Advertisement

Langer celebrates Hall of Fame induction

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga., Nov. 15 (UPI) -- Bernard Langer teamed with Eduardo Romero to halve a match with Scott Hoch and Paul Azinger on Friday at the Sea Island Golf Club, but the United States grabbed a one-point lead over the Rest of the World after the first day of the UBS Warburg Cup.

The Americans took a 3 1/2-2 1/2 point lead during the six-match, alternate-shot format. The Ryder Cup-style event for players 40 and older continues Saturday with four-ball and concludes Sunday with singles.

Advertisement

Before he tees off Saturday, Langer will be inducted to the World Golf Hall of Fame, making the trip to St. Augustine, Fla., for Friday night's ceremonies. The 45-year-old German has nearly 50 wins worldwide.

It was a good early morning for the Rest of the World, which took the first point of the day when Gary Player and Nick Faldo edged Arnold Palmer and Curtis Strange, 1-up. Langer and Romero then halved their match with Hoch and Azinger.

Advertisement

Langer and Romero never trailed, grabbing a 2-up lead with a birdie at the seventh hole. Hoch and Azinger won the 12th and 14th to earn a half-point.

The United States won three of the last four matches, beginning when Raymond Floyd and Tom Lehman defeated Sam Torrance and Ian Woosnam, 1-up. Floyd, the older of the two Americans, carried the team with his putter.

The Japanese duo of Isao Aoki and Seiji Ebihara earned a full point for the Rest of the World with a surprising 3 and 1 victory over Fred Funk and Bob Gilder. Aoki and Ebihara won the 16th and 17th holes to end the match.

The Americans finished the day with a pair of wins as Hale Irwin and Tom Kite downed Rodger Davis and Stewart Ginn, 3 and 2, and Tom Watson and Mark O'Meara upended Barry Lane and Denis Durnian, 2 and 1.

Kite and Irwin represented the United States' best team, birdying three of the first eight holes for a 3-up lead and easing to victory.

Advertisement

Watson and O'Meara had more of a struggle, leveling the match with a birdie at the 13th hole and taking the lead at the 14th. They went 2-up when Lane and Durnian bogeyed the 15th and held on for the full point.

The United States won the first UBS Warburg Cup last year at Kiawa Island, claiming six of the 12 singles matches for a one-point victory.

Latest Headlines