3 minute read
Canadian Corey Conners leads after the opening round of the 103rd PGA Championship but a mix of veterans and young stars lurk close behind.
Canadian Corey Conners soared where most others sunk, conquering a windy back nine of the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island to fashion a two-shot lead after the first round of the US PGA Championship.
Measuring just a touch under 4000 yards, the back nine saw holes 10-13 play directly downwind while 14-18 turned into the teeth of consistent 20mph gusts leaving many players chances on life support.
Conners played them in three-under par, without a bogey, including two birdies in the closing four holes to card a five-under 67 that saw him take his two-shot buffer as he chases a maiden major.
Only 51-year-old Phil Mickelson played the back better, his four-under 32 helping wipe out some of the bogeys from his front side as he entered the clubhouse tied eighth at two-under 70.
Six players sit tied for second place including four-time major winner Brooks Koepka, who opened with a double bogey, and young Australian Cam Davis, who rebounded from a triple bogey on the sixth hole.
Keegan Bradley, Viktor Hovland, Aaron Wise and Sam Horsfield also shot 69. Defending champion Collin Morikawa joined a large group with Mickelson at two-under.
"It's impossible to be stress-free around this golf course," Conners said.
"You can't fall asleep out there on any holes. It's very challenging. I was fortunate to have a good day. Made it as least stressful as possible on myself."
Koepka has battled a knee injury for the last few years but his opening hole was burning way more than any residual pain.
"You can't do that stuff if you want to win. You've just got to be more focused," Koepka said.
"I don't know if that's a lack of not playing or what. It was just stupid. I was able to recover, I guess.
"It's a major. I'm going to show up. I'm ready to play. I love it when it's difficult. I think that's why I do so well in the majors. I just know mentally I can grind it out."
While Conners and others managed the winds, plenty did not. Jordan Spieth's quest for a career grand slam opened with a 73 leaving him in need of a rebound round. But it will be much harder for some other stars to continue past Friday's second round.
World No.1 Dustin Johnson shot 76 and faces missing consecutive major cuts in the same year for the first time in his career, and 2012 champion at Kiawah Rory McIlroy shot 75 - as did Justin Thomas.
The scoring average hit 74.781 with multiple rounds in the 80s.
Freefalls were common with Australian Matt Jones leading at four-under with four to play before playing those in five-over.
