Woodland chops away to claim lead
ST LOUIS: Journeyman Gary Woodland, who has never posted a top10 finish in a major, found himself leading after the first round of the PGA Championship yesterday, firing a 6under 64 to nudge Rickie Fowler out of top spot.
For most of the day, Fowler had ruled the leaderboard after launching his quest for his first major with a 65 but could only watch as Woodland mounted an unexpected charge.
‘‘Definitely in the majors it’s frustrating,’’ Woodland, whose best results are 12thplace finishes at the 2011 PGA and 2016 British Open, said.
‘‘The record of mine, I don’t even have a top10. I think 12 is the best I’ve ever finished, which is frustrating because I feel like where I am and where I should be is not results that I have had.’’
‘‘The short game has really held me back. I hit the ball beautifully, but to contend week in, week out I have to get better in those areas.
‘‘And it’s been coming together. The putting was the last thing, because I’ve been hitting the ball very well.
‘‘Now when I get out of position I have the short game to give myself a chance, and to see putts go in today was very, very cool.’’
Many of the favourites to claim the year’s final major sweated it out on a sweltering day at Bellerive Country Club, including Tiger Woods who got off to a bogey, doublebogey start and spent the rest of his round undoing the damage to salvage a 70.
The 14time major winner was in a group with twice PGA champion Rory McIlroy who also returned a 70 and world No 2 and defending champion Justin Thomas, who opened with 69.
Things did not look bright for Woodland when he bogeyed the first hole and could not get in gear reeling off six successive pars.
The 34yearold American, however, raced into the turn with birdies at eight and nine, then rode that momentum into an errorfree back nine featuring five birdies.
Fowler was also slow at the start, mixing two birdies with what would be his only bogey of the day.
But after the turn he also found his form carding four more birdies to sit alone in second, one clear of Zach Johnson and South African Brandon Stone.
World No 1 Dustin Johnson, Australian 2015 PGA champion Jason Day, British 2013 US Open winner Justin Rose and Stewart Cink, the 2009 British Open champ, were among the group of 11 players on 67.
Widely regarded as the best player yet to bag a major, Fowler has come close, posting topfive results in all four majors, including second at the Masters in April.
The flamboyant American burst on to the scene as a 20yearold, instantly identifiable by his fluorescent kit that attracted the young fan demographic the golf industry coveted.
The electric yellow and orange outfits have been largely replaced but the objective remains unchanged.
This PGA Championship represents Fowler’s last shot at claiming a major before entering his 30s in December.
‘‘I always have hope,’’ Fowler said.
‘‘I know Phil [Mickelson] didn’t win until his 30s. I don’t know the exact numbers, but it’s not something I necessarily worry about.
‘‘Keep putting ourselves in position, get in contention, we have had plenty of runnerups. Jack [Nicklaus] had a lot of runnerups. We’ll just keep beating down that door.’’ — Reuters