Spencer Levin eager to banish meltdown memories

Just four months after suffering an agonising meltdown at the Phoenix Open, Levin was last night trying to gain some sweet redemption in a much stronger field at the Jack Nicklaus-hosted tournament.

As overnight leader, Levin was one-under-par for his first seven holes to reach nine-under for the tournament before Woods burst from the chasing pack.

The former world No 1 birdied the second hole after a fine approach to 8ft, but it was the fifth where his round sparked into life.

With two par-5s in the space of three holes, Woods took full advantage by posting birdies on both as well as the intervening sixth.

However, he gave one shot back at the eighth after a 40ft putt broke too far.

That left Levin, who opened with an 11ft putt for birdie and was solid thereafter, with a two-stroke advantage over Woods and Rory Sabbatini, whose birdie at the third was immediately cancelled out by a dropped shot at the next.

There was then a three-shot gap to Jonathan Byrd and Andres Romero in joint fourth, after Rickie Fowler’s challenge crumbled on the front nine.

The young American wore his trademark all-orange outfit, but would have wanted to disappear from view after squandering an opening birdie and then dropping four shots over the next three holes.

He birdied the fifth but two more bogeys quickly followed as he recorded only one par in his first eight holes.

England’s Greg Owen was in the clubhouse at two under after a five-under-par 67, the best completed round of the day so far along with American JB Holmes.

But it is Levins to lose as he explained: “This is what I’ve dreamed of, to be in the lead of a tournament – especially Jack’s tournament. Obviously you want to win when you’re in position, but I’m just going to go out there and have fun” .