Tiger Woods, in his first major event after a three-month layoff, stumbled back to level par after briefly grabbing a share of the early lead in Thursday’s opening round of the PGA Championship.
The 14-time major champion, who began on the back nine, birdied three of his first five holes but took a double-bogey at the 260-yard par-3 15th, a bogey at the par-4 16th and a par-3 at 17 to fade back into the pack. American Bubba Watson held the early lead at four-under through six holes on the back nine, with countrymen Jerry Kelly, Steve Stricker and Bill Haas another stroke back, all trying to snap a record US win drought of six majors. Former world number one Woods suffered left leg injuries in April at the Masters, aggravated them at the Players Championship in May before pulling out after nine holes and had not played a competitive round since until last week.
Woods, who teed off under ideal conditions at Atlanta Athletic Club, opened with a birdie, added another at the par-5 12th and birdied the par-4 14th to reach three-under par after five holes and claim a share of the lead. But after his double-bogey setback, Woods found a bunker off the 16th tee, failed to escape and then fired into a greenside bunker before an up-and-down bogey save. Woods, a 14-time major champion chasing the all-time record of 18 majors won by Jack Nicklaus, has not won any title since his infamous sex scandal erupted in November of 2009. But his sizzling start among the Georgia pines electrified fans who were excited to see glimpses of the form that once dominated the sport.
