PGA Championship 2010: Tiger Woods of Old Appears at Whistling Straits

Tiger Woods is starting the PGA Championship like the old Tiger we all know is still lurking.

Straight long drives, followed by precise irons and solid eight- to 10-foot putts on holes 10, 11, and 13 to start had Tiger Woods at minus-three and tied for the lead.

Uh-oh, the other golfers in the field are thinking, as Tiger finds a fairway bunker on 14 and will have one into the wind.

If he hits this one close, watch out, folks. That's all I can think right now, as Tiger is a backup to Steve Stricker today on my fantasy golf team. That will probably change for Friday's round. 

Tiger is outdriving Y.E. Yang and Vijay Singh so far, rather easily. Woods hit his second shot on the green, but the back pin location, and into the wind, which caused Tiger to spin it back about 50 feet from the hole.

All of a sudden for Tiger, the putting is pure, and the ball striking is right there. Five holes into this room, the chat rooms are abuzz, and the Tiger Woods searches just spiked on all the search engines, imagine that.

The best golfer on the planet the last 12 years or so is regaining some swagger quickly.

The next few holes into the wind will be a good test of if he can maintain this good start. 15, 16, 17, and 18 are going to set up some headlines tomorrow perhaps.

Other players off to a good start include Stuart Appleby at minus-three, Martin Kaymer at minus-three, and Bubba Watson at minus-two.

Tiger hits a par putt with the wrong speed and has a tester for bogey, which he makes to drop to minus-two for the tournament.

Lots of guys will bogey this 518-yard par four into the wind. The next is a par four, and nine shots for these two holes is adequate.

More to come later on this first day of the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits.