US PGA Championship – Story of the first round
Gary Woodland topped the leaderboard after day one.
A change of shirt paid dividends for Tiger Woods as he recovered from a nightmare start to his opening round of the 100th US PGA Championship at Bellerive Country Club.
Woods, who is seeking a 15th major title and a first since 2008, was among the early starters hoping to make a flying start in sweltering conditions in St Louis, only to drop three shots in his first two holes.
But after changing his drenched shirt in a players’ bathroom between the 11th green and 12th tee, Woods fought back to card a level-par 70 to lie six shots off the clubhouse lead held by fellow American Gary Woodland.
Tweet of the day
Ross Fisher highlights the hot and humid conditions at Bellerive after an opening 68, posting a GIF of a man pouring with sweat.
Pleased with my -2 start @PGAChampionship . Ready to get out these clothes pic.twitter.com/b7zMO2XU6F
— Ross Fisher (@RossFisher) August 9, 2018
Shot of the day
The par-three sixth played as the toughest hole and world number one Dustin Johnson looked set to be another casualty after a poor tee shot, but produced a superb chip-in from right of the green for an unlikely birdie.
DJ out here making things look easy.#PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/7Ab4tF5Muy
— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) August 9, 2018
Round of the day
Gary Woodland was one over par after seven holes before reeling off seven birdies in the next 10 on his way to a superb 64.
Leader 💪
— Golfing World (@GolfingWorld) August 9, 2018
A superb fightback after a slow start sees Gary Woodland top the leaderboard heading into R2 6⃣4⃣ #PGAChamp #PGAChampionship pic.twitter.com/OaA9DXWVyq
Quote of the day
“He’s a player and it’s always tough when you see one of us struggle like that and what his family have to endure now, those kids without a dad” – Tiger Woods pays tribute to the late Jarrod Lyle.
Stat of the day
The Golf Channel’s Justin Ray points out how many times Rickie Fowler has been close to a first major win, tweeting that he has had eight top-five finishes.
Rickie has 8 top-five finishes in majors. Since the first Masters was held in 1934, only three players have had more top-five finishes in majors without winning (Lee Westwood, Harry Cooper and Jay Haas).
— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf) August 9, 2018
Toughest hole
At 224 yards, it was no surprise that the par-three sixth hole was the toughest, playing to an average of 3.463 and yielding just nine birdies as well as 12 double bogeys and two triples.
Easiest hole
Despite being 610 yards, the par-five eighth played as the easiest hole, with 50 birdies, 11 bogeys and just one double bogey adding up to a scoring average of 4.732.
On the up
The chances of putting coach Phil Kenyon working with the winner of consecutive majors. Kenyon coaches Open champion Francesco Molinari and also started working with Gary Woodland at Carnoustie.
On the slide
Jordan Spieth’s prospects of completing the career grand slam with a win this week after he opened with a 71 to lie seven shots off the pace.
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