Tiger Woods falls behind by six strokes in the first round of the 95th USA PGA Championship 2013 while Jim Furyk takes lead. Sports analysts speculate that Woods must have a share of a lead after three rounds to ensure his chance of winning the Wanamaker Trophy.
Tiger Woods has stayed on par through his first three holes on Thursday at the 95th PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club, East Course, Rochester, New York. PH: Edward M. Pio Roda/PGA.com
The Wanamaker Trophy on the 1st Tee on Thursday at the 95th PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club, East Course, Rochester, New York. PH: Edward M. Pio Roda/PGA.com
Of the 78 who teed off in the morning, 23 were ahead of Woods, according to the Telegraph. Tiger Woods shot 71 in the first round, and maintains his confidence in winning the championship.
“Realistically, that round should have been under par easily,” Woods said, the Telegraph reports. “I feel like I played well today and make some key putts.”
The big names include Adam Scott, who made five consecutive birdies starting at No. 4. He shares the lead with Jim Furyk at 65. Scott won this year’s Masters.
Pouring rain stopped the action for 70 minutes on Thursday at the East Hill Country Club in Rochester, New York.
“I have nothing to complain about after a 65,” Scott said, the USA Today reports. “The greens were soft, and that was by Mother Nature more than anything. So if they firm up little bit, we’re going to have a tough test over the next three days.”
Meanwhile, Mickelson, the 2005 PGA champion, won his first British Open last month and says he’s playing the best golf of his career. He shot 71.
Rory Mcllroy, the defending champion and former No. 1, shot a 69.
Thursday competition was held on Oak Hill’s East Course for 16 holes. Before the championship is decided, players face the two toughest holes before signing their scorecards – the 509-yard 17th and the 497-yard 18th.
According to USA Today, Graeme McDowell said, “This rough is getting nothing but thicker. Pins will get tougher. Let’s hope we don’t get too much rain. I’d like to see this course firm up just a tad, and just keep everyone honest a little bit.”
The 2010 U.S. Open champion said that “there was barely a draft of win” in the first round. With the sun in the forecast, the fairways will be dried out and greens firmed up.
Until now, 35 players are under par, and 49 were at par or better.
The first tee time is set at 7:10 a.m. on Friday morning. The PGA Championship game will end on August 11, 2013.
The second round coverage will be on TV via TNT on Friday, starting at 1 p.m. EST and ending around 7 p.m. EST. PGA.com will offer a live stream of two Marquee groups, beginning at 8:30 a.m. EST, as well as a steam dedicated to coverage of the Par 3 holes, starting at 1 p.m. EST, running until 7 p.m. EST.
The tournament continues Saturday and wraps up with the final round on Sunday, televised on CBS.
