Tiger Woods has a tough first round at the U.S. PGA Championship. Image: Getty
Golf fans were devastated by American great Tiger Woods after his injury reoccurred in the first round of the PGA Championship. Woods finished the round with a frown on his face, admitting his leg was “feeling better” after a promising start that put him in contention for a 15th major championship.
Woods had a promising debut, shooting 2-under in the first round, but seven bogeys in the final round made for a disappointing result. The 46-year-old shot a 4-over 74 on Thursday at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Woods is playing in just his second tournament since suffering multiple fractures in his right leg in a horrific car accident 15 months ago. He made his return to competitive golf at last month’s Masters, finishing 47th.
“I hit a lot of bad shots in the middle and at the end of the round,” Woods told ESPN. “As a result, I just never got the ball closer for birdie putts. …I just embarrassed myself.
Woods began his day in the back nine, playing in a group with Northern Ireland’s Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy. He reached 3 feet for an easy birdie putt on the par-4 10th hole, then added a 13-foot birdie putt on the short 14th hole, but then made his first bogey of the day on the next hole. But things went downhill from there. Woods made the turn at even-par 35 but struggled on the back nine. He recorded three heels in the second place on the 18th, on the 1st, and made another bird until the end of the day.
Tiger Woods is waving at Jordan Spit after the first round of the PGA championship. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
On several occasions, Woods smashed two needles off the tee instead of using a driver. He was straining his right leg at the end of the round, and it looked like his condition was slowing him down. “It was better before,” Woods said ruefully of his leg.
“It’s a little sore right now and we’ll go back and start the process of getting ready for tomorrow.”
Asked by Woods if he was aware that television cameras had caught him wincing, he replied: “My leg doesn’t feel as good as I would like.”
On his final hole, Woods hit the green well. A poor third shot led to a final bogey. Woods last won the PGA Championship at Southern Hills in 2007. After the surprise of the world of golf, who plays this year’s Masters and reduces, he said he thought his legs had become stronger the day before this week.
The fans were sad to 15 major winners after such a promising departure. McIlroy, seeking his first major championship in eight years, reached the clubhouse one stroke behind after a 6-under 65. The 33-year-old, who won this tournament in 2012 and 2014, closed out the day with a birdie on the seventh and final hole to put himself in contention for another title. He was cut into a tent group with saliva and forest, which won 74 and 72, respectively, and the latter was impressed by Makillea.
“It’s clear that something can be deleted in the mid -60’s. Rory has proved it today,” said Woods Sky Sports. “He made a couple of putts on the getaway, but he still made five shots and made it look really easy.”
Rory McIlroy in action during the first round of the PGA Championship. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
McIlroy, who finished second at last year’s Masters after shooting an 8-under 64 on the final day, is still not in his element. “I came here knowing my game was in good shape,” McIlroy said, “so it’s just about going out there and hitting the shots I know I can hit.” “We did really well today and now we have to work just as hard tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday and make sure we don’t get ahead of ourselves, but it was a good start.”