BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) -Tiger Woods isn't even playing in the PGA Championship, yet still provided some much-needed inspiration for co-leader Robert Karlsson.
Karlsson made the most of an early tee time to shoot a 2-under 68 and share the lead with Jeev Milkha Singh in Thursday's weather-delayed opening round at long and treacherous Oakland Hills.
Karlsson double-bogeyed the very first hole, certainly no way to start a major championship. So caddie Gareth Lord pointed out the obvious.
"My caddie said, 'We played with Tiger in the U.S. Open and I think he took a 6 on the first hole pretty much every day. You can shoot a good round out here as well,"' Karlsson recalled.
With that motivation, Karlsson birdied the next three holes on the way to one of only six subpar scores in the opening round.
Andres Romero of Argentina was 2 under through 16 holes when play was suspended for the day because of darkness. He bogeyed the final hole to finish a 69.
He was among 18 players still on the course who completed their rounds at the same time second-round play was already beginning elsewhere on the course. The first round had been suspended for almost an hour-and-a-half by inclement weather late in the afternoon.
Par was still a precious commodity in the second round. Romero started on the 10th tee and parred his first two holes to remain a shot under par, while Brian Gay and Angel Cabrera - each of whom had opening 70s - were 1 under for the second round and the tournament through their first few holes.
Singh, the first native of India to get a European Tour card, also showed some resilience after bogeying the first hole.
He did not credit Tiger for his turnaround, however.
"The most important thing to learn (about) a major championship is to stay patient," said Singh, playing in just his second PGA and only his ninth major. "If you hit a bad shot, you've got to take your medicine."
Singh took his medicine - and came back with an eagle on the second hole.
A shot back at 1 under were Sergio Garcia, seeking his first major title, along with Ken Duke, Billy Mayfair and Sean O'Hair.
