Palmer’s 75 Is Cause for Optimism

Arnold Palmer’s return from cancer surgery reached another milestone Friday in the first round of the Home Depot Invitational at Charlotte, N.C.

“If I keep hitting it the way I am, I was very encouraged,” Palmer said after he opened the senior event with a three-over-par 75--easily his best score in tournament play since prostate surgery in January.

Palmer’s round left him nine shots off the lead, which was held by John D. Morgan, who birdied the last three holes at the TPC at Piper Glen for a 66.

But it marked the brightest ray of hope in a comeback bid that had failed to produce a round lower than 81.

“It got to the point where I was thinking about not playing anymore,” he said, “and I don’t even want to think about that.”

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David Duval eagled his first hole en route to a second six-under 66 and held a one-shot lead halfway through the BellSouth Classic at Duluth, Ga.

Starting on the 608-yard 10th hole, Duval holed it from 50 yards with a sand wedge.

Nick Price was second after a 67 gave him an 11-under 133 total for two trips around the 7,259-yard TPC Sugarloaf Country Club north of Atlanta.

First-round lead Don Pooley was another shot back at 134 after a 70. Greg Norman, who designed the course, moved into contention at 137 with a 67.

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Helen Alfredsson, who had hip surgery last November, fought through gusting winds and shot a six-under 66 for a one-stroke lead at the $675,000 Sara Lee Classic in Nashville.

Alfredsson spent five weeks in bed after doctors operated on her right hip Nov. 1, reattaching a hamstring that was injured 10 years ago when she chipped a pelvic bone in an accident.

“I actually had a few more chances if I had made some more putts,” Alfredsson said. “But I’m not going to be greedy. I’m happy with six under.”

She led Nancy Harvey, who shot her 67 in the morning, and was two strokes ahead of Pat Hurst.