Woods Retakes Control at PGA

(NEWSER) - There wasn’t supposed to be any drama at the Hazeltine National Golf Club yesterday. Tiger Woods with a lead on Sunday “is like Kristie Alley with cheesecake on her plate,” writes Dan O’Neill of NBC. “You can bet it’s going to be put away.” Woods typically puts away the driver and goes on cruise control, daring opponents to beat him. And until yesterday, they’d folded, one by one. More»

(AP) - Tiger Woods was one round away from winning another major but he squandered a four-shot lead and drew more company than he wanted at the US PGA Championship today. Woods played so-so on another windy afternoon at Hazeltine National until his lead was gone. Only at the end of the day did he find some solace. One birdie on the back nine was enough for a 1-under 71. More»

(AP) - Tiger Woods—still seeking his first win at a major this season—shot a 5-under 67 that put him atop the leaderboard at the PGA Championship today. With his bogey-free round, he's one stroke up on playing partner and defending champ Padraig Harrington. Woods broke 70 in the opening round of a major for the first time since the 2007 British Open, making birdies on all but one of the long par 5s at Minnesota's Hazeltine National. More»

'News is a punch in the gut' for golf's summer TV ratings

(NEWSER) - It will be a brave new world for televised golf with Tiger Woods out of commission for the summer and fall, and it's not a future networks want to be living in, Golf.com notes. "Let's be realistic here: This news is a punch in the gut," says CBS sportscaster Jim Nantz. Other players get their chance at glory—but audiences will be limited. More»

Graeme McDowell takes top honors

(AP) - When Phil Mickelson made his birdie attempt from off the green on the opening hole yesterday, the gallery roared its approval. The fans were prepared to see Lefty charge. They did the same every time Ernie Els or Tiger Woods made a move, creating a rumble of energy through Pebble Beach at the US Open. By the end, those roars were reserved for unknown Graeme McDowell on the 18th green as the new US Open champ. Lefty, Ernie, and Tiger were nowhere to be found. Key bogeys had dropped the big names out of the running. More»