Ogilvy eager for early second round start

SAN DIEGO (Reuters) - Geoff Ogilvy is looking forward to his quick turnaround at Torrey Pines, hoping his morning tee time for Friday's second round will give him a boost.

Ogilvy, the 2006 champion at Winged Foot, opened with a two-under-par 69 on greens that hardened in the afternoon sun to stand a shot behind unheralded co-leaders Justin Hicks and Kevin Streelman of the United States.

"It's nice to have a decent round in the afternoon because you know it's potentially going to be a little bit easier tomorrow, when you play your early tee time," said the Australian, who starts his round at 8:06 a.m. (1506 GMT).

"Especially here because you know what the weather is going to do. It's pretty predictable. I'm looking forward to potentially smoother greens tomorrow.

"Hopefully I'll get some birdies. The greens should roll nice tomorrow morning."

Ogilvy has come on strong after a struggling start this year. The slender Australian won the WGC-CA Championship, and has four other top 10s including a tie for seventh at Colonial and ninth place at the Memorial in his last two events.

"I'm playing pretty well," he said. "I'm hitting it decent and putting okay."

Ogilvy, who turned 31 on Wednesday, said he enjoyed playing in a grouping with twice U.S. Open winner Ernie Els of South Africa, who registered 70.

"It's nice to play with the guys making a few birdies in this thing," he said. "When you're playing with a guy that's making a few birdies, it's just a nice mood in the group on the tee."

(Editing by Peter Rutherford)