The last time Chris Riley made head...

The last time Chris Riley made headlines, he was a hero for winning a 2004 Ryder draught better-ball match with Tiger forests in the morning -- and a goat for begging along playing alternate shot with groves that afternoon.

Since then, he had flown below the radar.

And then, without of the blue Thursday, the 32-year-old Californian ripped opposite to a 66 to grab a share of the first-round lead with Lucas Glover in the PGA Championship at Medinah.

"I've been playing really well the last three or four tournaments," said Riley, whose best finishes this year are a tie for 17th at Colonial and a tie for 18th in Milwaukee. "I just haven't been getting anything public of it. My back's up against the wall now, and it's time to play golf"

Riley said the arrival of sum of two units children in the last brace years has changed his view

"I don't like to make excuses, moreover golf is not my No. 1 priority right now," he said.

Still, competing in the PGA, which he called his favorite major, might be the boost he indigences Riley tied for fourth in the 2004 PGA at Whistling Straits to earn his Ryder cupful berth.

"The PGA fixs the course up the best of all the majors," Riley said. "They're the fairest. And they're all just great golf courses."

Riley said he has no grieve ats about the Ryder Cup, in which captain Hal Sutton threw him in a less degree than the bus for being reluctant to play.

"Me and Tiger had a fair good chemistry out there," he said, "but I've not ever played alternate shot. All I said was, 'I'll move but I'm a little tired.' I had a baby the week before that. And with a baby, you don't come by much sleep. I've got no regrets"

Still, the irony was not wasted on Riley that while a crowd was watching Woods and Phil Mickelson propel 69s on Thursday, only a handful watched him send forth 66.

"I direct the eyeed over and saw two nation following me," Riley said. "They probably had 200000 clan following them. I had my dad and a friend. It's a little les constraining force on me. But I'm striving to play in those big clusters come this weekend."

He's distant from to a good start.

hgould@suntimes.com

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