US PGA Championship 2013: Woods suffers a fumble as Scott and Furyk take first round lead
Adam Scott of Australia hits his tee shot on the 17th hole during the first round of the 95th PGA Championship on August 8, 2013 in Rochester, New York. (Getty Images)
The golfers must be a relieved lot. After dealing with courses that would not offer a blade of grass, they are biting sumptuous chunks off the course at the Oak Hill Country Club. There was rain during the night and the air was thick with moisture, softening up the course to a state of mute agreement.
The final major of the season is underway, with the scribes wondering if Tiger Woods might break his duck. But it was Adam Scott and Jim Furyk, who surged to the first round lead with some consummate golf, signing off with a 65.
Hanging to their tails were Lee Westwood and David Hearn, who carded 66 to provide for an engaging start to the PGA Championship in Rochester, New York.
Woods is coming off a runaway eight stroke victory at the World Golf Championship in Bridgestone; expectations were naturally high. The world number one managed only a couple of birdies before his round unravelled after the turn.
Woods made bogey at the par-5 fourth and then added to the damage with a double at the final hole. He made the turn in 33 but took 38 to return home, leaving himself with plenty of work on Friday to catch up with the men in front.
The Masters champion had no such worries. Scott, playing in the afternoon with Phil Mickelson and Justin Rose, reeled away five straight birdies from the fourth to leap up the leader board. Scott seemed set to emulate or better the best championship round at Oak Hill when he took one more off the card at the par-3 15th.
But he needed three strokes on the green at the 16th, to offer one back to the course and settle for a 65. “Just got on a bit of a roll and hit a few shots close,” said the Aussie. “I didn’t have too much putting to do. You’ve got to take advantage when it happens, because it doesn’t happen too much in the majors. Nothing to complain about in 65.”
At 43, Furyk is a veteran with some vintage in his bag. His only major came ten years ago at the US Open. Just last year, Furyk was in a share of the lead at the US Open again with only three holes left to play. He frittered away the advantage to finish in a tie for fourth. For a man with memories and miles under his belt, Furyk did a fine job on Thursday, before spilling one on the ninth, which was his final hole for the day.