Woosnam forced out by injury as Lomas takes surprise lead
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Your support makes all the difference.The 47-year-old Welshman injured his right shoulder teeing off on the fifth hole, battled on for 11 more, but then withdrew after hitting a shot out of bounds from deep rough on the 17th.
"I was doing all right, but I felt another twinge and was only playing with a one-iron the last six holes," Woosnam said. The former Masters champion blamed the problem on "hitting it too hard when too old".
The leader at the end of the first day was England's Jonathan Lomas with a five-under 65. Essex's Simon Khan moved into contention with a three-under 67, but was worried he might be fined £16,000 for slow play.
Khan, penalised twice this season, found himself being timed again after his group fell behind the threesome in front.
Lomas goes into the second round one ahead of Mark Foster and Ireland's Gary Murphy.
The defending champion, Sergio Garcia, shot a 69, as did Jose Maria Olazabal, while the 2003 winner, Miguel Angel Jimenez, was in the group with Khan on three under.
In the battle to stay on the European Tour, the Scot David Drysdale 115th on the Order of Merit opened the door to the chasing pack by slumping to a 78.
At the end of the tournament on Sunday, the top 116 earn cards for next season.
* American Hunter Haas fired a flawless nine-under 63 to take the early first-round lead at the Funai Classic in Orlando, Florida, last night. The world No 1 Tiger Woods returned a 68.
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