Tiger Woods: First-Round Finish in PGA Championship Bodes Well for Major Hopes

Tiger Woods did not play a consistent 18 holes in Round 1 of the PGA Championship on Thursday, but he still managed to finish the day at three under par. Woods' 69 in the opening round put him in a six-way tie for eighth place at the time heading into Friday's second stanza.

Despite his flawed play, Woods should be satisfied heading into Round 2. He's well within striking distance of current leader Carl Pettersson (six-under), and his play was far from all bad.

Like most tournaments he's participated in this year, Woods showed flashes of the "old" Tiger on Thursday. At times his swing looked on point, and he hit some spectacular shots. When he hit consecutive birdies on hole No. 18, 1 and 2, Woods looked like a golfer who is ready to win a major.

Granted, I can't say we haven't seen this before. Outside of his victories this year in the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Memorial Tournament and AT&T National, Woods has been in and out for what seems like forever.

But this one felt, and looked, different. After getting cut at Greenbrier on July 5, Woods has played very well in his last two tournaments. He finished third in The Open Championship and eighth at the WGC-Bridgestone Classic. His recent success has to make you feel better about his play on Thursday.

Major victories don't happen at a sprinter's pace. It's a long trek, and Woods knows that, having won 14 majors throughout his illustrious career. The elusiveness of his coveted 15th crown is well documented, and he has played with an obvious urgency in the past month of the season.

Woods' round was far from perfect. He still missed his mark on three bogeys. Six birdies allowed him to keep pace, but he still seemed to be fighting himself at times.

All eyes will be on Woods once Friday's action commences. The bright spots on his first-round scorecard shine much brighter than the blemishes littered in between. He knows what it takes and he knows, more than anyone, what is on the line.

Each major loss increases the pressure tenfold. The Woods that I watched in Round 1 didn't seem concerned. His play wasn't perfect, but Woods isn't going to go anywhere in his quest for a fifth career PGA Championship victory.