PGA Championship : STARTING TIMES
Southern Hills with it's sloping greens and a blustery wind proved to be a tough test on Thursday for this elite field, only 26 players broke par, led by Rory McIlroy -5 65.
Canadians had it tough, Mac Hughes who shot 40 in his back nine to miss the cut in his last outing, had 5 bogey's and a double for +7 77 T130,
Corey Connors with 4 bogey's and a double for +6 76 is T122
Adam Hadwin was the only one to make a birdie, he was out in E 35 with a birdie and a bogey, but 4 bogey's and a birdie 38 on the back sees him T78th +3 73.
The projected cut line begins at +2.
You didn't see any of them on TV with McIlroy, Spieth and Woods out early drawing an enormous crowd as expected.
Beginning on the 10th, Rory was the story, buoyed by 4 birdies on the back nine 31, he added 3 more coming in with just 2 bogey's as the wind continued to freshen for his -5 65. He was in that Rory form that makes the game seem so easy for him, pounding his drives, averaging 332yds, the longest 378 and missing only 4 fairways, moving his iron shots either way at will, and making lots of clutch putts.
His last two rounds -8 64 at Augusta, -5 65 yesterday for an in form -13.
Woods on the other hand started brightly with 2 birdies, but then 7 bogey's moved him right out of contention T99 +4 74.
Spieth wasn't much better on his first nine 3 bogey's and a birdie for 37, but he steadied the ship coming in with a bogey and a birdie 35 for +2 72 T56th.
Once again, as was the case with Arnie Palmer when he was still playing past his prime, a huge crowd ringed every hole to see this pairing, many to see Tiger, whether he shoots 84 or 64. His last 3 rounds 78 78 74 +16 is a sorry reminder how far he has slipped.
With the wind expected to stiffen in the morning today this group are out late at 2.36pm EST, when it is expected to subside from a high of 20mph, to around 10mph.
Due to the high winds the PGA has announced the greens will not be cut today.
Bryan Angus
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