• Northern Trust Open, Round One

Highs and lows for Donald in LA

ESPN staff
February 14, 2013
Luke Donald has major hopes for 2013 © PA Photos
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Northern Trust Open leaderboard

Luke Donald carded only seven pars as he started his 2013 season in inconsistent fashion at the Northern Trust Open.

After going out in one-over, Donald made four birdies and an eagle coming home. Included in that run was a two on the par-four tenth. However, the world No. 3 also made two further bogeys to sign for a two-under 69.

Although he topped the PGA Tour Money List in 2011, Donald has still not won a major and in an attempt to rectify that, he has even enlisted, unofficially, the help of basketball legend Michael Jordan.

Yet setting the pace in Pacific Palisades was Matt Kuchar who holds a one-shot lead over Sergio Garcia at the top of the leaderboard.

It was clear that Kuchar would be a contender to lead the field on day one from his opening trio of holes, as he birdied all three.

Two more followed at the seventh and the tenth and with the clubhouse in sight, he holed back-to-back birdies on the 16th and 17th.

Garcia, who was troubled by a shoulder problem a couple of weeks ago, looked in good form as he recorded seven birdies and a solitary bogey in his six-under 65.

Lee Westwood and playing partner Fred Couples both finished four shots off Kuchar after rounds of 68. Couples is a two-time winner of the Northern Trust Open and Westwood's round left him one shot behind the leading Englishman David Lynn.

Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley both suffered poor rounds by their standards and could only manage par.

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