BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. — The PGA Championship had been building a reputation as the major to make birdies. That gave way Thursday to the reputation of Oakland Hills.
Round 1 went to The Monster.
“It was a real beast today,” said Ernie Els, who shot 71.
Only seven players from the 156-man field were under par when darkness covered Oakland Hills with 18 players unable to finish their round because of a 90-minute thunderstorm delay.
Robert Karlsson of Sweden, the only player to crack the top 10 in all three majors this year, and Jeev Milkha Singh of India each posted a 2-under-par 68 in the pleasant morning conditions.
Andres Romero of Argentina, the only player under par from the late starters, was at 2-under with two holes to play when the horn sounded.
“A great test of golf and patience,” Singh said.
It was too much of a test for Kenny Perry, who withdrew after a 79 because of an eye injury.
“It was annoying and difficult to be trying to fight a tough golf course and have an eye aggravating me at the same time,” Perry said.
Even playing with full vision was no picnic.
“There’s only one guy who’s going to like this place by the end of the week,” Ben Curtis said after playing a bogey-free round and leading the tournament at 3-under through 10 holes, then losing six shots over the final eight holes for a 73.
The calendar says August. It sure seemed like June, with firm fairways, thick rough, hard greens and plenty of opinions. The PGA Championship looked a lot like the U.S. Open.
It sounded like the U.S. Open, too.
“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.”
The rough is so thick players rarely reached the green after missing the fairway, and caution was required for every putt on greens that became so crisp in pleasant sunshine that tournament officials hosed down three of them throughout the day.
Even so, the best golf was rewarded.
Sergio Garcia struck the ball as solid as ever, holed one long putt, limited his mistakes and joined a group at 69 that featured Billy Mayfair, Ryder Cup hopeful Sean O’Hair and Ken Duke.
