The Schefflers and the Schauffeles, the Kaymers, Koepkas, and Cauleys. It’s a dream leader board for an audiologists, this round one tally of the scores from Harding Park and the 102nd playing of the PGA Championship. Only once before has the PGA been the season’s first major championship. That was in 1971, when the event was held in February, at PGA National. With a west-coast, host course, the PGA finishes each night from eight to ten pm in all the other USA time zones. Chances are, you’re reading this quite late in the evening. No matter, it won’t put you to sleep. We learned five things today at TPC-Harding Park, and we are happy to share them with you.
1. Day and Todd share the round-one lead
Jason Day and Brendon Todd have a share of the opening-day lead at five under par. They aren’t clear by much; a mixed bag of nine golfers lurks one shot back, at minus four. Day is a former PGA champion (2015 at Whistling Straits) while Todd has been one of the hot golf stories of the wraparound season. He has two wins to his credit, and could have twice that many, with more luck and grit on his side. Day made the most of his day, with five birdies against zero bogies. Todd had seven birdies on the day, but a pair of late bogeys kept him from the solo lead. Day will see the course in the afternoon on day two, while Todd will tee it up early. As greens get bumpier by the minute, smart money is on Todd to remain near the lead. Day will need putting fortune on his side in the Friday PM.
2. Stars collide on leader board
Horses for tournaments might be the mixed metaphor of day one. Brooks Koepka, the defending champion, and Martin Kaymer, the 2010 PGA winner (also at Whistling Straits), sit in the nonagon at four deep. Major champions Justin Rose and Zach Johnson join them, along with a quintet of untested aspirants. Of the pentagon, the most interesting story is William “Bud” Cauley. An amateur contemporary of Rickie Fowler and Dustin Johnson (and their teammate on the 2009 USA Walker Cup side) Cauley suffered through injuries while his mates established their careers. Finally healthy, Cauley would be an even bigger, comeback story than the recently-injured Jason Day.
3. Bryson, of course
It figures that the fellow who avails himself best of the 2019 rules changes, would be the first visible beneficiary of the I broke my club and I can replace it change. Indeed, the large man of Physics #BigBangTheory leaned the wrong way on his driver and snapped the shaft off at the hosel. Thanks to the largesse of the USGA and R&A, Bryson is now able to replace the club mid-round. He reached minus-four twice on the back nine, before bogeys at 14 and 15 dropped him to minus-two.
4. Tiger’s day: a little of this and a little of that
El Tigre made five birdies on the day. That’s a good sign. He also made three bogeys. That’s a bad sign. TPC-Harding Park does not look like the type of course where a few under par will win the Wannamaker Trophy, so the recovering cat will need to get that oft-cited A Game back and quick. If anyone can, it is he. With four prior wins in the PGA, it is kinda-sorta his tournament, when he wants it to be. It has been 13 years since he won back-to-back titles, and a home-state course might be the thing that moves his needle.
5. What happened, Justin?
Last week’s winner, and current World Number One, Justin Thomas, had two double bogeys on the front nine, and fired a bumpy 71, one over par. If JT doesn’t reach deep and go low on Friday, he’ll have the weekend off. He’s not alone in the black figures, among top golfers. Last week’s other winner, Richy Werenski, also signed for 71. Webb Simpson, Tyrrell Hatton, Phil Mickelson and Patrick Cantlay joined them in the struggle zone. The constellation is large, but it doesn’t include all the stars. Stay tuned on Friday.
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