The Serve

Sabbatini leads first playoff event

He doesn’t have Tiger Woods around to niggle, however Rory Sabbatini finds himself in the headlines for the better, leading The Barclays by one shot after a sizzling eight under 63 on the Westchester course.

With Tiger playing daddy, comfortable in the knowledge that he could skip this event without seriously harming his chances to claim the $10 million dollar retirement plan, there was uncertainty as to how this new format would be received. Players openly admitted they didn’t really know how the system worked.

Sabbatini, best known for his brash statements about not fearing the world number one, leads K.J.Choi and Rich Beem, who does know his scenario. Beem essentially needs to finish in the top 12 to advance to next weeks event.

Ernie Els made two eagles during his 6 under 65, while Adam Scott and Phil Mickelson in a tie for eleventh at -4.

Sabbatini has led in America six times after the first round, with the South African yet to convert that into Sunday glory.

Of the other Australians, Geoff Ogilvy is -3, Rod Pampling and Steve Allan -2, Steve Elkington and Matthew Goggin are both at one under. Nick O’Hern, Andrew Buckle and Aaron Baddeley are even, Nathan Green is +1, Stuart Appleby is back at 3 over, one ahead of John Senden and Peter Lonard. Robert Allenby is second last after firiing a 6 over 77, while Stephen Leaney and Gavin Coles both withdrew.