US PGA Championship: Damage to greens leaves red-faced staff to effect hasty repairs

The affected greens were the par-four 14th and par-three 17th but both were repaired before the start of yesterday's opening round, the PGA of America said in a statement.

"This damage is believed to be the result of a significant rise in the dew point at approximately 7pm which caused the brushes on the mowers on those greens to stick in the grass and damage the turf," the statement read.

The areas of repaired turf on both holes will be played as 'ground under repair' for the entire tournament, giving players free relief on any putt where the line is affected, the PGA of America said.

Ken Mangum, director of golf courses and grounds at Atlanta Athletic Club, told reporters he was mortified by the two incidents.

"Last night we felt like our hearts had been ripped out," Mangum said. "Something occurred that I've never seen before and I can only speculate what happened.

"Nothing mechanical, no operator error. It occurred almost simultaneously to two mowers, and we've checked the mowers, we've checked the people, we've checked everything.

"It's a little mystery to me why it happened. The only answer I could come up with was that the humidity changed and the brush grabbed and dug into the green and caused the problem."

Meanwhile, American Ryder Cup captain Davis Love still wants to play against Europe in Chicago next year - and it is a case of so far, so good.

The 47-year-old went into the tournament yesterday lying eighth on the points table and on course for a seventh cap.

"I think we should cut it off after this week, especially if I play good," said Love, who is ready to be the first playing-captain since Arnold Palmer in 1963.

"I made 12 teams (Presidents and Ryder Cups] in a row and I've been frustrated ever since."

The last of them was six years ago. "I'm hitting the ball well enough to play on the team. I'm not going to make it when I'm 55 probably, so I need to go ahead and get it done," he added. "If it's not this one I'm going to try just as hard for the next one."

Love was appointed after serving as one of Corey Pavin's assistants in last October's defeat at Celtic Manor.

That came after he recorded his first top-ten finish in a major since 2005, sixth at the US Open, and so far this season he has come 11th in the same event at Congressional and ninth in The Open at Sandwich.

He currently ranks 96th in the world, but in the Ryder Cup standings the only players ahead of him are, in order from the top, Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Steve Stricker, Bo Van Pelt, Kevin Chappell, Robert Garrigus and Ryan Palmer.

Tiger Woods is one place below and he and Love are playing together in the first two rounds at Atlanta, along with Padraig Harrington.Speaking before the first round, Love said: "It's going to be good. I had a little talk with him in the locker room yesterday because I had not seen him. Obviously the conversation immediately turns to the Ryder Cup, like most of my friends now that you haven't see in a while.

"I always enjoy playing with Tiger. Obviously there's a lot going on with him right now - people are anxious to see how he plays and there will be a lot of scrutiny.

"It will make me focus. That's one of the challenges for me - don't look at the leaderboards, don't think about results.

"Play your own game and don't let the distractions that go with playing in front of a big gallery and a big pairing get in the way.

"Hopefully it's going to be like playing in the last group four days in a row."