Mediate fires 64 to lead Buick
Rocco Mediate's back is healthy and so is his game.
Mediate shot his lowest score on the PGA Tour in four years, opening the Buick Open yesterday in Grand Blanc, Mich., with an 8-under-par 64 for a one-stroke lead.
"This has been one of the best years of my life coming out of this injury," he said. "I'm ecstatic."
Brett Quigley, Woody Austin, and Brian Bateman shot 65s and Jim Furyk was among a group of four another stroke back in a tournament up for grabs without Tiger Woods and Vijay Singh in the field for the first time since 2001. The stars have combined to win four of the previous five Buick Opens, reaching 24 under to win the previous two.
"It doesn't matter if Tiger or Vijay are here," Austin said. "Each of the years they won, they didn't blow the field away. I don't believe either one of them has broken Robert Wrenn's record [26 under]. Somebody shoots low every year."
Mediate likes his chances because his right hip joint is not making his back miserable anymore.
"I can move again," he said.
Mediate credited Cindi Hilfman, a physical therapist in Los Angeles, for turning his life and career around since they connected in February.
"Since I had back surgery in '94, it's been on and off again," he said. "The last three years I was dead."
Simply breathing was painful for him and walking was impossible at times.
The five-time PGA Tour winner had only one top-10 finish last year, ending the season a career-low 206th on the money list.
Mediate was ranked 176 and 114 the previous two years after finishing between 22d and 37 from 1999-2003.
While fans had plenty of elbow room along the ropes, a flock followed John Daly (69) as he shot his first sub-70 round in four months. He was welcomed with a roar at No. 17, a hole known for attracting one of the PGA Tour's loudest galleries.
"I love a rowdy crowd," Daly said.
European -- South African qualifier James Kamte and Welshman Kyron Sullivan each shot 6-under 65 to share the opening-day lead at the French Open in Versailles.
A stroke behind were England's Benn Barham and Graeme Storm, and Sweden's Steven Jeppesen and Christian Nilsson on the par-71 National Golf Albatross course on the outskirts of Paris.
Colin Montgomerie, the 2000 winner, had a 3-under 68, along with Denmark's Thomas Bjorn.
The 44-year-old Scottish player is confident he's getting his game together after four consecutive missed cuts in the majors and an 82 at the US Open.
"My swing is back, just like in the '90s," Montgomerie said. 