Tiger back to breaking records at US PGA

Woods slumps to worst-ever opening round score in a major at Atlanta 

Dropping the ball: Tiger’s major comeback at the US PGA was derailed by a disastrous first round of 77

While Ryder Cup partner Steve Stricker was threatening the right end of the record books, at the opposite end of the spectrum Tiger Woods was shooting a landmark score of his own.

The 14-time major champion is now 14 shots off the lead after he slumped to a 77 – his worst-ever opening-round in a major.

On his first major appearance since this year’s Masters, the four-time US PGA champion was quick out of the blocks, racing to three-under-par and a tie for second. However, after dunking his ball in the water on the par-3 15^th, Woods’ charge collapsed as he registered five bogeys and three doubles to thoroughly derail his major comeback.

Tiger Woods, record-breaker…
It seems Tiger can’t help but write his name in the history books.

An opening-round 77 at Atlanta Athletic Club is Woods’ highest first-round score in a major. His previous high was a 76, which he shot on three occasions; in the 1996 US Open, the 2006 US Open, and the 2003 Masters.

The four-time US PGA champion’s previous highest score in the year’s final major was 75, which he shot on four occasions including 2009 when he eventually finished as runner-up to Y.E. Yang.

In 61 previous major appearances Woods has missed the cut just three times – twice as a professional (2009 British Open, 2006 US Open) and once as an amateur (1996 Masters). He has never missed the cut at the US PGA.

Should Tiger not make the weekend at Atlanta, he will also miss the cut for the lucrative FedEx Cup series and, consequently, will be relying on a captain’s pick for the Presidents Cup team.

Bryce Ritchie is the Editor of bunkered and, in addition to leading on content and strategy, oversees all aspects of the brand. The first full-time journalist employed by bunkered, he joined the company in 2001 and has been editor since 2009. A member of Balfron Golfing Society, he currently plays off nine and once got a lesson from Justin Thomas’ dad.

Editor of bunkered