US PGA CHAMPIONSHIP OPENING DAY
RORY'S FAST START TO BE ON LEADERS'
TAIL AT END OF FIRST ROUND
Young Irishman one back of leaders at Valhalla as he attempts to win back-to-back majors
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Rory McIlroy carded eight birdies, one double bogey and one bogey on Thursday at Valhalla. (Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, Kentucky -- In the three majors Rory McIlroy has won, he has never shot higher than 67 in the opening round.
Thursday at Valhalla he was one better, carding a 66 to sit just a stroke off the lead of Lee Westwood, Kevin Chappell and Ryan Palmer after the first round of the PGA Championship.
“I think one of the big things for me, especially in major championships, is getting off to good starts and being right up there at the start,” McIlroy said.
The 25-year-old Northern Irishman has certainly proven to be a fantastic front-runner in his young career. He won his first two majors by eight shots and a few weeks ago went wire-to-wire at Royal Liverpool.
He has also won coming from behind, though, including last week at Firestone where he turned a three-shot deficit at the start of the day into a two-stroke victory.
The ability to recover proved useful again Thursday.
After making the turn in 3 under, McIlroy hit his second shot on 10 out of bounds and went on to make double bogey. One hole later he bogeyed and dropped back to even.
MORE ON PGA CHAMPIONSHIP: Leaderboard | Tiger shoots 74 | Phil just four back | Fowler in contention | Dufner withdraws
Thursday at Valhalla he was one better, carding a 66 to sit just a stroke off the lead of Lee Westwood, Kevin Chappell and Ryan Palmer after the first round of the PGA Championship.
“I think one of the big things for me, especially in major championships, is getting off to good starts and being right up there at the start,” McIlroy said.
The 25-year-old Northern Irishman has certainly proven to be a fantastic front-runner in his young career. He won his first two majors by eight shots and a few weeks ago went wire-to-wire at Royal Liverpool.
He has also won coming from behind, though, including last week at Firestone where he turned a three-shot deficit at the start of the day into a two-stroke victory.
The ability to recover proved useful again Thursday.
After making the turn in 3 under, McIlroy hit his second shot on 10 out of bounds and went on to make double bogey. One hole later he bogeyed and dropped back to even.
MORE ON PGA CHAMPIONSHIP: Leaderboard | Tiger shoots 74 | Phil just four back | Fowler in contention | Dufner withdraws
How did he respond? By making birdie on his next four holes and another on 18 after reaching the par 5 in two.
“Walking on to 12th tee, I was muttering a few things to myself,” McIlroy said. “It was great just to hit that second shot the way I did. Hit it in close. It's one of the toughest par 4s on the course.”
Most of the afternoon, McIlroy made things look easy.
He was second in the field in driving distance at 327.8 yards per clip and hit 12 of 14 fairways. He also hit 13 greens and took 27 putts on a receptive golf course that will only get softer with heavy rain expected Friday.
And that’s just fine with McIlroy.
“No matter what happens, I feel like it's a great set-up for me regardless if there is weather coming in or not,” he said. “You look at the three wins that I've had and I've started really well in each of them.”
Perhaps a fourth isn’t far behind.
“Walking on to 12th tee, I was muttering a few things to myself,” McIlroy said. “It was great just to hit that second shot the way I did. Hit it in close. It's one of the toughest par 4s on the course.”
Most of the afternoon, McIlroy made things look easy.
He was second in the field in driving distance at 327.8 yards per clip and hit 12 of 14 fairways. He also hit 13 greens and took 27 putts on a receptive golf course that will only get softer with heavy rain expected Friday.
And that’s just fine with McIlroy.
“No matter what happens, I feel like it's a great set-up for me regardless if there is weather coming in or not,” he said. “You look at the three wins that I've had and I've started really well in each of them.”
Perhaps a fourth isn’t far behind.
DOUBLE BARRELL: Tom Watson's Ryder Cup team took two hits on
Thursday when Matt Kuchar withdrew with a bad back before teeing off,
and the two bulging discs in Jason Dufner's neck forced him to the
sidelines after 10 holes.
Kuchar, who ranks fifth in the U.S. team standings, had already clinched his spot among the nine automatic qualifiers who will be finalised on Sunday.
Dufner, though, came into his title defense at the PGA ranked No. 8 and certainly in jeopardy.
In fact, Dufner's premature exit means that No. 6 Jordan Spieth is now a lock for the team, according to a tweet sent out by the PGA of America, which conducts the biennial competition along with the European Tour. This year's matches will be held Sept. 23-28 at Gleneagles in Scotland.
"They are falling like flies, we really are," Watson said after shooting a 1-over 72 in the first round. "What's going to happen between now and September 2 when I make my picks is anybody's guess. It's a guess what I have to do. I have to take the information that I have, process it, and see what comes out."
Complicating Watson's decision is Tiger Woods' situation. He had surgery to repair a pinched nerve in his back on March 31 and has only shot in the 60s twice in the 10 rounds he's played since returning to competition.
Not to mention, Woods tweaked his back on Sunday and had to withdraw from the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational. He played on Thursday and shot 74.
Oh, and Phil Mickelson, a veteran of the last 19 U.S. Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup teams, currently ranks 10th in the standings and would need a Captain's Pick if he doesn't move up at least one spot on Sunday. He opened with a 69 at Valhalla.
"I'll be honest, there's not too many people out of the mix," Watson said. "There's still time now between now and September 2 to show. There's three tournaments between now and September 2.
"I don't know how many tournaments these guys are going to play, but there's still time. It's anybody's guess who is going to make the team after Sunday this week, too.
"Phil says, 'I'm going to make the team, Tom. I'm going to make the team. I don't want you to have to use a pick to pick me.' Be honest, straight up. I like that attitude."
Kuchar, who ranks fifth in the U.S. team standings, had already clinched his spot among the nine automatic qualifiers who will be finalised on Sunday.
Dufner, though, came into his title defense at the PGA ranked No. 8 and certainly in jeopardy.
In fact, Dufner's premature exit means that No. 6 Jordan Spieth is now a lock for the team, according to a tweet sent out by the PGA of America, which conducts the biennial competition along with the European Tour. This year's matches will be held Sept. 23-28 at Gleneagles in Scotland.
"They are falling like flies, we really are," Watson said after shooting a 1-over 72 in the first round. "What's going to happen between now and September 2 when I make my picks is anybody's guess. It's a guess what I have to do. I have to take the information that I have, process it, and see what comes out."
Complicating Watson's decision is Tiger Woods' situation. He had surgery to repair a pinched nerve in his back on March 31 and has only shot in the 60s twice in the 10 rounds he's played since returning to competition.
Not to mention, Woods tweaked his back on Sunday and had to withdraw from the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational. He played on Thursday and shot 74.
Oh, and Phil Mickelson, a veteran of the last 19 U.S. Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup teams, currently ranks 10th in the standings and would need a Captain's Pick if he doesn't move up at least one spot on Sunday. He opened with a 69 at Valhalla.
"I'll be honest, there's not too many people out of the mix," Watson said. "There's still time now between now and September 2 to show. There's three tournaments between now and September 2.
"I don't know how many tournaments these guys are going to play, but there's still time. It's anybody's guess who is going to make the team after Sunday this week, too.
"Phil says, 'I'm going to make the team, Tom. I'm going to make the team. I don't want you to have to use a pick to pick me.' Be honest, straight up. I like that attitude."
“It wasn’t very good. A lot of bad shots and I never got a putt to the hole.” -- Tiger Woods, on his 3-over 74
“I thought he (Tiger) played with a lot of heart. It's not easy when your game isn't where you want it and you're hitting shots that you don't be normally hit to fight hard.” – Phil Mickelson, on playing partner Tiger Woods
“I'll play golf again when I'm healthy. That could be at The Barclays, that could be next year, that could be 2016.” -- Jason Dufner, after withdrawing because of two bulging discs in his neck
ALL THE FIRST-ROUND SCORES
Labels: US PRO TOUR
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Friday, August 08, 2014
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