ROCHESTER, New York, 15 August 2003 — Fast-starting Phil Mickelson forged one clear of the field early in the US PGA Championship first round yesterday with Tiger Woods struggling to two over par after 13 holes.
The left-handed Mickelson, hunting his first major title in his 46th start, picked up three shots in his first four holes after teeing off at the par-four 10th on a hot and humid day at Oak Hill Country Club. He then recovered from a bogey on 17 with further birdies at 18, the second and fourth and was one ahead at five under with one hole to play.
Australia’s Rod Pampling was alone in second place, having reeled off four birdies for a blemish-free 66 on his US PGA Championship debut at the par-70 course.
American Robert Gamez (13) was a further two shots back at two under, with US Masters champion Mike Weir and US Open champion Jim Furyk (13) among a group of five at one under.
Another Australian, Robert Allenby, was at even par after acing the 226-yard 11th hole with a four-iron. Allenby had one hole remaining. World number one Woods, chasing his ninth major but his first since last year’s US Open, birdied the 13th to get to one under but then dropped shots on 14 and 15.
Although the 27-year-old American parred the next five holes, he bogeyed the 214-yard third after underclubbing off the tee to slip back to two over with five to play.
Woods, who had teed off at the difficult 429-yard 10th, was forced to scramble for a par there, missing the fairway after taking out a three wood for his opening shot.
Among the later players out, world number two Ernie Els was scheduled to tee off from the first alongside former British Open champions Justin Leonard and Mark Calcavecchia.
Davis Love III, the 1997 winner and a favorite this week with four PGA Tour titles to his name this season, was set for a 1405 (1805) tee-off time from the first, in the company of 1998 champion Vijay Singh and US Ryder Cup captain Hal Sutton, who won in 1983.
