Snarling Tiger slumps again

DARREN CLARKE, Justin Leonard, Ernie Els and Vijay Singh were just some of those who brought the so called “unplayable” Whistling Straits course to its knees in yesterday’s first round of the US PGA Championship.

But don’t look for the name of Tiger Woods at or near the top of the leaderboard. The slump - and surely it can be called that after such a long run of indifferent form, especially in the majors - continues and without any sign of abating. Woods shot 75 in yesterday’s relatively benign conditions and with so many good players already miles ahead of him, it is almost impossible to see him redressing the imbalance. Indeed, it could even become a battle for him now to be here for the week-end.

Not for the first time, he snarled at a photographer although on this occasion at least his feisty caddy Steve Williams refrained from manhandling the errant snapper.