Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
DAY ONE TIGER ROARS AHEAD OF RORY
Woods comes out on top of a superstar grouping with Mcilroy as the pair bond over football and baseball
TIGER WOODS won his superstar grouping with Rory Mcilroy and Justin Thomas – and shared a chat about football and baseball during the opening round of the US PGA.
The Masters champion carded a two-under 68 in the first Major of the season to trail clubhouse leader Jason Day by three strokes.
Justin Rose was a shot off the lead along with defending champion Brooks Koepka after a superb short-game display saw him card a 66.
Mcilroy, who started with an early hat-trick of bogeys, recovered to shoot level par 70 while world No.1 Thomas made two double bogeys on his back nine in his 71.
The US PGA is being played behind closed doors at Harding Park but the unusual lack of bigmatch atmosphere does allow on-course mikes to pick up conversations between the players.
And Woods and
Mcilroy talked sports on the fourth tee when the American said there was no way he would have a Taylormade golf bag in the cream, orange and black colours of the local San Francisco Giants baseball team. The Los Angeles Dodgers fan said: “Giants’ colours, couldn’t do it.”
When Mcilroy admitted he was not a baseball expert, the American asked the Manchester United fan which football team he supported.
“So, Liverpool, it would be like having Liverpool colours on your bag,” Woods said. “That’s how much we hate the Giants.”
Woods, who wore a snood during the opening holes on a cool, overcast day, hit 12 greens out of 18 in only his second event since February while using a new putter. It was his lowest opening round in a Major since 2012.
The 2015 champion Day has recovered from a sore back and putting woes – and a split with his long-time coach and mentor Colin Swatton – to refind his old form since the re-start.
“I am excited to come out to and play every day,” said the world No.43. “I drove the ball extremely well but I am surprised there are so many low numbers out there. I thought high single digits was going to win it.
“We got lucky with the wind today. I think this wave has been blessed by the draw. It is PGA week so it will toughen up.”
The 2010 US PGA champion Martin Kaymer, now down at world No.128, shot a 66 in his second event back from lockdown.
Open champion Shane Lowry shot a two-under 68 in his first Major round since winning the Open at Royal Portrush 13 months ago. Jordan Spieth’s bid to complete his career Grand Slam started with a 73. (US unless stated)