Golf: Change of shirt leads to change of fortunes for Woods
A CHANGE of shirt paid dividends for Tiger Woods as he recovered from a nightmare start to his opening round of the 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 baking temperatures in St Louis, only to drop three shots in his first two holes.
But after changing his shirt in a players’ bathroom between the 11th green and 12th tee, Woods fought back to card a level- par 70 to lie five shots off the clubhouse lead held by fellow American Rickie Fowler. He carded six birdies and a solitary bogey in a 65 which gave him a two- shot lead over playing partner Ian Poulter, former world No 1 Jason Day, Austin Cook and Pat Perez.
Defending champion Justin Thomas had been three under after six holes before two bogeys on the inward nine meant he had to settle for a 69, while Rory McIlroy parred his last nine holes in succession in his 70.
Starting on the back nine alongside Thomas and McIlroy, Woods missed the fairway with his drive on the 10th which led to a bogey. He also missed the fairway on the 11th and saw his approach find the water in front of the green, leading to a double bogey. A superb approach to the next set up a tap- in birdie. However, Woods did hole from three feet for birdie on the 18th and 10 feet on the first and another birdie on the par- five eighth completed a superb comeback.
Woods said: “It kept me in the golf tournament. It could easily have gone the other way but I hung in there and turned it around.”
Asked about his change of shirt, Woods added: “I was going to change before the start but there wasn’t a place to change on the 10th tee so I waited until there was a toilet. I sweat a lot in the summer; I’ve tried everything.”