Posted on Fri, May. 02, 2008

Toms doesn't have to go long to make a big impact

Steady iron play helps him shoot a 67 in first round

BY LANGSTON WERTZ JR.

lwertz@charlotteobserver.com

David Toms showed Thursday that you don't have to hit the ball a mile to contend on the PGA Tour.

Toms, listed at 5-foot-10 and 160 pounds, looks like a guy you might see at Charlotte Golf Links or Emerald Lake Golf Club. He doesn't hit it 300 yards like many of these tour pros.

Toms, the 2003 Wachovia Championship winner, averaged 282 yards off the tee in Thursday's first round. That's modest on today's PGA Tour, considering Bubba Watson, the tour's longest hitter, averages 310 yards. Yet, Tom shot 67.

Over and over, Adam Scott and Shaun Micheel hit tee shots past him. Over and over, Toms hit his irons on the green and rolled good shots with his putter.

He hit eight of 14 fairways and 14 of 18 greens in regulation.

"I hit a lot of great iron shots," Toms said. "And if I can drive it just a little bit better and have more opportunities to go at flags, then I can continue to play well."

Toms, the 2001 PGA champion, made five birdies on his front nine and eight for the day. In a marquee threesome with Micheel, the 2003 PGA champion, and Scott, who won the 2004 Player's Championship, Toms might have been shortest -- but he was best.

"It does feel good to play solid golf again," said Toms, who has struggled this year with back problems. "I played today with (Scott), who's a heckuva player, so (I was) just trying to keep up with him. I couldn't get within 30 yards on him off the tee, but I scored pretty well."