By Ben James Aug 14, 2009, 0:22 GMT
Hazeltine, Minnesota - Tiger Woods produced a huge statement of intent as he carded a flawless five-under-par 67 to set the pace midway through the first round of the US PGA Championship, the final Major of the year.
The world No 1, chasing his 15th Major but his first since the US Open of last year, threw down the gauntlet to his challengers at Hazeltine National in Minnesota, picking up five birdies with not a single bogey on his card as he finished one shot clear of defending champion Padraig Harrington.
A group of players including Vijay Singh of Fiji and Robert Allenby of Australia were one shot back on 3-under-par, while world No 2 Phil Mickelson struggled to a 2-over-par 74, seven shots off the pace.
But the early stages of the event were all about Woods and Harrington, who were paired together.
'I hit the ball well pretty much all day,' Woods said. 'I didn't make many putts. If I had it could have been a really low number.
'I'm very comfortable with how I'm playing. The way the course is set up, you can be aggressive, make a few more birdies going at the flags.'
Woods and Harrington had gone head to head in the final round of the WGC event at Firestone at the weekend and the pair were again the headline attraction.
Beginning at the 10th hole on what is the longest course in Major history, at 7,674 yards, Woods drove the ball beautifully and was out in 34 thanks to birdies at the 12th hole and the 642-yard 15th.
Harrington matched him with birdies at 12 and 16, but a bogey at the first dropped him back to 1-under through 10 holes.
Woods immediately stepped on the gas, picking up birdies at the 2nd and 3rd holes, but Irishman Harrington bounced back with back-to- back birdies of his own.
Harrington then joined Woods on 4-under with a birdie at the 6th hole, but world No 1 Woods birdied the 7th and parred the last two holes to finish on 5-under-par, top of the pile.
Harrington said he was delighted to have kept pace with Woods, almost, and put himself in a strong position.
'First day of a Major it's always good to keep yourself in there,' he said. 'I think I probably did a little bit more than that. Anytime you break 70 you've got to be very pleased.
'So I'm happy with the score. It's obviously a little bit tough when you're coming back to defend the tournament. There's a little bit more spotlight and focus. So, yeah, shooting 68's a good start.'
Englishman Lee Westwood finished on 2-under-par, the same as Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland, while another Northern Irishman, Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia of Spain were tied on 1-under-par after 71s.
Westwood said he was disappointed not to have gone lower than 70.
'It could have been a little bit better,' he said. 'I struggled a little bit to get things going.
'I played very solidly. I'll go on the range and the putting green and try and work a few things out and come out tomorrow and try to shoot 64 or something like that because I'm sure it's out there.'
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