The three headline acts had the stage to themselves. Tiger Woods, the miracle man. Jordan Spieth, the Grand Slam chaser. Rory McIlroy, daring to believe again. And as the trio worked their ways through the undulating, tree-lined course of Southern Hills in the 104th US PGA Championship in Tulsa, the one who separated away to take centre stage was the Northern Irishman who opened with a wonderfully crafted five-under-par 65 to claim the clubhouse lead.
At times in the opening round of the season’s second Major, the three players joked as if on a social outing. When Tiger Woods pulled a mammoth homemade sandwich wrapped in tin foil from his bag to consume during a delay on the 14th, their fifth hole, the wise-cracking interaction between them told its own story.
But, by the end, the serious faces had replaced the mirth.
In Woods’ case, there were also grimaces of pain at times as his damaged right leg sent shooting pains through his system. “I just …
- May 20, 2022
