Woods shakes off illness but makes slow start at Bethpage

May 16, 2019; Bethpage, NY, USA; Tiger Woods plays his shot from the eighth tee during the first round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Bethpage State Park - Black Course. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports

FARMINGDALE, N.Y. (Reuters) - Tiger Woods cleared up the reason for his mysterious absence from Bethpage Black on the eve of the PGA Championship, revealing after Thursday's first round that he had not been feeling well.

Woods played only nine holes in preparation this week and he struggled on the greens in a two-over-par 72 that left him nine strokes behind leader Brooks Koepka.