Fowler smoking at steamy PGA

ST. LOUIS » Rickie Fowler took the first step toward celebrating his own major championship Thursday.

Three times a runner-up in golf’s biggest events, Fowler ran off five birdies over his final 11 holes at Bellerive and opened with a 5-under 65, giving him a two-shot lead among the morning side of the draw in the PGA Championship.

Still only 29, Fowler already is considered among the best players without a major. It hasn’t been a lack of effort. He was runnerup at the Masters in April, and he had a chance at the PGA Championship last year at Quail Hollow.

“It’s not something I necessarily worry about,” Fowler said. “Keep putting ourselves in position, get in contention ... we have had plenty of runner-ups. Jack (Nicklaus) had a lot of runnerups. We’ll just keep beating down that door.”

Bellerive was accessible in muggy, soft conditions, but still plenty punishing for those who got out of position.

Tiger Woods salvaged his hopes with an important turnaround. He had to make an 8-foot bogey putt on the 10th hole to start his round, put a wedge into the water and made double bogey on his next hole and had a couple of par saves that kept it from being worse. But with a birdie at the turn, another to start the back nine and solid play the rest of the way, he scratched out a 70.

“A lot of things could happen. Not a lot them were positive,” Woods said. “But I hung in there and turned it around. Just happy to be within five right now.”

Ian Poulter, Jason Day and Stewart Cink were among seven players at 67, while Hideki Matsuyama and Webb Simpson were part of the group at 68. Justin Thomas, trying to join Woods as the only back-to-back winners of the PGA in stroke play, let a good

CHARLIE RIEDEL — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Rickie Fowler watches a putt on the fifth hole during the first round of the PGA Championship at Bellerive Country Club, Thursday in St. Louis.