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US PGA Championship 2014: Chris Wood tears up Valhalla after tearing up his trousers

Wood split his trousers bending over on just the second hole but went on the card an impressive 66

Phil Casey
Friday 08 August 2014 08:25 BST
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Chris Wood at the US PGA Championship after changing his trousers having split them on the second hole
Chris Wood at the US PGA Championship after changing his trousers having split them on the second hole (Getty Images)

Not content with splitting fairways in a flawless round of 66, England's Chris Wood also split his trousers on an eventful first day of the 96th US PGA Championship at Valhalla.

Wood suffered a major wardrobe malfunction on just his second hole of the day, causing a 10-inch rip in his trousers after bending down to line up a putt.

"They were tailored as well so I'll be taking them back," the 26-year-old from Bristol joked. "They tore right in the place you don't want them to. Unfortunately the crowd on the 12th tee are right behind where I was teeing off so they could see my underpants.

"We weren't sure what was allowed under the Rules of Golf so we asked if we could borrow Johan's waterproofs, but they were obviously a little bit short."

Playing partner Johan Kok is 6ft 2in and Wood is 6ft 6in, but the world number 90 was not in a position to be choosy, adding: "I put them on on the 13th tee, but it's 85 degrees and I'm wearing trousers and waterproofs.

"So halfway down the 13th I nipped behind the Golf Channel studio and took the trousers off and just wore the waterproofs. Thankfully by the 17th my manager had been back to the hotel and got another pair from my room."

Even that proved somewhat troublesome, with former European Tour professional Stuart Cage initially sent to the wrong room and walking in, much to the surprise of the current occupant.

"I think it was just a case of laughing it off," added Wood, who was fifth in the 2008 Open as an amateur and third the following year at Turnberry, missing out on the play-off between Tom Watson and Stewart Cink by a single shot.

"It's the most embarrassed I have ever been on the golf course and I am sure I will take a bit of stick for it, but it's my best round in a major in America. These courses are renowned for needing straight driving and that's not usually my strength, but I drove it well today."

PA

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