Tiger Woods wandering Southern Hills Country Club alone at the PGA Championship would attract interest. But for the first two rounds of the year’s second major, Woods will be in the marquee group of marquee groups — with Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth alongside him.
Watch Woods’ first round on ESPN+ | Get ESPN+ here | Download the app
Woods enters the event admittedly stronger than he was a month ago at the Masters, where he made his return to competitive golf after 14 months away because of a single-car crash in February 2021 that nearly cost him his right leg.
So, can he contend? Woods has also said he doesn’t enter a tournament unless he thinks he can win.
We chart his every movement during the first round of the PGA Championship:
No. 10: Par 4, 376 yards
There are still 71 holes remaining, but the first hole of Woods’ PGA Championship could not have gone any better. He striped a 3-wood 339 yards, which, of course, came with a club twirl.
Tiger tees off.@TigerWoods | #PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/k9MFJqAcu3
— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 19, 2022
He then perfectly executed a little wedge from 95 yards to 3 feet. That putt was right in the center, and he began his tour around Southern Hills with a picture-perfect birdie.
Dialed in early.@TigerWoods | #PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/3G9mL1fSy6
— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 19, 2022
Score: Birdie
Total: 1 under
No. 11: Par 3, 173 yards
Woods took a conservative approach on his second hole of the day, hitting a solid 8-iron into the middle of the green. He lagged his birdie putt up to kick-in range. Two holes in, and no drama so far.
Score: Par
Total: 1 under
