ESPN.com - Golf Online - PGA Championship 2000

By David Kraft
ESPN Golf Online
Thursday, August 17

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The ninth hole at Valhalla is picturesque. An uphill tee shot to a spacious green rimmed by mounds which are teeming with spectators.

No. 9 at a glance
Average	4.160
Rank	11
Eagles	0
Birdies	18
Pars	95
Bogeys	32
D-Bogeys	5
Others	0

A vintage Jack Nicklaus-designed golf hole.

Thursday, in the first round of the PGA championship, birdies at the ninth by both Scott Dunlap and Tiger Woods allowed them to put some distance on the field.

Both are 6-under after 18 holes, two shots ahead of Darren Clarke and Davis Love III.

Not coincidentally, Clarke bogeyed the hole and Love took par.

Dunlap got to 4-under by holing a 35-foot putt on the ninth. He hit an 8-iron into the green, flying the flag.

Woods, meanwhile, made No. 9 the third of four straight birdies in the middle of his round. He hit a driver off the tee, a pitching wedge onto the green and drained the putt.

"I made a few putts and was able to make a little string the from 7 to 10," Woods said.

Four years ago, the ninth played under par for the tournament, giving up 92 birdies compared to just 76 bogeys. It was considerably tougher on Thursday, with 18 birdies compared to 32 bogeys.

And how did the architect do? Nicklaus settled for par.