US PGA Championship: Tiger Woods disappointed with 74 in opening round at Valhalla
Last Updated: 08/08/14 11:36am
A fit-again Tiger Woods was able to take his place in the US PGA Championship field but he was disappointed with a three-over-par 74 in the opening round at Valhalla.
The former world No 1 appeared to be a big doubt for the last major of the season when he suffered back spasms and withdrew during the final round of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational on Sunday.
However, he proved his fitness after arriving at the Kentucky venue on Wednesday and was able to tee off early on Thursday alongside Padraig Harrington and Phil Mickelson.
Woods narrowly missed from 20 feet at the 10th - his opening hole - for a birdie, but failed to get up and down from just off the green on the 11th as he carded his first bogey.
The 38-year-old American slammed his club into the ground after hitting his tee shot into the crowd on the par-three 14th, but bounced back from a bogey there by chipping in on the 16th for his first birdie of the day.
Back-to-back bogeys on the first and second holes prevented him from making progress up the leaderboard and he then trod water with seven successive pars to close his round.
Bad shots
"It wasn't very good," Woods admitted. "A lot of bad shots and I never got a putt to the hole.
“I had plenty of looks to turn my round around and then post something even par, even under par. My swing was dialled in on that range out there. Unfortunately, I didn't carry it to the golf course.
"If I get under par for two rounds, that will be right in the ball game,"
Asked about his back, Woods added: "It's a little bit stiff, but that's about it. I'm going to go get treatment and make sure this thing is nice and loose for tomorrow.
"The surgery part is fine. That's all good."