaltimoreRavens.com



Featuring the pre-practice interview of head coach John Harbaugh.


Head Coach John Harbaugh

On the quarterback situation: “We would like to define it. It would be great to define it. But, right now, Kyle [Boller] has got the shoulder issue that he had two days before the game. And we thought he’d be able to throw in the game, but got out in the pre-game and he couldn’t really throw. He’s going to throw lightly today – all passes under 20 yards – to see how it feels. And we’ll know more after that. Of course, Troy [Smith] is still sick, so he won’t be here today. He’s on some sort of antibiotics, I guess. I don’t know exactly what it is. But, we expect him to be ready to play in the game, but it’s not certain.”



On if rookie QB Joe Flacco is back in the starting quarterback competition: “He’s in the mix because we have two quarterbacks right now, who aren’t able to practice today. So, Joe’s going to take all the reps. I don’t think it’s changed. The big picture hasn’t changed dramatically in the sense that he’s still a rookie, and we’ve got two guys who were ahead of him going into the situation that came up right before the game. That’s kind of where we’re at.”



On if Flacco would start against Atlanta if QB Troy Smith was unable to: “If Troy’s not well enough, and Kyle isn’t well enough to throw, then of course Joe is going to go. But we would like for those two guys to get in the game.”



On when a decision about a starting quarterback for Thursday’s game would be made: “We’d be open until right up until game time with those guys. They’ve practiced all through camp, so we need to look at Troy. I don’t think that’s changed from what we talked about last week. We need to find out more about Troy, so if Troy can go he’s going to play a lot in the game. Kyle is still very viable in the mix. He’s had really good practices all through training camp, and we’d like to play him also in the game. Joe got the whole game, so he got the kind of reps we were hoping to get him through training camp. But if it works out where one or both of those guys can’t go, it’s going to add reps onto Joe.”



On if Smith is being evaluated and how much other offensive starters will play: “We’re in a unique situation because our starting offensive line is so young, and you have two tackles that haven’t played. Those two tackles, they need to play anyway, so they’re going to play a significant amount of time in this game. And we want our whole offensive line together, even though those [veteran] guys have played a lot. I don’t think it makes a lot of sense to break up an offensive line when you’ve got a quarterback in there who’s fighting for a job. So we’ll probably play the offensive line as much as we play at least one of the quarterbacks and just take it from there. We haven’t worked out exactly what reps or what quarters guys will play until we see who’s going to be able to play.”



On if the short week factors into a decision of which starters play: “No, it can’t. We’d like for it to happen, but it can’t.”



On what he can evaluate from Flacco’s play against St. Louis: “The curve for Joe has been pretty dramatic. The positive thing about Joe, when you look at it, I guess you go back to the very first practice, and then you go to the New England game, and you just kind of compare them to last week. He’s operating the offense pretty effectively, and the offense is operating pretty effectively. Now, making plays, getting first downs, scoring points, doing all the things that you have to do to win games on offense in the NFL, that’s something that still has to be accomplished. That’s the final product. But, being in position to do that, he’s done a really good job of that, so I think he’s progressing really well.”



On how long Smith would play against Atlanta, if he plays: “I think that remains to be seen. I hate to put a number on it, but I’d say at least a quarter and a half, and we’ll take it from there.”



On Smith’s illness: “They described it to me as a tonsil issue. They say it’s tonsillitis. I don’t know. But it’s some issue with the tonsil, and that’s as far as I know. [Senior VP of PR Kevin Byrne: “Tests call it a viral illness.”]



On whether he can confirm if Smith still has his tonsils: “He has his tonsils. I can say that I am 90 percent sure because one is swollen.”



On whether the quarterback situation has been a hindrance to the team: “I don’t want to say it’s been hindering us moving forward because you just move forward. You take the situation as it is and you attack it every single day. As coaches, what we tend to do is take for granted how far we’ve come and we say that we need to get this next thing accomplished. That’s where we are at. Where we’re at is where we’re at, and we just have to get the next thing accomplished. To say that we had a schedule or had a pace, I don’t know that we did. I think we are just trying to get better every day.”

On if he is pleased with special teams: “No. We can play better in that area. I’m really pleased with how they are playing. I’m not any more pleased with the special teams, honestly, not any more pleased with the special teams than the offense or the defense. Now the results on the special teams have been better. Maybe we’ve come further as far as doing the kinds of things that you do to win games at that stage. There are a hundred little things that we have to get better on at special teams, too, and these guys know that.”



On whether other players are concerned about the quarterback situation: “I hope not. I would hope that they are focused on being the very best that they can be and let the quarterback thing take care of itself. There’s nothing they can do about it anyway, other than support whoever is out there and play well for them.”



On how the cornerbacks and CB Chris McAlister are doing: “Chris practiced on the walk-through here this morning, and he’s going to work to some extent today in practice. So, he’s working to get back, and we will just have to see how his knee responds to it. Samari Rolle looks good. Fabian Washington has a hamstring tweak, so we are going to give him a rest for a couple of days here and see how that progresses.”



On whether CB Derrick Martin will play the last preseason game: “Derrick Martin will not play.”



On TEs Edgar Jones and Daniel Wilcox’s play against St. Louis: “Edgar made a couple catches. He did some good things as a tight end. He’s probably ahead of schedule. Dan Wilcox was a bright light. To see him go out there and push people was great. The thing about that injury, from what I understand, is what he is working with is very painful. Some things you just have to push through. He did a great job of fighting through that and played pretty well.”



On how much playing time the defensive starters will see against Atlanta: “Well, I think that the defense, as far as repetition and playing time, is pretty much on schedule. Now there are a couple guys that haven’t been out there that might play a little bit. Haloti [Ngata] might play a little bit. But those guys are probably on a more normal preseason schedule.”



On how close T Jared Gaither is to coming back: “Jared is going to practice today. So, it will be interesting to see how he does and how he feels after practice.”



On what areas he hopes the team improves the most during the Atlanta game: “That’s a really big question. We want to get better. It’s a bunch of individual, little snapshots. Jared Gaither just got brought up. We want Jared to play a certain number of game reps and develop as an offensive lineman, but also see how the ankle holds up and make the ankle stronger. So, I think that if you take every player individually, that’s what we are trying to get done.”



On if he thinks Gaither will be ready for the season opener: “Yeah, if there’s no setback then he should be ready for opening day.”



On how difficult the process is to narrow the roster to 53: “We talk about it every day, the coaches and I do. It’s going to be hard because we have a bunch of guys that really worked hard and can play in the NFL. But there are going to be some guys who are going to be here. It’s not going to be hard in the sense that we are going to pick the guys that give us the best chance at being successful, our strongest 53-man roster, and it won’t be over that. We are going to keep working to get better throughout the season and on into the draft, and free agency and everything else. It’s an ongoing process.”



On if it’s been tough to handle a difficult quarterback situation as a rookie head coach: “Is it ever smooth? I mean, that’s one thing that nobody ever promised with coaching football and being in the NFL. I would say it’s probably the same with your jobs. It’s never smooth, it’s never easy. It is exciting, it is challenging, and we can’t wait for practice today.”



On FB Le’Ron McClain’s game on Saturday: “Le’Ron was excited. Le’Ron didn’t want to come out of the game. That happens for a running back when he’s getting the ball. He was excited, and it looked good.”



On rookie RB Ray Rice: “We were hopeful that Ray would be a viable complement to Willis [McGahee], and now that Willis hasn’t been able to go, Ray has probably proven, at least in the preseason, that he can be the guy. So, that’s a huge upside for us going into the season.”

＜速報＞有村智恵とアン・ソンジュが首位に！藍は6位タイ

2011年06月11日16時10分




リーダーズボード
順位 選手名 スコア1 有村　智恵 -12
アン・ソンジュ -12
3 イ・チヒ -11
茂木　宏美 -11
5 リ・エスド -9
6 イ・ボミ -6
イム・ウナ -6
北田　瑠衣 -6
宮里　藍 -6
10 K・スーヨン -4


順位の続きを見る


＜サントリーレディスオープンゴルフトーナメント　3日目＞◇11日◇六甲国際ゴルフ倶楽部(6,499ヤード・パー72)

　兵庫県にある六甲国際ゴルフ倶楽部を舞台に開催中の、国内女子ツアー「サントリーレディスオープン」3日目。トータル7アンダー2位タイからスタートした昨季の賞金女王、アン・ソンジュ（韓国）と今季初優勝を目指す有村智恵が、共にスコアを5つ伸ばしトータル12アンダーで首位に立った。

　1打差の3位タイには今季2勝目を狙う茂木宏美と韓国の実力者、李知姫（イ・チヒ）の2選手、2打差の5位にはリ・エスド（韓国）がつけている。ホステスプロの宮里藍はこの日スコアを3つ伸ばすも首位との差はつめられず、6打差の6位タイとなっている。横峯さくらは17番パー3のホールインワンなどで17位タイまで順位を上げた。


【3日目の順位】
1位T：アン・ソンジュ(-12)
1位T：有村智恵(-12)
3位T：李知姫（イ・チヒ）(-11)
3位T：茂木宏美 (-11)
5位：リ・エスド(-9)
6位T：イム・ウナ(-6)
6位T：イ・ボミ (-6)
6位T：宮里藍(-6)
6位T：北田瑠衣 (-6)
10位T：福嶋晃子 (-4)他6名
17位T：横峯さくら(-3)他7名

すし石垣、スタートダッシュ決めた！1打差3位タイ

2012年05月17日18時27分




リーダーズボード
順位 選手名 スコア1 藤本　佳則 -8
張　棟圭 -8
3 小西　健太（アマ） -7
すし　石垣 -7
C・プラポール -7
B・ジョーンズ -7
宮里　聖志 -7
8 石川　遼 -6
額賀　辰徳 -6
W・ウェンチョン -6


順位の続きを見る


＜とおとうみ浜松オープン　初日◇17日◇グランディ浜名湖ゴルフクラブ(7,054ヤード・パー72)＞

　名物の遠州の空っ風があまり吹かず、多くの選手がスコアを伸ばした初日。昨年の第1回大会を大いに盛り上げたエンターテイナーが今年も上位発進を決めた。

　昨年は初日5位タイ発進の後、2日目には首位タイに立つなど活躍し初優勝の期待がかかったすし石垣。その再現をするかのように、3連続バーディや2つのイーグルなどで首位と1打差の7アンダー3位タイと好スタートを切った。

　「バーディを取ってないと下のほうになっちゃうからね。良いスタートが切れたと思う」とうまくスタートダッシュを決めたことに笑顔をみせたすし。大の競艇好きなすしは、昨年コースの近くにあるボートレース浜名湖から聞こえるエンジン音をパワーにかえたが、今週はあいにく火曜日でレースは終わってしまっている。これには「すこし寂しいね」とコメントしたが、ホールアウト後はギャラリーからのサインなどに気さくに応じファンサービスに精を出した。今年はエンジン音ではなくギャラリーからの声援を力に変え、今度こそ初優勝をつかむことができるか。

【初日の結果】
1位T：藤本佳則(-8)
1位T：ジャン・ドンキュ(-8)
3位T：小西健太(-7)※アマチュア
3位T：すし石垣(-7)
3位T：チャワリット・プラポール(-7)
3位T：ブレンダン・ジョーンズ(-7)
3位T：宮里聖志(-7)
8位T：石川遼(-6)他7名

72位T：池田勇太(-2)他23名
72位T：谷口徹(-2)
72位T：深堀圭一郎(-2)他20名

遼、今季最高位スタート！「ショットもパットもすごく良かった」

2012年05月17日18時54分




リーダーズボード
順位 選手名 スコア1 藤本　佳則 -8
張　棟圭 -8
3 小西　健太（アマ） -7
すし　石垣 -7
C・プラポール -7
B・ジョーンズ -7
宮里　聖志 -7
8 石川　遼 -6
額賀　辰徳 -6
W・ウェンチョン -6


順位の続きを見る





先週苦戦したパットも決まりだし8つのバーディを奪取（撮影：米山聡明）









＜とおとうみ浜松オープン　初日◇17日◇グランディ浜名湖ゴルフクラブ(7,054ヤード・パー72)＞

　静岡県にあるグランディ浜名湖ゴルフクラブを舞台に開幕した、国内男子ツアー第5戦「とおとうみ浜松オープン」。昨年、惜しくもプレーオフで敗れ2位に終わった石川遼が初日8バーディ・2ボギーの66をマーク。6アンダーで首位と2打差の8位タイと好スタートを切った。

「石川遼1打速報」で全ストロークを振り返る

　昨日、ショットを修正し、グリーンとの相性の良さも口にした石川。その言葉通り、前半で3番から3連続バーディを奪取。「前半は体のキレが良かった」と8番でもスコアを伸ばすと、9番ではティショットが深いラフにはまってしまいセカンドを池に落とすが、「貯金があるので心に余裕を持って打てた」と4打目をベタピンにつけパーをセーブ。4アンダーで折り返すと、後半11番でもバーディが先行。ティショットは9番以外ではフェアウェイをことごとく捉え、アイアンショットも冴え渡り13番、14番では連続バーディを奪い一時首位に立つ。しかし、16番パー3でグリーンを外し、ボギーとすると17番でもパーオンできず手痛い連続ボギー。最終18番パー5では2オンに成功、イーグルは獲れなかったがきっちりバーディで締め充実のファーストラウンドを締めくくった。

　「ショットもパットもすごく良かった」と会見で満足げな表情をみせた石川。連続ボギーはいずれもロングアイアンでのミスショットが原因。「ロングアイアンになるとスイングプレーンをなぞってしまう。丁寧にやろうとしすぎてスピードが出なくなってしまった」と2つのボギーを悔やんだが、それでもこの位置は上々の出だし。「2ホールに1回バーディを取る感じでできれば最高だと思う」。明日は風が強くなる午後からのスタートだが、約1年半ぶりの勝利を目指し貪欲にバーディを狙いにいく。

【初日の結果】
1位T：藤本佳則(-8)
1位T：ジャン・ドンキュ(-8)
3位T：小西健太(-7)※アマチュア
3位T：すし石垣(-7)
3位T：チャワリット・プラポール(-7)
3位T：ブレンダン・ジョーンズ(-7)
3位T：宮里聖志(-7)
8位T：石川遼(-6)他7名

72位T：池田勇太(-2)他23名
72位T：谷口徹(-2)
72位T：深堀圭一郎(-2)他20名

ルーキー藤本佳則、8アンダー大爆発で首位タイ発進！

2012年05月17日19時00分




リーダーズボード
順位 選手名 スコア1 藤本　佳則 -8
張　棟圭 -8
3 小西　健太（アマ） -7
すし　石垣 -7
C・プラポール -7
B・ジョーンズ -7
宮里　聖志 -7
8 石川　遼 -6
額賀　辰徳 -6
W・ウェンチョン -6


順位の続きを見る





最終パー5でチップインイーグル！首位タイに躍り出た（撮影：米山聡明）








【もっと写真を見る（8）】




＜とおとうみ浜松オープン　初日◇17日◇グランディ浜名湖ゴルフクラブ(7,054ヤード・パー72)＞

　国内男子ツアー第5戦「とおとうみ浜松オープン」が開幕。初日の競技を終え、プロ3戦目のルーキー、藤本佳則が1イーグル・6バーディ・ノーボギーの64ストロークをマーク。8アンダーのビッグスコアで首位タイに立った。

【関連リンク】藤本佳則のプロフィール＆今季成績

　藤本は1番でセカンドショットをピン上3メートルにつけバーディ奪取、幸先の良いスタートを切ると5番パー3では4メートル、7番パー3では5メートルを沈め3アンダーで折り返す。後半も終盤までに3つスコアを伸ばし、迎えた最終18番パー5。2オンを狙いスプーンを振りぬくも、ボールはグリーン左のバンカーへ。それでも、約20ヤードのバンカーショットは「ピンに当たって入ってくれた」と本人もビックリのチップインイーグル。派手に締めくくってプロ入り初の首位タイ発進を決めた。

　「気持ちいいですね」と会心のプレーに笑顔をみせた藤本。3週間ぶりの出場で、オフの間はシーズン中はあまりできないトレーニングを中心に行い、心身共にリフレッシュ。これが功を奏し最高のスタートダッシュにつながった。「今日みたいに良い流れを作って、どんどんバーディを奪っていきたい」。名門・東北福祉大ゴルフ部元主将として数々の大会でローアマに輝くなどプロ入り前から注目を集めてきた藤本。プロ3戦目で早くも大輪の花を咲かせることができるか。

【初日の結果】
1位T：藤本佳則(-8)
1位T：ジャン・ドンキュ(-8)
3位T：小西健太(-7)※アマチュア
3位T：すし石垣(-7)
3位T：チャワリット・プラポール(-7)
3位T：ブレンダン・ジョーンズ(-7)
3位T：宮里聖志(-7)
8位T：石川遼(-6)他7名

72位T：池田勇太(-2)他23名
72位T：谷口徹(-2)
72位T：深堀圭一郎(-2)他20名

小田龍一が今季2度目のホールインワン！しかし「スコアがね…」

2012年05月17日19時03分




リーダーズボード
順位 選手名 スコア1 藤本　佳則 -8
張　棟圭 -8
3 小西　健太（アマ） -7
すし　石垣 -7
C・プラポール -7
B・ジョーンズ -7
宮里　聖志 -7
8 石川　遼 -6
額賀　辰徳 -6
W・ウェンチョン -6


順位の続きを見る





今季2度目のホールインワンでお約束のVサイン（撮影：米山聡明）







＜とおとうみ浜松オープン　初日◇17日◇グランディ浜名湖ゴルフクラブ(7,054ヤード・パー72)＞

　国内男子ツアー第5戦「とおとうみ浜松オープン」が開幕。今季の開幕戦の初日にホールインワンを達成した小田龍一が、この試合でもホールインワンを出した。

小田龍一がエース達成！「東建ホームメイトカップ」

　小田は3番から圧巻の4連続バーディを奪取し、迎えた7番パー3。8番アイアンで放ったボールは直接カップインし、5試合で2つ目のホールインワンを達成した。しかし、「前半はショットも（ピンに）ついて良かったけど、ホールインワン入ってから全然パラパラになっちゃって…」とそこからは2バーディ・3ボギーと1つスコアを落とし5アンダー16位タイでホールアウト。

　「まあ、ホールインワンはいいけど、スコアがね…。あんまり嬉しくないんですよね」とボヤいた小田。「完全にビビっちゃって守ってるからね。何にビビッてるかは分からないけど…今は自信がないですね」。今季は開幕戦で優勝争いにからみ、第2戦でも3位タイと決して調子は悪くない。2009年にはメジャー「日本オープン」を制した小田、悲願の2勝目は自身の不安に打ち勝った先にある。

【初日の結果】
1位T：藤本佳則(-8)
1位T：ジャン・ドンキュ(-8)
3位T：小西健太(-7)※アマチュア
3位T：すし石垣(-7)
3位T：チャワリット・プラポール(-7)
3位T：ブレンダン・ジョーンズ(-7)
3位T：宮里聖志(-7)
8位T：石川遼(-6)他7名

72位T：池田勇太(-2)他23名
72位T：谷口徹(-2)
72位T：深堀圭一郎(-2)他20名