TULSA, Okla. – Ninety-eight of the world’s top 100 ranked players are assembled at Southern Hills this week competing for the PGA Championship. After one round, one of the most unlikely players is atop the leaderboard.
Graeme Storm you might say stormed to the lead in yesterday’s opening round with a 5-under-par 65, a round that was the only thing hotter than the 100-plus-degree temperatures that are suffocating the region this week.
The fact Storm, an Englishman ranked 128th in the world, is even here playing in his first PGA Championship is as remarkable as the fact he’s leading Tiger Woods (1-over), Phil Mickelson (3-over) and the rest of a world-class field.
Just a few years ago he was out of golf working at a cake factory – a long way away from leading the PGA Championship by two shots over John Daly (3-under) and three shots over Arron Oberholser and Woody Austin (2-under).
“Obviously, you dream about playing in tournaments like this,” Storm said. “But at that time, the way things were going I couldn’t see playing golf anymore. I thought that was it.
“It gave me a kick in the backside to be honest,” Storm said of the stint at the factory. “Maybe I needed a taste of reality of what life’s really about. I lost my [European] Tour card in 2002 and ended up in a little bit of debt. It was Christmas time and I felt I had to work to buy presents.
“I did only two or three months, but it was cold. I was outside in the freezing cold and I knew where I really wanted to be.”
Storm was making 145 British pounds a week (about $300) and wasn’t even making the cakes. He was washing the trays outside of the factory.
He earned his playing privileges back and, last month, burst open huge doors for himself when he won his first European Tour event – the French Open.
“It was a bit of a surprise that I won in France,” Storm said. “Since I won in France I’ve played in groups with (U.S. Open winner) Angel Cabrera, Paul McGinley in Ireland and Phil Mickelson in the Scottish Open. Getting to play with bigger names means I’m obviously going in the right direction.
“It was one of those rounds really when I never really thought about anything,” Storm said of yesterday’s magic.
Storm holed a 20-footer for birdie on his first hole of the day, No. 10. He nearly jarred his tee shot on the par-3 11th hole, picking up another birdie. Off he went, never losing control of the round.
“This is the best round I’ve ever shot in a major,” Storm said. “It’s one of my best rounds ever.”
This brilliance came from a player who shot 18-over par at the Bridgestone last week in Akron, Ohio.
Storm will be trying to become the sixth first-round leader in seven major championships played at Southern Hills to go on and win the tournament.
Tommy Bolt had a share of the 1958 U.S. Open lead and went on to win. Hubert Green had a share of the first-round lead in the 1977 U.S. Open and went on to win. Raymond Floyd had the solo lead in the 1982 PGA and went on to win. Nick Price had a share of the lead in the 1994 PGA and went on to win. And Retief Goosen had the lead alone in the 2001 U.S. Open and went on to win.
“It’s probably just a product of being the first round of major and everyone is just getting a feel for the place,” Storm said about being an unknown atop the leaderboard. “Over four days, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson and people like that are going to be there come Sunday.
“And the longer you stay ahead of Tiger Woods the better,” Storm added. “I’ve just got to just try not to think about (being in the lead). I came here not playing well the last few weeks, shooting high scores, so I have to just enjoy the moment and play golf. That’s what we’re here for.”
Leaderboard (Par 70)
Graeme Storm- -5
John Daly – -3
Arron Oberholser- -2
Woody Austin- -2
Stephen Ames- -2
Notables
Sergio Garcia – Even
Tiger Woods- +1
Ernie Els – +2
Colin Montgomerie- +2
Davis Love III- +2
Phil Mickelson- +3
Jim Furyk – +5
Vijay Singh- +5
