PGA course 'a real beast' / LJWorld.com

Archive for Friday, August 8, 2008

Karlsson, Singh fire first-round 68s

August 8, 2008

Bloomfield Township, Mich. — The PGA Championship looked a lot like the U.S. Open, with only seven players under par when darkness finally covered Oakland Hills on Thursday and put "The Monster" to sleep.

It sounded like a U.S. Open, too.

"There's only one guy who's going to like this place by the end of the week," Ben Curtis said.

Jeev Milkha Singh and Robert Karlsson found it agreeable enough after each shot 2-under 68 in the pleasant morning conditions, before thunderstorms stopped play for 90 minutes in the afternoon. Andres Romero of Argentina was 2 under through 16 holes, the only late starter under par and among 18 players who did not finish the first round.

Kenny Perry finished the round, but he won't finish the tournament. Playing in a major for the first time this year, Perry withdrew after a 79 because of an eye injury.

The calendar says August. It sure seemed like June, with firm fairways, thick rough, hard greens and plenty of opinions.

"A great test of golf and patience," Singh said.

"It was a real beast today," said Ernie Els, who overcame a double bogey after the rain delay to shoot 71.

"The course is 7,500 yards long, the greens are firm, and the pins are tucked away," Lee Westwood said after finishing with six straight pars to salvage a 77. "They are sucking the fun out of the major championships when you set it up like that."

Sergio Garcia struck the ball solid as ever, holed one long putt, limited his mistakes and joined a group at 69 that included Billy Mayfair, Ryder Cup hopeful Sean O'Hair and Ken Duke.

Phil Mickelson was in three bunkers before he reached his second green (No. 11), was 2 over for his round and somehow managed a 70. He made only eight pars, but among his five birdies was a 35-foot putt down the scary slope on the 16th, followed by a 4-iron that rolled within 18 inches for a birdie on the 238-yard 17th.