Phil Mickelson grabbed the spotlight and a share of the first round lead at the U.S. PGA Championship on Thursday while Tiger Wood's bid for a third major of the year got off to a stumbling start.
Left-hander Mickelson fired a three-under-par 67 to join five others at the top of a crowded leaderboard on a sweltering day at Baltusrol Golf Club.
South Africans Trevor Immelman and Rory Sabbatini, Stuart Appleby of Australia, Canada's Stephan Ames and 2003 British Open champion Ben Curtis shared the first-day honours but it was Mickelson's back-nine charge that sent a crackle of electricity through the sweating galleries.
Mickelson's results at this year's majors, including 33rd and 60th place finishes at the U.S. and British Opens respectively, did not suggest he was poised to add a U.S. PGA Championship crown to his breakthrough Masters win in 2004.
"I feel more relaxed and confident this week than I did at the other majors," said Mickelson. "I feel a lot better about my game.
"I feel a lot more confident about where the ball is going."
With the Baltusrol crowds providing a lift on a draining day, Mickelson birdied the par-three ninth to reach the turn in level-par 34.
UPPED TEMPO
He then upped the tempo by picking up further shots on 10, 14 and 18 to claim a share of the lead.
A frustrated Woods struggled off the tee and with his putter to post four bogeys and a double-bogey against a lone birdie for his worst opening score at a major in relation to par since he turned professional in 1996.
"I'm still in the tournament, no doubt about that," said the world number one, who is bidding to become the first professional golfer to win three major titles in the same year on two occasions.
"The golf course is just
"But I'm not going to go out and work on anything. I'm going to go home, relax and put this day behind me."
Playing the back nine first, the U.S. Masters and British Open champion watched with a pained expression on his face as his opening tee shot at the par-four 10th sailed well left.
The 10-times major winner, forced to scramble right from the start, ran up a bogey-five there.
FURTHER TROUBLE
He then found further trouble at the par-four 14th, pushing his tee shot into the right rough and failing to get up and down from a greenside bunker on his way to another dropped shot.
The 29-year-old American closed out his first nine in disappointing fashion, another bogey at the par-five 18th leaving him at three over with nine holes to play.
His problems on 18 also began on the tee when he drove the ball into left rough, narrowly missing the water, and plugged into the soft ground.
After consulting with a marshal and rules officials, Woods was forced to take a penalty drop and ended up with a bogey-six after two-putting from 18-feet.
His problems continued after the turn as he dropped at the par-third fourth and double-bogeyed the par-four seventh.
However, he managed to end his round on a positive note by collecting his only birdie of the day at the par-four eighth.
Victory this week would lift Woods's career major total to 11 and match fellow American Walter Hagen, who is second on the all-time list behind Jack Nicklaus (18).
Defending champion Vijay Singh, who struggled to find rhythm for most of the day, finished in style with birdies at the closing par-fives to sign for a level-par 70.
