Golf:Tiger Woods emerged from the fog — in the air and perhaps in his head too — to give his battered confidence a much-needed boost when the final major of the season began today. Bad visibility delayed the start of the United States PGA Championship for over three hours at Whistling Straits.
But when conditions eventually cleared beside Lake Michigan the world number one — a shocking joint 78th out of 80 in last week’s world championship — grabbed three quick birdies.
Three under par after four holes was obviously a massive improvement on 18 over par after 72 in Akron, but a bogey on the 518-yard par four 15th did follow and by turning in 34 he was two behind fellow American Charles Howell.
It wasn’t all plain sailing from there, but Woods birdied the last to sign for a one under round of 71.
Former winner Padraig Harrington managed only 39 for the back nine, taking six at the long 11th, going onto the rocks for a double bogey on the 223-yard 17th and then dropping another shot at the next.
It didn’t get any better on the front nine and Harrington faces a struggle to stay in the championship after finishing on three over.
The length of the delay made it almost impossible that the first round would be completed before nightfall.
US Masters champion Phil Mickelson had been scheduled to tee off from the first at 7.35pm with US Open winner Graeme McDowell and British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa.
That was revised to 10.45pm while Rory McIlroy (10.15pm), Darren Clarke (10.05pm) and Shane Lowry (10.45pm) are all out on the course but unlikely to finish this evening.