The Latest: Woods double bogeys again; Koepka at 3-under

The Latest on the PGA Championship on Thursday at Bethpage Black (all times local):

11 a.m.

Defending champion Brooks Koepka is at it again at the PGA Championship.

The 29-year-old is tied for the lead with two Englishmen after shooting a bogey-free 3-under in the opening round.

Starting on the back nine, Koepka birdied the 10th, 14th and 18th holes in search of his fourth major. He won the U.S. Open in 2017 and ’18.

Tommy Fleetwood and Matt Wallace share the lead in a round that has seen Tiger Woods struggle with two double bogeys that have left him 3-over.

Fresh off his Masters victory for his 15th career major, Woods doubled his first hole — No. 10 on the public course on Long Island — after driving into the rough. His second came at No. 17 after his tee shot on the par-3 landed in a bunker and his shot out ended far from the hole.

Francesco Molinari was at even par on the sunny but windy morning.

Wallace birdied four of the first six holes before bogeying the eighth. Fleetwood is 3-under through 12 holes.

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7:40 a.m.

Tiger Woods is back at Bethpage Black after a late decision to skip the final round of practice at the PGA Championship.

Woods had planned to play the front nine early Wednesday morning, but never showed up at the course. That led to speculation his surgically repaired back was acting up. His manager says all was fine.

Coming off his emotional win at the Masters, Woods is in the traditional group of current major champions. He is with U.S. Open and PGA champion Brooks Koepka and British Open champion Francesco Molinari.

The forecast was good. The course was soft and wet. The scores were predictable. With a two-tee start, players starting on the back nine had a far more difficult start. Thomas Pieters opened with a triple bogey at No. 10. Kiradech Aphibarnrat had back-to-back double bogeys.

The only early drama was J.J. Spaun. He was in the first group and walked onto the tee at No. 1 with a minute to spare, avoiding a two-shot penalty. It didn’t seem to bother him. He was 2 under through four holes.

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7:15 a.m.

Tiger Woods goes after his next major on a familiar golf course for a PGA Championship held on an unfamiliar spot on the calendar.

The 101st PGA Championship began Thursday morning on Bethpage Black, the first time it has been held in May since 1949. The public course known as the “people’s country club” previously hosted two U.S. Opens.

Rob Labritz, one of 20 club professionals in the 156-man field, hit the opening tee shot under a clearing sky on a course still damp from rain. He sent it well to the right in the rough among the trees.

Woods plays later in the morning with defending champion Brooks Koepka and British Open champion Francesco Molinari. Woods has not played a practice round since nine holes Monday morning.

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