McIlroy grabs PGA Championship lead as Woods falters

TULSA: Rory McIlroy got the dream start that has eluded him at recent majors to grab the first-round lead at the PGA Championship on Thursday, outshining the two other members of his ‘super group’ Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth.

While Woods (74) and Spieth (72) laboured, McIlroy made it look all too easy at Southern Hills Country Club by carding a five-under 65, his best opening round at a major since the 2011 US Open.

That was good enough for a one-stroke advantage over Will Zalatoris and Tom Hoge, with Matt Kuchar, Justin Thomas and Mexico’s Abraham Ancer returning 67s to sit two adrift.

Starting on the back nine, McIlroy’s day featured a stretch of four straight birdies from the 12th, his longest such run at a major, then added two more after the turn before picking up bogeys at six and eight.

But McIlroy would make sure the round would end on an upbeat note by rolling in an 19-footer for birdie at the last.

His score on Thursday makes him the first player to shoot 65 or better in the final round of one major and 65 or better in the first round of the next.

“I’ve been playing well coming in here,” said McIlroy, twice winner of the PGA Championship. “I’ve been carrying some good form.

“I think when your game is feeling like that, it’s just a matter of going out there and really sticking to your game plan, executing as well as you possibly can, and just sort of staying in your own little world.”

However, Woods will need to rebound after slumping to a four-over 74.

“It was a frustrating day,” said Woods, adding that his leg did not feel as good as he thought it would.

“Loading hurts, pressing off it hurts, and walking hurts, and twisting hurts.

“It’s just golf.”

It was also a day of frustration for Spieth as his bid to complete the career Grand Slam of golf’s four majors got off to an unimpressive start with a scrappy 72.