Shot-by-shot analysis: Tiger Woods shoots 1-over 72 Thursday at 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla
Photo: Jeff Faughender-Courier Journal
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Tiger Woods is back in action this week at a course where he’s won a major championship.
The 15-time major winner teed off the 10th time at 8:14 a.m. ET alongside Adam Scott and Keegan Bradley on Thursday morning at Valhalla Golf Club in the first round of the 2024 PGA Championship, the 106th playing of the PGA of America’s flagship event. Woods won the 2000 PGA Championship at Valhalla and missed the cut his last time here in 2014.
Check out Tiger’s first round at the 2024 PGA Championship with a shot-by-shot live analysis from Valhalla Golf Club below.
Pre-round thoughts
Tiger Woods walks off the course as play is suspended due to inclement weather during a practice round for the PGA Championship golf tournament at Valhalla Golf Club. (Photo: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports)
The last time we saw Tiger, we saw him make history and then struggle on the weekend at the 2024 Masters in route to a dead-last finish at 16 over. Woods has been adamant since his car crash that he can still hit the golf shots, it’s just a matter of whether he can walk and as if body will hold up.
So far, not so good. Woods hasn’t been able to build tournament stamina since his near-fatal accident. The weather hasn’t been great this week, and Valhalla won’t be an easy walk. He’s got course knowledge and will plot his way around, no doubt. But the last time he won here was 24 years ago, and his last time here he missed the cut. His body barely held up at Augusta National, so let’s see what he’s got this week.
Tiger on the range 🐅 pic.twitter.com/XBRLCrPzG8
Tiger Woods of the United States plays his shot from the tenth tee during the first round of the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club on May 16, 2024 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
And we’re off. Driver here off the par 5 for Tiger and he’s in the short stuff. He hit the big stick really well early on in Augusta, so starting on a par 5 where he could really let loose was a benefit this morning. That’s 293 yards off the tee, which will leave 291 yards to the pin.
After waiting a few minutes for the green to clear, Tiger’s 3 wood came up short and right of the green in the thick rough, 43 yards from the pin. From there he hit a nifty pitch high in the air that landed 15 behind the cup and spun back inside 10 feet for an early look at birdie. Commentators said it was right edge and Tiger aimed two cups outside the hole as this one didn’t even flirt with falling. Par. That’s a real missed opportunity to start.
TIGER ON THE DAY: Even through 1.
“Takes a while to document all he’s done at this Championship.” 🐯#PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/EQgGXGXVIw
— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 16, 2024
Hole 11 – Par 3: Holler
Tiger made a mistake off the tee and will pay the price here on the par-3 11th. He airmailed the green and found the thick, lush grass off the back edge. His shot onto the green came out hot and rolled into a bunker guarding the front left of the green. He was able to splash out to inside six feet and got up and down for just a bogey. That wasn’t great, but certainly could’ve been worse.

Tiger Woods talks with members of the media in a press conference during a practice round for the PGA Championship golf tournament at Valhalla Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
The long par 4 just got a lot longer for Tiger as he tried to sling a cut down the left side of the fairway, except his ball didn’t cut. Hardly at all. That’ll be a juicy lie in the left rough. Nothing to say about this second shot as he just wedged out into the fairway. Andy North on the broadcast said 15 years ago he’s going for the green from there, but noted he just doesn’t have that same oomph in his swing.
From the middle of the fairway this was a damn good-looking swing as he went for the pin. His ball landed just outside 10 feet beyond the cup to set up a good look to save par. That’s a huge putt for his confidence and scorecard. This ball was tracking the entire way.
TIGER ON THE DAY: 1 over through 3.
Hole 13 – Par 4: The Limestone Hole

Tiger Woods looks on during a practice round for the PGA Championship golf tournament at Valhalla Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Tiger pulled an iron from the bag here on the short par 4 but didn’t play his signature stinger shot. Just a normal cut down the fairway. His iron swing looks pretty smooth so far. As for his walk, no noticeable limps or grimaces just yet.
Pretty good wedge here lands pin high and spins around 20 feet below the hole. Useful shot there. He’ll want that closer, but it’s a tough pin to attack today as the green is surrounded by water and hazards. That’s the first Tiger roar of the day as he paces this one into the bottom of the cup from 17 feet out for his first birdie of the round.
TIGER ON THE DAY: Even through 4.
Hole 14 – Par 3: On the Rocks

Tiger Woods of the United States looks on from the 12th hole during the first round of the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club on May 16, 2024 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
The 256-yard par 3 is going to be a doozy this week. Thursday’s pin location is on the back of the green and Tiger did well to find the dance floor, but he’s quite a bit away. That’ll be more than 50 feet for birdie.
This was Tiger’s first lag putt of the day and from 53 feet he properly paced this one to tap in range. That’s an easy three on what will be a testy hole today.
TIGER ON THE DAY: Even through 5.
Hole 15 – Par 4: Julep

Tiger Woods plays a shot from a bunker on the 10th hole during the first round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Valhalla Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Cat lays back with 3 wood off the tee here on his sixth hole of the day but just missed the short stuff to the left. If you’re not gonna pull driver, you have have have to hit the fairway. Fairways and greens are the key to any golf course, but this week the former is paramount.
Exhibit A: Tiger can’t even go for the green from 155 yards out in the intermediate rough and just laid this one up into the fairway. Tiger was trying to play the contour of the green and spin this one towards the cup but he landed his shot a good 10 feet past where he wanted to. From 32 feet out, Tiger’s par save had a good pace but he didn’t pair the pasta with the sauce as it misses a little low and left. That’s another bogey after another poor tee shot.
TIGER ON THE DAY: 1 over through 6.
Hole 16 – Par 4: Homestretch
Driver. Boomin. Quick tee pick up. This hole plays to Tiger’s cut and he’s back in the short grass here on No. 16. From 206 yards out Tiger lands this one 20 feet below the hole and watches as his ball kicks pin high and clings to the edge of the green. Not sure how this one didn’t run off the edge. Tiger gave this one a long look from every angle. From just inside 24 feet, the uphill effort went full Usain Bolt and sprints past the cup. That’ll leave a knee-knocker from just inside 8 feet to save par. Woo boy that’s a solid recovery putt after he juiced the birdie look. No dropped shots here. What was the name of that old MTV dating show? Next.
TIGER ON THE DAY: 1 over through 7.
Hole 17 – Par 4: Straight Up

Tiger Woods tees off on the 11th hole during the first round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Valhalla Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Nope. Flared this one out to the right. If it wasn’t for his putter this round would be woeful to start. His look to the green from there is slightly blocked by some trees ahead as he has 170 yards to the pin. The Cat took a big swipe at this one but missed the green short and left into a bunker guarding the front edge.
Tiger splashes his one out seven feet past the hole and, stop me if you heard this one before, but made the putt to get up and down to save par. He’s fighting off bogeys like Bruce Lee.
TIGER ON THE DAY: 1 over through 7.
Hole 18 – Par 5: Photo Finish

Tiger Woods lines up a shot on the 10th hole during the first round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Valhalla Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
One of just a few birdie holes on the back nine, the par-5 closing hole will provide scoring opportunities all week for players. Tiger pulls driver here on No. 18 and this is a shot tracer beauty as it cuts off the left bunker and into the fairway.
Tiger found the bail out area long and left of the green here at the 18th and has plenty of green to work with to chip this one close for birdie. He aimed way left and let gravity do the work for him, but he left it well, well short of the optimal landing area. I mean, I’ll say it, that was an amateur effort from there. Alas, he’ll have a birdie look from 20 or so feet.
Thoughts at the turn
Fairways: 4/7 | Greens: 5/9 | Putts: 13
If it wasn’t for Tiger’s putter he’d be well over par by now. He’s made three clutch saves that easily could’ve been bogeys. That said, he’s also blown a couple great looks at birdie. Through his opening nine he’s just not fully in sync yet. Call it an early wake up call and stiff joints or maybe just a lack of reps in tournament mode. Either way, given how he’s played so far, he should be thrilled to be just 1 over.
Unrelated — the Sun Day Red brand needs better moisture-wicking shirts because Tiger’s sweat lines have been visible since he was on the driving range when it was barely 60 degrees. Okay, back to the golf. To the front we go!
Hole 1 – Par 4: The Post
This drive off the first tee was left the entire way and never even thought about cutting back to the fairway. He landed among some trees but it looked like he got a decent kick and shouldn’t be directly behind any. That said, it’ll be another thick lie from the rough that will likely require another punch out and, you guessed it, up and down par save.
Tiger did really well from here to punch this below the tree line and find the green, pin high about 30 or so feet away. Useful shot from there. Gave this putt a good roll but the pace didn’t match the line and he missed by just a few inches. Easy par.
TIGER ON THE DAY: 1 over through 10.
Hole 2 – Par 4: Winning Colors
This hole calls for a straight ball off the tee or a draw. Tiger hit a cut into the bunker guarding the right side of the fairway, so he’s in scramble mode again. A decent iron here runs up the right side of the hole and comes up short of the green. From there he’ll have a good angle at the pin and plenty of green to work with.
His chip onto the green curled around the pin inside five feet and he made the putt for par. What was the name of that catchy Ariana Grande song? Thank U, Next.
TIGER ON THE DAY: 1 over through 11.
Hole 3 – Par 3: Honest Abe
That’s the first genuine smile we’ve seen from Tiger today as he flagged this shot on the front nine’s first par 3. After watching Keegan Bradley miss his putt, Tiger made his from five feet which sent a much-needed jolt of electricity through the crowd. That’s his second circle on the scorecard to move out of the black numbers.
TIGER ON THE DAY: Even through 12.
Hole 4 – Par 4: Mine That Bird

Tiger Woods hits his tee shot off the 11th hole during the first day of play in the PGA Championship at the Valhalla Golf Course in Louisville, Ky. on May 16, 2024
YAHTZEE! Tiger hit a beauty with the big stick down the right side of the fairway here. He’s got a little pep in that step after the birdie. With a wedge from a nice 69 yards out Tiger landed this one 10 feet beyond the hole and it stopped on a dime. No spin. That could’ve been really good with a little extra english on it. The birdie putt 14 feet just misses the edge of the hole on the pro side and Tiger taps in for par. Two really good shots and that’s the first putt that hasn’t dropped today.
TIGER ON THE DAY: Even through 13.
Hole 5 – Par 4: The Sun Shines Bright

Tiger Woods lined up his putt on the 14th hole during the first day of play in the PGA Championship at the Valhalla Golf Course in Louisville, Ky. on May 16, 2024
Driver. Fade. Fairway. Useful. That’ll leave a good look at the back-right pin. From 155 yards out Tiger stared this one down and for good reason. He carried his approach just beyond the flag and got it to stop 8 feet from the cup. He’s really swinging it well over the last few holes. Oof. Another solid stroke that doesn’t find the bottom of the cup. The putter was the hottest club in the bag but it’s cooled down the last two holes.
TIGER ON THE DAY: Even through 14.
Hole 6 – Par 4: Long Shot
“Long Shot” is a fitting name for the par-4 6th hole seeing as there has only been one birdie so far today. The pin isn’t easily accessible but from 218 yards out in the middle of the fairway after a b-e-a-utiful drive, Tiger hit a no-nonsense shot onto the front of the green. Either that or it was just a club short. Regardless, he’s safely on the dance floor with a lot of boogieing left to do for birdie.
His second putt from outside 50 feet was similar to the first on his opening nine as this one rolls just below the hole. The pace was there, just a bit off on the line. It’s a great effort to make par on arguably the most difficult hole on the golf course.
TIGER ON THE DAY: Even through 15.
Hole 7 – Par 5: Genuine Risk
Last par 5 of the day and Tiger needs to do something here. He made par on the two on the back nine and will need to attack the long holes if he wants to make the weekend cut. A squirrelly approach comes up short of the green in a bunker. He’ll have plenty of green to work with seeing as the pin is nestled on the back half of the putting surface.
Tiger did well to splash this one out and leave it short of the pin on the flat portion of the green by the hole. (Insert roar here). Tiger walked this one in from more than a foot away and the crowd loved it. Back in the red.
TIGER ON THE DAY: 1-under through 16.
Hole 8 – Par 3: Float Like a Butterfly
From 169 yards away on the final par 3 of the day, Tiger had a one-hand finish and his shot barely clung to the front of the green, which will leave another lengthy effort for birdie. That said, his lag putting has been primo today. And as soon as I say that, he juices another putt well past the hole (similar to how he did on No. 16). Unlike on the 16th, Woods misses the comebacker and drops back to even on the round. Tough bogey. Expect a little jolt in this last tee shot.
TIGER ON THE DAY: Even through 17.
Hole 9 – Par 4: Twin Spires
Tiger laid back with 3 wood and hit an absolute frozen rope down the middle of the fairway. Great tee ball to end on after an iffy day. His approach from just north of 140 yards had the proper distance but wasn’t on a proper line. He’s putting, but once again, it’ll be from distance.
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