Norman Struggles, Shoots a 75 at Troon

Four days after nearly making history at the British Open, Greg Norman labored to a 4-over-par 75 yesterday in the opening round of the Senior British Open to finish seven shots behind co-leaders Bruce Vaughan and Eduardo Romero.

In sunny conditions at Royal Troon in Scotland, Norman bogeyed six of the first 10 holes and was 6 over before he finally birdied the par-4 13th. He birdied the final hole with a pitch to three feet.

"Things just weren't going my way early on," Norman said. "I just had to hang in there and gut it out the best I could. The ball just wasn't rolling my way."

The Australian said windy conditions, similar to the British Open, had an impact on his game.

"I got to the first tee and I never played this golf course in this wind before," Norman said. "I didn't feel that confident with some of the tee shots."

The 53-year-old Norman led the British Open at Royal Birkdale with nine holes to play Sunday and appeared on course to become the oldest winner of a major, but he finished third.

While Norman struggled, playing partner Tom Watson made every green and missed only one fairway in a bogey-free 70. Andy Bean, John Cook and Kirk Hanefield and Nick Job were one shot off the leaders at 69.

Vaughan made eight birdies for a 3-under 68 on the links course. But his round was hampered by a double bogey and a triple. He recovered from the 7s on the sixth and 12th holes to play the last six at 3 under.

"It was either feast or famine," Vaughan said. "Outside of those two hockey sticks [7s], it was a good round."

Romero had only one bogey, driving into a fairway bunker at the par-5 sixth hole.

Watson was pleased with his round.

"I don't think I have made all 18 greens ever in my life," said Watson, a three-time Senior British Open winner. "I am very happy. I shot a good round of golf in unusual conditions with the wind changing direction."

· PGA TOUR: Mike Weir gave Canadian Open fans what they came to see on another rainy day at drenched Glen Abbey in Oakville, Ontario.

The Canadian icon shot a bogey-free 6-under 65 for a share of the lead with Anthony Kim and Eric Axley during the suspended first round. Only half of the players were able to finish a round that was delayed for 5 hours 42 minutes.

"You want to take advantage of today because it's only going to get a little firmer and faster," said Weir, his words punctuated by a clap of thunder that drew a smile and forced him to reconsider his answer. "Maybe not with what's coming. Maybe not."

Richard Johnson, J.P. Hayes, Nicholas Thompson, Ryan Armour and Jason Allred shot 67s on a course saturated by eight inches of rain in six days. John Senden and Charley Hoffman also were 4 under. Senden played nine holes, and Hoffman completed eight.

Because of the wet conditions, players were allowed to use preferred lies.

· LPGA TOUR: Lorena Ochoa shot a 7-under 65 to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Evian Masters in Evian-Les-Bains, France.

Ochoa started with a birdie on the first hole and added six more on the back nine in a bogey-free round. Sun Ju Ahn, Candie Kung and Angela Park trailed by one stroke.

"I'm just glad I'm at the top," Ochoa said. "I had a slow start. I made birdie on the first hole and didn't give myself a lot of birdie chances. I had a break on 10 and 11. I got really good confidence and started feeling good over the ball and the putting."

Park began with eight pars before she birdied six of the final 10 holes. Annika Sorenstam had three bogeys in her round of 71, six shots off the lead.