Westwood cards lowest Major round to head PGA leaderboard
ENGLAND’S Lee Westwood matched his lowest ever round in a Major to share the lead with Americans Kevin Chappell and Ryan Palmer on six under par after round one of the US PGA at Valhalla yesterday.
World No1 Rory McIlroy entered the tournament in prime form after wins at the Open and last week’s WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and struck five birdies in the final seven holes to post a five-under round of 66.
The Northern Irishman is aiming to become the first man to win back-to-back Majors since Padraig Harrington in 2008 and is tucked in behind the early pacesetters.
Also joining McIlroy on finishing the day five-under was American Jim Furyk, Italy’s Edoardo Molinari and Henrik Stenson of Sweden.
Westwood holed nine birdies, five of which came in the last six holes after a double bogey on the first, to card a six-under 65 and put himself in contention for his first Major title.
The 41-year-old made early exits from four successive events before taking advantage of last week’s WGC event not having a halfway cut to post a closing 63.
And Westwood, who also aims to give himself a chance of qualifying automatically for his ninth consecutive European Ryder Cup squad, insists he has taken the confidence gained from a solid round last week into the first round in Louisville.
“Last week was a big week for me,” said Westwood. “I felt like I had turned the corner and I was starting to swing a lot better but that’s no good unless you start converting it into low rounds.
“I tried to carry that momentum through to the first round, which I’ve managed to do.”
Four-time winner Tiger Woods, a doubt for the final Major of the year having injured his back at Firestone, carded a three-over-par 74 to leave himself nine shots behind Westwood.
England’s Ian Poulter, who missed the cut at last month’s Open Championship at Hoylake, opened up with an encouraging 68 after posting three birdies on the back nine and ending the first round three shots off the pace, one behind Finland’s Mikko Ilonen.
Defending champion Jason Dufner withdrew with a neck injury after playing his first 10 holes in eight over par.
Five-time Major winner Phil Mickelson overcame a difficult first eight holes to recover to two under alongside Rickie Fowler while 2013 US Open Championship winner Justin Rose heads into the second round one under par, as do Sergio Garcia and America’s multiple Major champion and 2012 Masters winner Bubba Watson.
LEADERBOARD
-6 Westwood, Chappell, Palmer
-5 McIlroy, Furyk, Molinari, Stenson
-4 Ilonen, Kelly
-3 Poulter
-2 Mickelson, Fowler
-1 Rose, Garcia, Watson
Par Scott