I am giving myself a lot of chances

Anirban Lahiri, Aug 15, 2015, DHNS,

Aug 15 2015, 00:46 ist
updated: Aug 15 2015, 00:47 ist

It was a decent start despite the disappointment of a double bogey right at the end. But this start of 70 gave me a lot of positives for the remainder of the PGA Championships, as I am tied 15th now.

The Whistling Straits, as I have mentioned earlier, is a demanding course and the wind will play a big role. So it did in the middle of the round towards the afternoon.

I gave away a too many shots on back nine, but overall I felt pretty good and hit the ball well.
The putting was a mixed bag. I made a few good long ones and missed a few short ones, too. But what I am happy is that if I keep hitting within 15 feet of the cup, I am going to give myself more chances. Eventually some of them will fall.

It was a nice encouraging start with birdies on first and fourth, though I had makeable birdie putts in between. The birdie on fourth came from a long one. I also missed a birdie on par-5 fifth from just over 10 feet.

A third birdie on seventh from well over 20 feet meant I was three-under at that stage and another birdie on 10th from under nine feet placed me well at four-under.

I missed the fairway on 14th and paid with a bogey. On 15th I went on to the cart path but came out with a par. Then I had two great approaches on 16th and 17th. I had a long eagle putt from just under 20 feet, but got the birdie and then a par on 17th.

It was the 18th that set me back. The fairway was hard and it was disappointing to come out with a double bogey. That was easily the toughest hole of the day.

The wind took a toll of the scores. There were lot many sub-par scores in the morning than in the afternoon. I could face wind in the second round as I go out in the afternoon.

Dustin Johnson, who led at the British Open at half way stage was back in great form heading the leaderboard with a 66.

There has been lot of talk of how he was close to winning the 2010 PGA at Whistling Straits and I am sure he is keen to make up for that and some other close misses. He is too good a player and will soon be up there.