LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The marquee group of Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Padraig Harrington at the 96th P.G.A. Championship failed to produce any of the drama expected Thursday as no one in the group made a significant charge up the first-round leader board at Valhalla Golf Club.
Woods, who appeared unaffected by his recent back injuries, played the worst of the three, finishing with a three-over-par 74. Woods's putting was his downfall, as it often is now, as he missed a series of makable birdie putts. Mickelson registered a solid one-under-par 69,. Mickelson's short game bailed him out of several tough spots and kept him within shouting distance of the leaders. Harrington shot a two-over-par 73.
At roughly the midpoint of the first round Thursday, the early leaders were Lee Westwood and Kevin Chappell, who each shot a six-under-par 65. Westwood, who has never won a major championship, had nine birdies to go along with a bogey and a double bogey. Westwood, often called the best golfer without a major victory, has had a disappointing year so far, missing the cut at the British Open and the United States Open.
Chappell, a 28-year-old Californian playing in his second P.G.A. Championship, had six birdies and no bogeys. Chappell's ascent to the top of the early leader board was as unexpected as Westwood's. Chappell has had just one top-10 finish on the PGA Tour this season.
Woods was swinging without inhibition and without any apparent discomfort from the back issues that have plagued him this year. Woods hit multiple good drives, but his approach shots were inconsistent and his putting constantly demoralized him. The only birdie Woods made came when he chipped in from just off the 16th green.
On the first hole he played, Woods, who began his round on the 10th tee, missed a 12-foot birdie putt and stomped his foot in exasperation. Those kinds of displays continued throughout the day as numerous birdie putts either rolled left or right of the hole.
On the fourth hole, he left another birdie putt inches short and again was visibly frustrated. On the next hole, he missed another makable birdie putt. Two holes later, a birdie putt lipped out. Once an almost peerless clutch putter in crucial situations, Woods missed opportunity after opportunity on the greens Thursday.
Mickelson, meanwhile, was wayward off the tee and lost several strokes because of it. He did make a series of brilliant recoveries around the greens, and considering how erratic some of his tees shots were, was fortunate to be at two under. Mickelson also closed strong with birdies on two of his last three holes.
Post By http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/08/sports/golf/pga-championship-2014-tiger-woods-lee-westwood-kevin-chappell.html
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