Defending champion Jason Day has a big first day, but is not in the lead.
Advertisement
Kaymer fired a four-under-par 66 on Thursday at Baltusrol to stand one stroke off the pace of United States leader Jimmy Walker after the first round of the year’s final major tournament, moved up two weeks because of next month’s Olympic golf event. The 68 he shot matched the same opening number the Aussie posted previous year when winning at Whistling Straits. He relished an opportunity to dine with fellow champions on Tuesday, but readied to pivot to daily duties.
“I definitely wanted to play Ryder Cup this year”, Walker said.
Since McIlroy split from Dave Stockton, the man who rebuilt his putting stroke so it was good enough to win four majors, it’s been obvious that his putting hasn’t gotten better.
Jordan Spieth finished with an even 70.
“I’m struggling with the pace”, he said. “The same this week”. I feel like if I had holed one of those first two, it might have been a different story of the day. “I came back and made some birdies”.
The leader after Thursday, Jimmy Walker.. The #2 ranked player in the world will need to play significantly better Friday or he will be heading home.
Three global players – Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo, England’s Ross Fisher and Germany’s Martin Kaymer – are tied for second, one shot back. Of the three major champs on hand, Stenson (3-under 67) is the best position at three under.
Jimmy Walker took a big first step towards capturing his maiden major title on Thursday, quite a turnaround after a season to forget.
“I watched Lionel Messi a couple times when Barcelona played against Bayern Munich and I went to the stadium, just to see the class”. “I’ve been playing really well leading up to the tournament, so it’s just nice to keep the form and momentum going”. He finished the day tied for 143rd place, ahead of only five other players, three of whom are club professionals. He had four birdies, all on the back nine.
“I feel like all year it’s just been real stale and stagnant”, Walker said.
Johnson, the U.S. Open champion with a chance to go to No. 1 in the world, was in the trees, in the water and couldn’t get out of a bunker.
Masters champion Danny Willett finished one over par, a shot behind two-time major victor Jordan Spieth.
“Just haven’t been scoring”, he said. Instead I hit a really good drive, a good 8-iron to 15, 18 feet behind the hole and made it.
The former cellphone salesman who upset mighty Tiger Woods in the 2002 PGA Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club, Beem, now 45, hasn’t played competitively these last two years other than his annual return to the PGA as a former champion. His lone birdie at No. 9 offered a moment of relief, but he completed his round with another bogey at 18 to put him seven over par.
High temperatures proved to be a hurdle as temperatures topped 90 degrees before cooling down with the wind and rain.
Rory McIlroy opened with a birdie-free 74. He didn’t practice, either, since the greens were slow and it was windy.
The second-round hole location sheet provided to the golfers for No. 10 listed the cup as being on the left side of the green when it was actually cut on the right side.
Advertisement
Josh Speight isn’t judging his performance in the PGA Championship by where he is on the leaderboard.
