Sergio Garcia didn't agonize over many missed opportunities Thursday.

Thursday's opening round at the 81st PGA Championship brought folks back into the 19-year-old's camp in spectacular fashion. Not only did Garcia fire a 6-under-par 66 on Medinah No. 3 to take a two-shot lead, the effort tied the course record.

It also made it clear that the teenager who learned at the scrambling feet of Spanish national hero Seve Ballesteros not only might make the European Ryder Cup team, he might win a major championship in a state where he's not able to legally take a celebratory drink.

"I don't know what I can say after this round," Garcia said moments after he walked off a course that he carved up with impressive precision. "I just played great. I hit a lot of fairways, a lot of greens, made a couple of good putts, and that's what it's all about.

"I mean this kind of tournament and these kind of courses you have to hit a lot of fairways, a lot of greens and wait for your right time. And that happened to me today and, well, I'm very proud of myself."

It was a stark contrast to Garcia's last appearance on the world golfing stage, an embarrassing death march nearly every midhandicap hack could identify with. Based on his comments after beating up Medinah, he's out to prove the disaster in Scotland was a fluke.

"I just want to say one thing," he said curtly with a hint of arrogance. "I think I've proved myself today. I think the British Open is done, so I don't want to hear any more questions about the Open. But I'm going to tell you this: The difference is that here I played very good. Everything went the right way. I made some good putts and had a couple of good breaks.

"At the Open, everything went the wrong way, starting with a 7, then hitting a couple of good drives that bounced in the middle of the fairway, went to the rough and ended unplayable. So that's the big difference, nothing else."

The record-tying round began with a chip-in birdie at the par-3 second and progressively got better. After a rain delay shortly after he made the turn in the late afternoon, he posted three birdies on the final five holes to make a rather loud opening statement in the final major championship of the millennium.

The most impressive birdie might have been at the 16th, a 452-yard par-4 that was the second most difficult hole during the opening round. While most players were cautiously looking to get out of the par-5-like monster, Garcia went looking for a 4 and ended up drawing blood.

"I played it very good," he said. "I hit a very nice 3-wood over the trees, really high and with a little draw. And I was kind of between an 8- and a 9-iron (approach). It was depending on the wind, so some wind was blowing out there and I was 166 (yards) to the pin, a little uphill. And I didn't want it to go over the pin, over the green to that thick rough where I was practicing (Wednesday).

"So I told (my caddie), I prefer to hit 9-iron and maybe if I don't reach the hole, I know I'm going to be on the green, so maybe we make par. And then I made a great putt from there. I hit a great shot, but 30 feet short and made it from there."

Though it's way too early to think about a trophy presentation on the 18th green Sunday, Garcia would become the youngest winner of a major championship in the modern era. It would also bring up again not only the comparisons to Seve, but the talk of a youthful rivalry with Tiger Woods, a fossil at age 23.

Interestingly enough, Garcia and Woods played together in a practice round here earlier this week. The experience, although not their first together, might have given the younger player more confidence.

"I practiced on this course for four days coming in, so more or less, when I played with Tiger I knew where to hit it and everything," Garcia said. "But, you know, it always helps to play with a great player like Tiger. I'm sure he helped me a lot."

Garcia will need all the experience he can muster going into Friday's second round. Although the horrors of Carnoustie are behind him, he will face the difficult task of holding onto the lead as the field comes after him. Can he continue his torrid play? After all, it will be Friday the 13th.