![Tiger Struggles, Matsuyama In Contention At PGA](https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMjc5ODA2OS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTczMTg4ODc2Mn0.5Uw4_TSD8x_U6v3YXUThaS06xKM5tFWWzuGSLpm6TWU/img.jpg?width=980&quality=85)
By Jim Slater
Louisville (AFP) — Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama grabbed a share of the early lead while Tiger Woods struggled at the start Thursday as the 96th PGA Championship began at Valhalla.
Woods, a 14-time major champion chasing the all-time record 18 majors won by Jack Nicklaus, had been doubtful for the year’s final top event with a back injury until playing a nine-hole practice round Wednesday and declaring himself fit for the 72-hole showdown.
Purple-shirted Woods, making his 72nd major start alongside Phil Mickelson and Padraig Harrington, took bogeys at the par-3 11th and 14th, each time missing the green off the tee and failing to convert a 13-foot par putt. In between, he also missed a seven-foot birdie bid at 13.
But Woods answered at the 16th by holing out for birdie on a 34-yard shot from the fairway, pulling back to one-over, putting him four strokes off the pace being set by Matsuyama, Sweden’s Freddie Jacobson, Finland’s Mikko Ilonen, and American Brendon Todd.
AFP Photo/Sam Greenwood
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