#Tiger Woods in PGA Championship mix after first round
“#Tiger Woods in PGA Championship mix after first round”
But Woods delivered on Thursday at Harding Park despite his tournament inactivity, carding a 2-under 68 to stand just three shots out of the lead held by Jason Day and Brendon Todd. The 68 marked the first time Woods has posted a sub-70 opening round in a major championship since the 2014 British Open.
“I thought anything in the red [under par] was going to be good,’’ Woods said.
Woods was paired with Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas, the No. 1 ranked player in the world, and bested both of them with McIlroy shooting 70 and Thomas 71.
Woods made five birdies and three bogeys, hit 7 of 14 fairways, 12 of 18 greens and took 28 putts. His two biggest putts were a 10-footer he made for a par save on No. 18, which was his ninth hole of the day, a 10-foot birdie putt on No. 10 to open his round and a 35-foot birdie bomb on 13.
He did it using a new longer version of the Scotty Cameron putter he’s used for most of his career, joking that even the putter he’s won 14 of his 15 majors with needs to be “benched’’ from time to time.
Of the four Met Area club pros in the field, Rob Labritz had the best day, shooting a 1-over 71. After a bogey on the first hole, Labritz carded three birdies to get to 2-under through seven holes. But bogeys on Nos. 8 and 9 derailed the run. Then he bogeyed 18, his final hole of the day to fall on the bad side of par.
“Bogey on the last after a solid drive was a bummer,’’ Labritz said. “I’d have liked to have taken even-par. I’m disappointed to shoot over par. I definitely hit the ball good enough to shoot under par.’’
Alex Beach, from Westchester Country Club, shot 73; Danny Balin, from Fresh Meadow on Long Island, shot 74; and Jason Caron, from Mill River Club on Long Island, shot 76.
Balin lamented his lack of playing reps because Fresh Meadow has been so busy during the pandemic.
“I’m tired; it’s been a long year,’’ Balin said after his round. “We’re just doing a lot of rounds and are busy at the club because everybody’s working from home. It’s a great thing for golf, but as an employee of the club … ’’
Balin is also qualified for the U.S. Open at Winged Foot, which is 15 minutes from his home in White Plains, so he has another guaranteed major championship left to play this year.
Bryson DeChambeau cannot seem to stay out of the news. His latest attention-grabbing moment came when he accidentally snapped the head of his driver off while leaning on the club when picking up a tee on the seventh hole.
The local rule allowed him to replace the shaft, so an official brought one of his coaches to the parking lot in a cart, and by the time DeChambeau teed off on No. 9, he had a new shaft to play and birdied the next two holes. DeChambeau finished with a 2-under 68.
“It was surprising,’’ DeChambeau said. “I just went over to pick up my tee, leaned on it a little, and the thing just … see ya later. It’s through wear and tear. This material isn’t going to last forever, no matter how strong you make it, but that thing has lasted over a year swinging it over 200-mile-an-hour ball speeds.’’
… Bud Cauley, who got into the field as an alternate, is a shot off the lead, and Alex Noren, who also got in on Wednesday when Vaughn Taylor (injury) withdrew, is two shots back.
If you want to read more Sports News articles, you can visit our General category.
if you want to watch Movies or Tv Shows go to Dizi.BuradaBiliyorum.Com for forums sites go to Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com
