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Lee Westwood blazes the trail in US PGA as Tiger Woods toils Lee Westwood blazes the trail in US PGA as Tiger Woods toils
(about 4 hours later)
This followed the only logical script for everyone except Tiger Woods, which is perhaps part of the problem. Just as he had done at last month’s Open, Woods declared in advance of the US PGA Championship that he was here to win. Of course he was; this is Tiger Woods. This followed the only logical script for Tiger Woods, for all that he may be unwilling to admit it. Lee Westwood’s day at Valhalla was altogether different, just at a time when the Englishman would so benefit from time in the limelight. After 18 US PGA Championship holes the gap between the pair was nine strokes in Westwood’s favour.
The issue is that public statements of intent are not backed up by results any more; maybe Woods should set about lowering expectations, owing to a clear extenuating circumstance such as injury, despite the blow such a stance might be to the 14-times major winner’s ego. Rory McIlroy? Suffice to say there is no reason to remove his status as the clear favourite for this tournament after his latest eventful day at work. An ominous Friday weather forecast will play further into the Northern Irishman’s hands.
Woods chopped and scrambled his way around Valhalla in the first round of the season’s final major. The result was a 74, three-over par, at a venue which has hardly been set up as ferocious. Woods’s aim must be solely to make the cut, which would constitute a decent achievement given his back problems. Just as at last month’s Open, Woods declared in advance of the final major of the year that he was here to win. Of course he was; it would be unlike Tiger to say anything else. The issue is that public statements of intent are not backed up by results any more; maybe Woods should set about the lowering of expectations, owing to a clear extenuating circumstance such as injury, despite the blow such a stance may offer to the 14-time major winner’s ego.
The 38-year-old recorded only one birdie, that coming as the result of a chip-in. Throughout his round, he struggled to adequately judge the pace of the greens. Woods chopped and scrambled his way around Valhalla on day one of the season’s final major. The end result was a 74, three-over par, at a venue which has hardly been set up as ferocious. Woods’s Fridayaim must be solely to make the cut, which would constitute a decent achievement given his ongoing back problems.
Woods played only nine pre-tournament holes and walked the other half at a course that has changed beyond recognition since he triumphed in a US PGA play-off 14 years ago. The dream-induced case for him being successful this time was not borne out by reality. The 38-year-old recorded just a single birdie, that coming as the result of a chip-in. Throughout his round, Woods struggled to adequately judge the pace of the greens.
Playing the back nine first, the first Woods’ club slam arrived after a pulled tee shot on the 14th. The 2nd bore witness to an audible “For fuck’s sake, Tiger”; a dropped shot there moved him out to three-over, where he was to remain. He had only played nine pre-tournament holes – and walked the other half –at a venue which has changed beyond recognition since he triumphed in a US PGA play-off 14 years ago. The dream-induced case for him being successful in this event was not borne out by reality.
He plodded along thereafter until a tee shot on the 7th that proved further right than Nick Griffin. Woods at least had the good grace to miss his 6ft putt for birdie at the par five, after a free drop from an area in a different postcode to the rest of the hole. Playing the back nine first, the first club slam arrived after a pulled tee shot on the 14th. The 2nd bore witness to an audible “for fuck’s sake, Tiger”; a dropped shot there moved him out to three-over. He plodded along thereafter, until a tee shot on the 7th, which proved further right than Nick Griffin.
In the midst of these struggles, a little-known PGA Tour player named Parker McLachlin took to Twitter. McLachlin’s broadside was at Woods’s coach, Sean Foley. Woods at least had the good grace to miss his 6ft putt for birdie at the par five after a free drop from an area in a different postcode to the rest of the hole.
“Dear Tiger,” McLachlin posted. “Please turn off your brain and leave Foley on the range. You’ll stop missing it both ways. Yours sincerely, a player who has been there.” Never mind Westwood, Woods trails Colin Montgomerie by four and Tom Watson, the US Ryder Cup captain, outscored him by two.
Ouch. Criticism of Foley is harsh on the basis Woods is commonly compared with the golfer and physical specimen of his prime. He is a long way from that now, in both senses. Others in the field made hay. It would seem faintly ridiculous if Westwood, a veteran of eight Ryder Cups, a positive team-room influence and top-10 finisher at both the Masters and Players Championship this year, is not part of the European contingent at Gleneagles in September. Westwood’s case, though, has not really been talked up by the captain Paul McGinley so far.
Yet there is a rising tendency from those within the game to cite technical shortcomings in the Woods’ swing as holding back his attempts at progress. The player is surely educated enough in his professional life to realise if Foley’s influence was detrimental. A successful four days here would completely change that dynamic. Westwood is off to a flying start courtesy of a superb 65 which included a double-bogey at the 1st, his 10th, and only 25 putts. The 41-year-old birdied his closing four holes in a row to play the outward half of the course in 32 shots.
As Woods toiled, others made hay. It would seem faintly ridiculous if Lee Westwood, a veteran of eight Ryder Cups, positive team-room influence and top-10 finisher at the Masters and Players Championship this year is not part of the European contingent at Gleneagles in September. Westwood’s case, though, has not really been talked up by the captain Paul McGinley so far. This marked Westwood’s lowest career round on day one of a major and the perfect follow-up to a Sunday 63 at last weekend’s WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.
A positive four rounds here would completely change that dynamic. Westwood is off to a flying start courtesy of a superb 65 that included a double-bogey at the 1st, his 10th, and only 25 putts. He birdied his closing four holes in a row to play the outward half of the course in 32 shots. This marked Westwood’s lowest career round in day one of a major and the perfect follow-up to a fourth-round 63 at last weekend’s WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. “Last week was big for me, I felt like I turned a corner,” Westwood said. “I was starting to swing the club a lot better but that is no good unless you start converting it into low rounds. Then obviously I got things going on the final day. I tried to keep it low-key in the practice rounds here and carry my momentum through to the first round, which I’ve managed to do by making nine birdies.”
“Last week was big for me, I felt like I turned a corner,” Westwood said. “I was starting to swing the club a lot better but that is no good unless you start converting it into low rounds. Then obviously I got things going on the final day. I tried to keep it low-key in the practice rounds here, carry my momentum through to the first round, which I’ve managed to do by making nine birdies.” McIlroy reached the turn in three-under and had bookmakers diving for cover before a wild second shot to the 10th resulted in a double-bogey. The Open champion then missed a short putt on 11 to bounce himself back to even par.
Perhaps Westwood felt somehow at home. His career run without a major win is infamous but Valhalla’s long, wide holes make it tricky to distinguish this tournament from a regular one on the US PGA Tour. He roared back brilliantly, with a stunning exhibition of iron play which led to four birdies in succession. His driving was not bad either, as demonstrated by a 335-yard tee shot on the 17th. He eventually signed for a 66.
Other Europeans in prominent positions include Edoardo Molinari, 66; Joost Luiten, who signed for a 68 and Victor Dubuisson, 69. Injury has disrupted Ian Poulter’s year but his 68 also hinted that he could be on the verge of a timely return to form. Rickie Fowler has finished inside the top five of the year’s previous three majors and is on course to do so again. The American’s Valhalla bid began with a two-under 69. Like McIlroy, Henrik Stenson profited from an afternoon draw. The Swede’s 66 leaves him finely poised. So, too, is Ian Poulter at three-under.
The latest bad news for Tom Watson had been delivered by Matt Kuchar earlier in the day. A back injury forced Kuchar to withdraw from the US PGA before striking a competitive ball; the US Ryder Cup captain is struggling quite enough for experienced performers without Kuchar suffering an enforced Gleneagles absence. Elsewhere, the latest bad news for Watson was delivered by Matt Kuchar and Jason Dufner. A back injury forced Kuchar to withdraw before striking a competitive ball. Dufner, the 2013 champion, lasted 10 holes before departing the scene with the recurrence of a neck issue. At this rate Watson might have to pick himself. Or even Woods.