Day 1 (9/11)

Unscary for Price

Sergio García watched the film Scary Movie while relaxing before the World Golf Championships - American Express Championship. Something must have worked: he opened with a 69, which might not have scared his immediate rivals but was a reassuring five shots better than his first-round score in 1999. Nick Price did not reveal what his pre-tournament relaxation routine comprised, but he almost frightened himself with the unexpected result of 11 birdies and a nine-under-par 63 that was just one stroke short of Bernhard Langer's course record (1994 Volvo Masters).

The Zimbabwean's score - which matched the 63 he shot in the Western Open on the US Tour in June (though he rated that effort higher, as he was eight-under after 11 or 12 holes and with a strong chance of breaking 60) - was three better than second-placed Padraig Harrington, his playing partner. Together they shot a better-ball score of 58!

Not always the most complimentary about the Valderrama course, Price was not about to give it his unreserved approval, though he did seem happier than in the past. "It's the best of its kind," he said. "It has the potential to be a great course, and I think I'm going to leave it at that because if I say anything else I'm going to get into trouble."

Of the controversial absence of 12 leading Americans as well as Australian Greg Norman, Price was even more diplomatic. "I think the Presidents Cup took a lot out of those guys...There's so much money in America they don't want to travel." Price himself played in the Ryder Cup-style event between the US and non-European "Internationals" but had the advantage of an eight-week break over the summer school holidays.

One American who did turn up - albeit perhaps a little reluctantly - was defending champion Tiger Woods. Seeking a 10th title in 2000, and also to become the first player to win $10 million in a US Tour season (both of which he would have achieved with victory the weekend before in the Tour Championship), he opened with a one-under-par 71 to be 19th, though, as García stressed, he was still well in contention.

While García's eighth put him an excellent position to win his first event of 2000, and José María Olazabal was a further stroke back in 13th place, the only other Spaniard in the field, 1999 runner-up Miguel Angel Jimenez, was 42nd after carding a four-bogey 74.

Of the six players in with a chance of topping the European Tour order of merit, Darren Clarke also shot a 74, Lee Westwood a level-par 72, Thomas Bjorn a 70, Michael Campbell a 72 and Colin Montgomerie a 75, while Ernie Els retired after nine holes with a recurring back injury.

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