Tiger stumbles badly as Stricker sets pace

Aug 11, 2011, 20:31 GMT

Atlanta, Georgia - Former world number one Tiger Woods started his tournament well Thursday at the PGA Championship but quickly crashed at the Atlanta Athletic club and stands 14 strokes off the pace set by fellow US player Steve Stricker.

Woods, who has won 14 majors in his career but has been beset by injury and personal problems over the last two years, shot a 77, seven-over par.

The 35-year-old was three under after five holes, but three double bogies and a further five bogies left him visibly frustrated on a day when he hit the ball in the water twice.

'I'm not down,' Woods said after the erratic round, the worst in his career at the PGA. 'I'm really angry right now.'

Woods has won the tournament four times, the last time in 2007, but he has not claimed any major victory since the 2008 US Open.

In contrast, Stricker, the highest rated US player in the world at number five, has never won a major in 52 tries, but he is in pole position to break the record streak of six majors without a US champion.

The 44-year-old failed to convert a 10-foot putt on the final hole in John's Creek, Georgia, to just miss becoming the first player ever to shoot a 62 at a major championship.

Five of the top six players on the leaderboard are currently from the United States, as Stricker has a two-stroke lead over Jerry Kelly, in with a 65, and a three-shot advantage over Scott Verplank as well as still-playing Shaun Michael and Ryan Palmer, with South African Trevor Immelman also at three under.

'I didn't make too many birdies the first three days during the practice rounds,' Stricker said. 'I got off to a good start, and it kind of got me going.'

British Open champion Darren Clarke was playing in the afternoon with his Northern Irish compatriot, US Open champion Rory McIlroy, and was one-over after seven holes.

McIlroy injured his wrist while hitting a ball that landed along a tree root, but after being examined by a trainer who said that he would not make the injury worse, the 22-year-old continued with his round. He is even after eight holes and is continuing to receive treatment for the injury.

Defending champion Martin Kaymer is plus-two after 10 holes with three bogeys and a birdie so far.