Schwartzel tops at Doral

Associated Press

DORAL, FLA.

Five birdies were enough to put Charl Schwartzel among the leaders at the CA Championship. No mistakes is what put him in the lead alone Thursday on a rough-and-tumble day at Doral.

Schwartzel, who got into the elite field with two victories in his native South Africa at the start of the season, managed to get around the famed Blue Monster without a bogey on his way to a 5-under 67 and a one-shot lead in the World Golf Championship event.

Not so fortunate were Ernie Els, Robert Allenby and Vijay Singh, all of them poised to claim a share of the lead or better until they stepped to the tee on the 443-yard closing hole at Doral that was playing into a wind strong enough to knock the caps of some players.

Singh was in the lead until putting his tee shot into the water and making double bogey, giving him a 68.

Els was tied for the lead until his approach around the palm trees came up short and into the water. He scrambled for a bogey and also wound up with a 68.

Allenby, who had a five-shot lead early in the round when he was at 8 under through 12 holes, finished with four straight bogeys, the last one when he blasted out of a back bunker and saw his ball roll off the green and nearly into the water. He had 68 and found perspective quickly.

“That’s the way things go,” Allenby said. “If someone had said you’re going to shoot 4 under today, I would have taken it.”

Francesco Molinari of Italy was tied for the lead until he went into the water and made double bogey, giving him a 69.