Golf-PGA-Sizzling Tiger takes charge at Hazeltine (Reuters)
August 13, 2009
* Woods in control after flawless round
* Harrington inspired by world number one
By Mark Lamport-Stokes
CHASKA, Minnesota, Aug 13 (Reuters) – Four-times winnerTiger Woods seized control of the U.S. PGA Championship onThursday, firing a flawless five-under-par 67 to snatch an earlyone-shot lead in the opening round.
Fresh from back-to-back wins on the PGA Tour in the last twoweeks, the world number one delivered a superb display from teeto green at Hazeltine National.
In pursuit of his 15th major victory but first this year,Woods birdied three of his last eight holes to finish a strokein front of playing partner Padraig Harrington, the defendingchampion.
Australians Robert Allenby and Mathew Goggin, AmericanHunter Mahan and long-hitting Spaniard Alvaro Quiros were all on69.
Although the 7,674-yard layout is the longest to stage amajor, Woods and company took advantage of its generous fairwaysand softened greens.
“You can be a bit aggressive here,” Woods told reportersafter recording his lowest opening round at the PGA sinceshooting a 66 at Valhalla in 2000.
“I hit the ball really well, even though I didn’t make someputts. It could have been a really low number today,” said theAmerican.
Woods, champion in 1999, 2000, 2006 and 2007, totalled 29putts in his round.
RELISHED GROUPING
Irishman Harrington, who clinched last year’s title by twoshots at Oakland Hills, relished his grouping with the worldnumber one.
“It puts you under a bit more pressure,” the three-timesmajor winner said after hitting five birdies and a lone bogey atthe par-four first.
“You know you have to be on your very best form and itmotivates you well.”
Harrington is bidding for his first victory on either thePGA or European tours this season after working hard on refininghis downswing over the last eight months.
“I feel like I can still get better over the next period oftime but my mind is in the right place,” he said.
U.S. Masters champion Angel Cabrera of Argentina andAmerican world number two Phil Mickelson, the 2005 champion atBaltusrol, were among the late starters.
Weather forecasts expect conditions to remain warm and humidfor the rest of the day with a slight chance of showers andthunderstorms in the afternoon.
(Editing by Tony Jimenez. To query or comment on this storyemail sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
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