American Colt Knost was furious with tournament officials after his bid for a first major title was hampered in freaky circumstances in the US PGA Championship.
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Walker played early Thursday, when conditions were most favorable, and carded six birdies and one bogey for a 5-under 65.
Walker, a 37-year-old American who missed the cut in three of his past four majors, fired a five-under-par 65 for a one-stroke lead over Britain s Ross Fisher, two-time major victor Martin Kaymer of Germany and Argentina s Emiliano Grillo.
The five-time PGA Tour victor collected three of those wins during a milestone 2014 campaign, but the world’s No. 48 ranked player hasn’t won since claiming last year’s Valero Texas Open. He now ranks 50th in the 2016 FedExCup standings (752 points) and 57th on the money list ($1,471,771). “Even if you hit a good one shot, you might not get the wind right”.
WOBURN, England (AP) – Mirim Lee shot a 10-under 62 to match the Women’s British Open record and open a three-stroke lead in the major championship at tree-lined Woburn Golf Club.
Walker, who won five times between October 2013 and March 2015 but has struggled to reproduce such form this season, said: “It’s just been real stale and stagnant this year. It’s nice to hit it close and not feel like you had to make a lot of long putts”.
Despite lively afternoon winds and the wear and tear on the greens for the later starters, twice major victor Martin Kaymer of Germany posted a 66 to join Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo and Englishman Ross Fisher in a tie for second.
As is its custom, the PGA grouped the victor of the season’s first three majors together.
“I just didn’t miss many fairways and therefore, you can create some birdie chances”, Kaymer said. In addition to the aforementioned U.S. Open victory in ’14, Kaymer won The Players Championship in 2014 and, of course, the 2010 PGA Championship at Whistling Straits.
Through 15 holes at the PGA Championship, Baltusrol Golf Club had a leg up on Jordan Spieth. The PGA Championships is the last major and includes 97 of the world’s Top-100 in the field. He drilled a bunker shot into the lip on No. 11 for a double bogey. So did Reed, along with Johnson, Stenson and Masters champion Danny Willett.
Johnson’s playing partners – and fellow 2016 major champions – fared much better in the opening round. The latter was sharpened in practice-round matches this week with Rickie Fowler (2-under Thursday), Rory McIlroy (a disappointing 4-over) and others.
DAY LIGHT: Day is looking to become just the second player since the PGA went to stroke play in 1958 to repeat as champion.
Lahiri said, “Putting has been the area that I need to work on”. “I think you saw out there that there were a couple of putts from quite a short distance that I left short”.
Sixth-ranked Bubba Watson is also tied for 55th after notching a 71, outweighing his three birdies with four bogeys.
David Lingmerth (Razorbacks) was at 2-under 68 and tied for ninth.
British Open champion Henrik Stenson had a second straight 67 and was at 6 under, one shot ahead of four golfers.
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Friday – TNT, 1-7 p.m.
