Tiger Woods Starts PGA Championship with 1-Over Par 72

Tiger Woods, aware of his competitive rust compared to the bulk of this week’s PGA Championship field, still holds himself to the highest standards.

Woods began the 106th PGA Championship with a 1-over 72, a morning marked by mixed fortunes in Louisville, Kentucky. Navigating through errant tee shots, he managed to stay around par for much of his opening round at Valhalla Golf Club. A mid-round surge saw him briefly dip into red figures, but consecutive three-putt bogeys at the close left him with a disappointing finish. He’s currently ten strokes behind Xander Schauffele, who set the PGA Championship’s single-round record with a scintillating 9-under 62.

The round mirrored his first at last month’s Masters (1-over 73), characterized by a fluctuating performance yet ending near the projected cut line. Woods followed that with a second-round 72 at The Masters, securing a tournament record 24th consecutive cut. He aims to replicate this achievement on Friday, hoping for a stronger start than Thursday’s initial three holes, where he was fortunate to escape just 1-over before finding his rhythm.

Valhalla Golf Club holds special memories for Woods, as his 2000 PGA Championship victory here (outlasting Bob May in a dramatic three-hole playoff) was the third leg of the “Tiger Slam," completed at the 2001 Masters. Woods’ dominant wins at the 2000 U.S. Open and The Open by a combined 23 strokes set the stage for the memorable duel with May at Valhalla. While another Wanamaker Trophy might be a tall order this weekend, making the cut for a second consecutive major remains within reach for Woods.

Wood is listed at +1400 to have a top-20 finish at the 2024 PGA Championship on the FanDuel Sportsbook. 

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