Immelman bounces back from ailment

PACIFIC PALISADES, California - Former Masters champion Trevor Immelman came close to withdrawing from the Northern Trust Open on Thursday after suffering a bout of food poisoning overnight.

The 31-year-old South African reacted badly to a chicken dinner he ordered from his hotel's room service but managed to recover in time to shoot a one-under-par 70 in the opening round at Riviera Country Club.

"From about 10 o'clock, I was throwing up all night long," Immelman said of his far-from-ideal preparation for the PGA Tour event. "I didn't get much sleep. My alarm went off at five and I took some medication to try and slow things down.