GW News: McIlroy starts well, Westwood in front and Tiger toils. Rory McIlroy is just a shot off the lead heading into the second round of the PGA Championship.
The Northern Irishman started his back nine with a double bogey but he responded by birdying five of the final seven holes to finish five under par.
"I think one of the big things for me, especially in major championships is getting off to goodstats and being right up there at the start. I have been able to do that today, and if I can continue to be up there the rest of the tournament. You see guys out there this morning shoot 5 and 6-under par, you know that there are scores out there, there's opportunities. You got the par-5s, you got a few shorter par-4s. It's still receptive and there's definitely birdies out there to be had."
It’s another Brit, Lee Westwood, who has a share of the lead. His opening 65 is his best start to a PGA Championship.
Westwood is joined by Kevin Chappell and Ryan Palmer at six under par, whilst McIlroy, Jim Furyk, Henrik Stenson and Chris Wood are all lurking a shot back.
One person who I haven’t mentioned yet is Tiger Woods. Winner here in 2000, he struggled with an opening round 74.
It wasn't very good. A lot of bad shots and I never got a putt to the hole. I hit them all my lines. Just for some reason I thought they were going to be a little bit quicker, and I didn't make the adjustment well enough. I had plenty of looks to turn my round around and then post something even par, even under par. Yeah, I get to under par by the end of tomorrow, whatever that is, or end of my second round. If we get storms, it could be Saturday. If I get under par for two rounds, that will be right in the ball game.
Although Tiger fought through the pain barrier two players who couldn’t were defending champion Jason Dufner and Matt Kuchar.
Kuchar pulled out before his round with back pain, whilst last year’s winner, Dufner, withdrew after 10 holes due to pain caused by a neck injury.
And finally Chris Wood gave a new meaning to the phrase ‘tearing it up’.
The Englishman embarrassingly ripped his trousers just two holes into his five under round of 66. Woods made do with his caddy’s waterproofs before his manager fetched him another pair from his hotel room.
Well that’s all for today, join us on Monday when we’ll bring you all the reaction from the PGA Championship.
Before then follow us on Twitter @golfingworldtv for the latest happenings in Valhalla and we’re also on Facebook and Instagram too, bye for now.
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