Smyrna Golf Teaching Pro Tops Tiger at PGA

Craig Stevens, the only club professional from Georgia in the PGA Championship at the Atlanta Athletic Club in Johns Creek, posted a better first-round score than four-time champion Tiger Woods. But that's little solace for Stevens, a Dallas, Ga., resident who is a teaching professional at Fox Creek and Legacy Links in Smyrna.

Stevens shot a first-round 76 – one better than Woods – but has work to do on Friday if he wants to achieve his goal of making the cut.

Stevens hit the first shot of the tournament off the No. 1 tee. He ripped it down the middle and put his approach shot within range of a birdie, but failed to convert. Stevens, playing in his third PGA Championship, admitted the emotions were running high.

“It was real cool,” Stevens said. “I knew people were coming out. With all the people being here, that was really great. I really gave me some chills, but I hit my golf ball well and it was great.”

Stevens shot a 5-over 40 on the front nine; he found the water on No. 8 that led to a double-bogey.

He regained his composure and made back-to-back birdies at No. 12 and 13.

“That was awesome,” he said. “And it was really going good.”

After a bogey at the 260-yard par 3 15^th, Stevens closed the round with a double-bogey at No. 18, giving him a 36 on the back nine.

“The greens being where they are, you cannot miss,” Stevens said. “I got up-and-down several times. The easiest up-and-down I had was on 15 and I didn't, so that took a little bit of wind out of the sail. But other than that, I didn't play all that bad, just missed a few, and we'll go tomorrow.”