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	Doral-Ryder Open Doral Resort and CC, Miami, FL March 6-9 , 1997

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Skip Kendall hits his tee shot on the 13th hole. © Jamie Squire/Allsport

MIAMI, Fla. (March 6, 1997) -- Skip Kendall fired a 7-under-par 65 today and holds a one-shot lead over defending champion Greg Norman and two others after the first round of the $1.8 million Doral-Ryder Open at the Doral Resort & Spa.

Kendall, among the last to begin his round, took the lead after his 11th hole and held it for the remainder of the round. He is one stroke better than Norman, Bob Tway and Lee Rinker.

Norman, who had been resting an ailing back, is making his first appearance at a PGA Tour event this year. In addition to last year's two-stroke victory over Vijay Singh and Michael Bradley, he also won here in 1990 and 1993 and is one of three three-time winners of the event, joining Andy Bean and Ray Floyd.

Kendall birdied eight of the first 12 holes, with none of the putts more than 10 feet. His only bogey came at the par-4 16th hole, when he found a bunker and could not save par.

"The first 12 holes, I played about as well as I can," Kendall said. "After that, I tried not to get ahead of myself and stayed focused and hit good shots. The TV cameras came out about then and I went into a few bunkers."

The 32-year-old Kendall lost his PGA Tour card but regained it via the Nike Tour last year. His best PGA finish was seventh place at the 1995 B.C. Open.

"I feel like I've improved, getting better year to year, especially last year," he said. "My ball-striking improved on the Nike Tour."

Greg Norman acknowledges the crowd after making a birdie. © Jamie Squire/Allsport

Norman holds the tournament record with a 23-under 265 in 1993. He is acknowledged as having tamed "The Blue Monster," so much so that Floyd was commissioned to re-condition the course and make it tougher, adding more bunkers.

But the opening round was without the usual gusts of wind and Norman -- arriving again via his personal helicopter -- took advantage. Beginning on the 10th hole, he played a bogey-free round, sinking six birdies, including long ones on the 10th and 13th holes.

"He may have added bunkers, but he never changed the line you take off the tee," Norman said. "So I just hit the ball where I have every year I've been out here. There was one shot out there that I was apprehensive on, becuase I knew exactly where the lines were and where the ball would go."

Former British Open Sandy Lyle heads a group of five at 5-under 67. Two-time PGA Player of the Year Nick Price is among another quintet at 4-under 68.

Ten golfers are at 69, including Floyd, who won in 1980, 1981 and 1982; Larry Rinker, Lee's brother; Colin Montgomerie; and Phil Mickelson.

The par-72 Doral Resort & Spa course measures 6,939 yards. First prize is $324,000.

GolfWeb Playing Editors PGA Tour '97

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