Henrik Stenson, who won his first major only a fortnight ago is in a group of four players on -3, two shots behind Walker. That would be the lion in winter, the game’s most talented enigma and the World No. 1, respectively.
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Fellow former BYU golfer Zac Blair finished at 3-over and is tied for 103rd place. Ten days after his runner-up finish at Royal Troon, Mickelson shot a 1-over 71. He hit 17 greens in regulation, picking up 4.74 strokes gained on the field tee-to-green.
In danger of playing the entire opening round without making a birdie, Spieth rolled in a 16-footer on the 16th hole before adding a two-putt birdie on No. 18 to close out an even-par 70. If he keeps swinging like this he’ll only go lower, and he knows it.
“I don’t think it’s coincidence or anything”, Walker said. Hasn’t been like that lately. To be able to go out there and hit it exactly where I’m going and see the shot and what I need to do and actually execute it was exciting for me. “Really positive stuff going into the next three rounds”.
Mickelson’s disappointment: Phil Mickelson arrived at Baltusrol with fond memories of his 2005 PGA title and fresh hope after his play at the Open Championship. He also has quietly impressed at the majors this season.
“It could always be better, ” Stenson said.
“I remember walking off of No. 3 and a guy said, ‘Hey, you’ve got a lot of golf left, you’re not out of this, let’s get going, ‘” Mickelson said. “I think if you try a little bit too hard sometimes, you can kind of shoot yourself in the foot”.
T9. Brooks Koepka (-2): Koepka finished in the top 10 at last year’s PGA Championship and has had an underrated year. McIlroy, one of the pre-event favourites, endured a series of problems on the greens with 35 putts contributing heavily to his four over par total.
Fisher’s compatriot Andy Sullivan is tied for fifth having carded a three-over 67, while world No1 Jason Day posted a 68 on a day when a plethora of big hitters failed to fire, including world No4 Rory McIlroy who posted 74. To which Ian Carter, a BBC Sport correspondent, parried, “He might miss”.
Two-time Major victor Jordan Spieth fared better than McIlroy and after struggling with his long game ended with a level par 70. I think it’s more of a mental thing, as well.
“So it was nice to keep that rolling today”.
“I haven’t had the greatest putting display over the last three weeks that I’ve played”.
“I need to be more aggressive with my stroke, shoot something in the mid-60s and get into the weekend”. Iron play feels good. US Open champion Dustin Johnson looks set to miss the cut.
While McIlroy continues to do less with more, Mickelson came through with a gritty high-wire act to stay in the tournament. He double bogeyed the third and 11th holes and bogeyed three others.
“There’s nothing easy on the golf course today”, Kaymer said. “But I’m only five back”. I didn’t swing freely. Rickie and I came out on top in that one. My rhythm wasn’t great. The greens are just a different story and I have to figure that out for tomorrow.
Playing in the Northern Ireland Open on the Challenge Tour, Ryan Fox, Lee’s Olympic teammate, was even par three holes into his first round when play was suspended due to darkness, after a rain delay earlier in the day.
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The 27-year-old struggled to contain his frustration at being unable to convert a number of birdie chances as his long game was in good order, but he feels confident of playing his way back into the tournament with an improved second round.
