Tiger Woods began his quest for a 16th major title Thursday with an ill-starred double bogey at formidable Bethpage Black in the 101st PGA Championship.
Sixth-ranked Woods, coming off a Masters victory that snapped an 11-year major win drought, stumbled badly in an early back-nine start by the feature trio of reigning major champions.
Defending champion and playing partner Brooks Koepka opened with a 40-foot chip-in birdie while British Open champion Francesco Molinari salvaged bogey after losing his tee shot left into the tall Long Island weeds.
The trio began at the par-4 10th in cool and sunny conditions at the first PGA Championship played in May since 1949, the event moving from August this year in a revamp of the global golf schedule.
From one of Bethpage's toughest tees, Woods missed the fairway and found the rough, hit a layup then went over the green and chipped to six feet. But he lipped the right edge on his bogey putt to make double bogey.
Molinari found the fairway with his second tee shot, reached the green and two-putted for bogey.
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Koepka found the fairway but went over the green on his approach only to sink a magnificent chip-in birdie and share the early lead.
With a victory, Koepka would become the first player to own back-to-back titles at two majors at the same time.
"I like my chances this week," he said. "I'm playing good. If I do what I'm supposed to do, then I think I'd be tough to beat."
"It was great to see him win," Koepka said. "I was a little bit disappointed. I felt like I let it slip a little bit. But at the same time, that's what our sport needed. We needed him to win a major."
- Drives, stamina are key -
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"You've got to hit it not only straight but you've got to hit it far."
"There's definitely going to be a component to stamina as the week goes on," Woods said. "Four days over a tough championship that is mentally and physically taxing takes its toll."
- Tiger eyes number one -
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