SHEBOYGAN, Wis. — Stephen Gallacher got to eat and eat and eat as he waited through the fog delay Thursday at the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits.
He also met a fellow countryman for the first time.
During the long delay, Gallacher chatted with Martin Laird, two men representing Scotland in the tournament even though they’d never met.
Laird played collegiately at Colorado State and now lives in Scottsdale, Ariz.
“I had never met him before, and we sat during the delay and had a nice chat,” said Laird, who fired a 2-under 70. “We were talking about having a couple (of players) over here and flying the flag.”
Gallacher spent most of his time eating as the fog kept hanging around.
“I got here at 5:45, had my breakfast and went out,” Gallacher said. “In for another breakfast, back out for some chipping, back in for another breakfast of some toast and fruit. . . . Teed off and there was a slight delay, and it never really picked up. I didn’t see the ball land until the fifth hole.”
Dire straits.
Pete Dye’s funky layout — no trees, more than 1,000 bunkers, steep elevation changes, trouble lurking everywhere — did its best to torment the world’s finest players.
Among the victims were U.S. Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin, who shot 79, and Sergio Garcia (78).
“It’s a neat course, a really good course,” said Jason Schmuhl, a club pro from California who shot 82. “You’re going to be punished when you hit a bad shot.”
Anthony Kim got a taste of the place when he practically kneeled down atop the steep face of a bunker to hit one shot. Kim lost his balance and nearly tumbled into the bunker during his follow-through.
Denver Post wire services
