Tiger Woods Takes the Lead on Day One of the 91st PGA Championship

Sports Betting News - August 13th, 2009 - Written by Ryan Smith

Tiger Woods early tee off today came on the 10th hole, as he started from the back nine in Thursdays first round match play at the 91st PGA championship. The 2009 Championship is held at Hazeltine National Golf Club, in Chaska Minnesota, and Tiger Woods seems to like this golf course early on in this tournament. Earlier this year Tiger struggled in first round play at the other three Major tournaments, and in the British Open he didn't even make it past the second cut on Friday afternoon.

Hazeltine Golf course treated Tiger a little bit nicer than the rest on Thursday afternoon. Tiger failed to record a bogey in his first round play, but managed to record 3 birdies on the front nine, and 2 birdies on the back nine. Standing -5 under at the moment, Tiger Woods is in the lead of the tournament, and in command of the opportunity to win his 5th PGA event this year. Tiger is also searching for his 15th Major victory at this years PGA Championship, and this is the last chance major tournament of this season.

Tiger Woods recorded 3 birdies on three of the four Par 5's on the course. Par 5's are where Tiger takes his advantage from the rest of the field, and if he can manage to continue to shot birdies on these par 5's, he will have a comfortable weekend of golf. Hazeltine can become a windy golf course at times, but the conditions seem to be favorable for all of the players this weekend. This is what Tiger Told TNT reports after the round "I had some good sessions with Hank [Haney] this week," and later said "I hit the ball well all day, hit some good putts even though I didn't make that many. You can make birdies here. You can be a little more aggressive. I was very comfortable with what I was doing today."

Tiger Woods shot a 33 on the front nine, and a 34 on the back nine, and managed to finish the day -5 under par with a 67. Tiger was partnered with Padraig Harrington on Thursday, and Harrington must have enjoyed playing with Tiger, as he shot a 68 on the day. Harrington is just one under Tiger at the moment, and in second place. Other golfers such as Phil Mickelson have just teed off, and still have the potential to catch Woods on the score card. If Tiger can manage away to post 67's all weekend long, this tournament might already be won.

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