ATLANTA, Georgia - Excited after three birdies in five holes, Tiger Woods threw caution to the wind and wound up firing his worst opening round in a major, a seven-over 77, at the PGA Championship on Thursday.

Former World No 1 Woods, who began on the back nine, opened with a birdie, added two more at 12 and 14 and grabbed a share of the lead. Then reality struck. Hard. Three double bogeys hard.

"Every shot I hit up to that point were all mechanical thoughts," Woods said. "I put the club in a certain position, and I was doing that and I said, 'I'm feeling good. Let's just let it go.' And it cost me the whole round."