Friday, August 18 2006 10:37 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Chicago: The world's two top golfers prove to be an even match on Thursday (17 Aug, 2006) as playing partners Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson battle stroke for stroke at the 88th PGA Championship.

Woods and Mickelson each fire three-under 69s in the first round of the 7,561 yard Medinah Country Club course, the longest in majors history. Former Ryder Cup star Chris Riley and world No 51 Lucas Glover share the clubhouse lead on six-under 66.

"I was behind the eight ball early, but we all missed a few shots, got up and down and grinded our way around the golf course," says Woods, who starts slow with a bogey but then fired off three birdies over the next five holes.

Reigning British Open champion Woods and Mickelson, who capture the 2006 Masters, have combined to win six of the last 11 majors. The PGA Championship continues with the traditional of pairing the first three major winners of the year in the first two rounds. US Open winner Geoff Ogilvy complete the dynamic trio as he is also seeking to make it a two-major season. Ogilvy also shot a 69 on Thursday (18 Aug, 2006). "The greens are very soft and so you know some guys are going to go low. I think we all kept ourselves in the ball game with three rounds to go."

Starting on the 10th tee, Mickelson opens with two consecutive birdies but then has to scramble on the back nine to make par after approach shots on the 12th and 13th holes comes up short.

"The last few days I felt like I practiced better than I played today," Mickelson says.

Glover and Riley take advantage of perfect conditions, some easy pin placements and soft greens that result in lower than expected scores on Thursday (18 Aug, 2006).

"I was real solid," says Glover, who posts eight birdies and two bogeys.

"I made all my short putts and a couple of long ones for birdie. You can't ask for any more than that out there that's for sure." The 26-year-old Glover has registered six top ten finishes this year.

"I know the US Open is just so hard I really don't enjoy playing in those," Riley says.

"I really think the PGA sets the courses up the best out of all the majors."

Billy Andrade is their nearest competitor in the clubhouse at five-under 67. England's Luke Donald, Australian Robert Allenby, Swede Henrik Stenson and England's Lee Westwood are in a group at four-under 68. Woods and Mickelson do not enjoy a close relationship and fail to hit it off when paired together for the United States in the Ryder Cup.

They are seen sharing a joke during one moment of Thursday's (16 Aug, 2006) round but Mickelson doesn't expect to be chatting away with Woods in Friday's second round.

"I enjoy playing with Tiger," says Mickelson.

"He gets in his own world out there. We have to take care of business on the course and then we shake hands after. We both played OK, but we both had chances to go lower."

Mickelson is looking to successfully defend a major championship for the first time in his career, while Woods captures the first of his two PGA Championships in 1999 at Medinah.

They have squared off in the last group in a major just once, at the 2001 Masters.

"It is my first time as defending champion of this tournament," Mickelson says.

"It is weird to come and defend a title on a different venue, but also enjoyable."

Woods is seeking his sixth win of the season and is coming off back-to-back victories in the Buick Open and last month's British Open.