LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Tiger Woods figures it took him three holes to get back into the “competitive flow” of tournament golf on Thursday at Valhalla.
It may take more than familiar vibes for Woods to stick around for the weekend at the PGA Championship. Like birdies. Maybe a bunch of them.
The 48-year-old plodded his way to a 1-over 72 during the first round, well off Xander Schauffele’s early record-setting pace and Woods’ 10th straight round of even-par or worse at a major dating back to the 2022 PGA.
The issue this time wasn’t his health or the winding, occasionally hilly layout at the course tucked into the eastern Louisville suburbs. It was rust.
Woods hit it just as far as playing partners Keegan Bradley and Adam Scott. He scrambled his way out of trouble a few times. He gave himself a series of birdie looks, particularly on his second nine. He simply didn’t sink enough of them.