MEDINAH, Ill. -- In the cold rain, in the growing darkness, on a wet and bumpy 18th green, that's far from the normal comfort zone for Tiger Woods. But that's precisely where Woods introduced himself to the 88th PGA Championship yesterday, the moment a slippery, 18-foot right-to-left breaking putt disappeared into the hole for a birdie that defined his day.
Moments later, while Woods did a television interview, a grinning Phil Mickelson walked over and held an umbrella over the head of Woods, who smiled, too.
As far as defining moments go, this one wasn't so bad, either.
It was a good day to take cover, because at the forest-like setting at Medinah Country Club, Woods is squarely in the hunt for another major, which would be his second in two months and the 12th of his career.
Woods is not there yet, but the 4-under-par 68 that Woods carved out in yesterday's second round vaulted him to within one shot of the lead.
It's crowded at the top - 8-under par - with Henrik Stenson, Billy Andrade, Luke Donald and Tim Herron, each an accomplished veteran, but a group that is collectively 11 majors short of Woods.
So far, it's an all-out blitz at the final major of the year, at storied Medinah, which is getting pulverized. There were 61 players who shot under par yesterday and 26 of them produced scores in the 60s.
Stenson and Donald turned in 68s and Andrade a 69 for 36-hole totals of 8-under 136. Woods is next at 7-under, the same score as Geoff Ogilvy and Davis Love III.
But it is Woods who draws the most attention.
"I can promise you no one is scared that I'm on the leader board, I don't think," Ogilvy said.
There are 24 players within four shots of the lead, but no one is getting more scrutiny than Woods.
"I'm in good shape," Woods said. "There's a bunched leader board. You knew it was going to be that way with the soft greens and that's basically what it turned out to be.
"You've got to go out there and make some birdies here and there and try not to give anything back."
Woods has one bogey so far and it was on his first hole Thursday, after he drove into the rough.
Mickelson was not as consistent yesterday, with four bogeys and five birdies. He birdied the last hole to end his round of 1-under 71, three shots behind Woods and four off the lead.
His problem: He has played the par-3 holes in a combined 4-over.
