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5 Things We Learned: Day 1 of the 2016 PGA Championship

Published

10 years ago

Jul 28, 2016

No one went super low on Day 1 at Baltusrol, and 70 players are within five strokes of the lead. If you were predicted to impact the 2016 season, you have a shot. If you have won lately, you have a shot. If you were injured recently, you have a shot. Tired, poor, huddled masses are all still in it. Richer, poorer, sick and healthy are still in the mix.

We did learn 5 specific things from Day 1 at the 2016 PGA Championship, the 98th of its kind. Have a look and see if you agree with our assessment.

How do you know it’s a PGA Championship?

Just six of the top-35 golfers have won a major title, while the rest are hoping to break through. Martin Kaymer is one off the lead at 4-under par, Henrik Stenson is at 3-under, Jason Day is at 2-under, and Rich Beem (yes, that Rich Beem) is 1-under.

The rest of the Thursday-night chasers are guys like Emiliano Grillo, James Hahn and John Senden. Be careful with John Senden. Some say he practices telepathy; others say it’s the black arts.

Hint: You won’t get the Senden joke unless watch the video below.

What? How? Really? #PGAChampionship https://t.co/IPJI7dFokK

— PlayBetter (@PlayBetter) July 28, 2016

Jimmy Walker probably won’t win

Remember when I wrote that Andrew Landry wouldn’t win at Oakmont, and he didn’t, and people yelled at me in internet-ese? Well, here I go again.

I like Jimmy Walker, and he is a great photographer. I like his wife, Erin Walker, because she is real and reachable and pertinent to fans and journalists. Jimmy Walker won’t win. He hasn’t played in, let alone challenged at, enough major tournaments to be comfortable through the week. If he does pull this one off, though, he will become a major force for Team USA at Ryder Cup time.

Jimmy Walker is on fire! 5-under through 10 holes and leads by 2. Here's his birdie on the par-3 16th.#PGAChamp https://t.co/e05vmGoo1n

— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) July 28, 2016

Give me the guys at 70 and you can have the rest of the field

Here’s the list: former major winners Justin Rose, Adam Scott, Jordan Spieth; comers Patrick Reed, Branden Grace and the eat-well story of 2016, Andrew “Beef” Johnston. I get the feeling that one of those lads will find the Friday flame and turn in a 64.

WARNING: I don’t bet, because I never win. Don’t run to your bookie on my account.

Back-to-back Beef birdies. ???????? pic.twitter.com/kuahNGykCl

— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) July 28, 2016

There’s no sure thing

How many people laid their hard-earned cash on a +7 performance from Dustin Johnson today? I’ll go with none. The best driver, wedge player and putter in recent major events struggled in all three categories at Baltusrol. The king of chill had one birdie and bunch of mustard-yellow numbers on his PGA.com scorecard, and sits in a tie for 143rd place.

DJ sums up 95% of my fairway bunker shots in just one swing. #golfproblems #pgachampionship https://t.co/RMfZLoeIML

— Pete Pappas (@PGAPappas) July 28, 2016

Driving and irons seems simple, right?

No other major championship this year saved its birdie holes for Nos. 17 and 18. There are no short, driveable par-4 holes, no par-3’s under 196 yards, and just two par-5’s (yep, those final two holes). Baltusrol is asking its champion and contenders to drive the ball in play (that secondary cut of rough looks like spinach) and spank an iron close to the hole (these are large putting surfaces). Anything less will result in an early flight home, or an early tee time on Sunday. Irons kinda like this one.

That was close! Young-Han Song comes within inches of a hole-in-one!#PGAChamp https://t.co/hpj4YGsv7D

— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) July 28, 2016

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5 Things We Learned: Day 2 of the 2016 PGA Championship

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Ronald Montesano

Ronald Montesano writes for GolfWRX.com from western New York. He dabbles in coaching golf and teaching Spanish, in addition to scribbling columns on all aspects of golf, from apparel to architecture, from equipment to travel. Follow Ronald on Twitter at @buffalogolfer.

16 Comments

Tom

Jul 31, 2016 at 7:34 pm

#4… well your prediction fell short

Reply Report comment
Marty Moose

Jul 29, 2016 at 6:14 pm

#6: Lots of annoying people in the gallery. Was watching the broadcast online and thought it was a Nascar race. Guess that’s NJ for you.

Reply Report comment
- Matto
  
  Jul 29, 2016 at 7:50 pm
  
  Different to any other U.S crowds?
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Ronald Montesano
    
    Jul 30, 2016 at 9:18 am
    
    Yes, way more. No clue why.
    
    Reply Report comment
- Ronald Montesano
  
  Jul 30, 2016 at 9:17 am
  
  There seem to be more at A) The PGA, every year and B) metro NYC events, even though Balty is a bit of a hike.
  
  Reply Report comment
Adam Sutherland

Jul 29, 2016 at 12:30 am

Now I’m not Walkers biggest fan but your comments not being able to win are ridiculous!! He’s had five wins in the last three years, in that time he has had three Top 10s in majors! He also beat Jordan Speith in his latest victory (by 4 strokes), he also beat DJ at Pebble. Comparing him to Andrew Landry is a bit rich! Prior to Oakmont Landry had never played a Major and only played 13 PGA Tour Events. Prior to this weeks PGA Championship Walker had played in 17 majors and 257 PGA Tour Events. Plenty of Major winners didn’t have that resume before winning their first Major.

There is no doubt Walker isn’t having as good a season as the past three years, missing 5 cuts and only 3 top 10s. But to say the guy “hasn’t played in, let alone challenged at, enough major tournaments to be comfortable through the week” absolute rubbish!

Reply Report comment
- COGolfer
  
  Jul 30, 2016 at 1:04 am
  
  Too many people discount his wins as not having any talent in the field. I think it’d be awesome to see him pull it off.
  
  Reply Report comment
- Ronald Montesano
  
  Jul 30, 2016 at 9:19 am
  
  Have you seen his record in the majors? He hasn’t played 10 of them yet, let alone challenged.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Adam Sutherland
    
    Jul 30, 2016 at 10:25 pm
    
    Ronald, if you had read my comment you would note that prior to this week Jimmy Walker has played in 17 majors and had 3 top 10s. For example recent major winners like Simpson, McDowell, Oosthuizen and Kaymer hadn’t had the “experience” or been in “contention” like Walker has when they won their first major.
    
    My point was your logic was flawed and poorly researched. People reading articles on the home page of this site deserve better.
    
    Reply Report comment
    - Philip
      
      Jul 31, 2016 at 10:18 pm
      
      I don’t think he is considering missing the CUT playing in a major and I would tend to agree on that point. However, Ronald was totally incorrect on this prediction and I’m waiting for him to eat crow.
      
      Reply Report comment
      - dapadre
        
        Aug 1, 2016 at 4:36 am
        
        HAHAHA me too. I remember reading this and think how can you say that. When he is on, he is one of the best Butch Harmon even said when he came to him for help the first thing he told him, you know you are more talented that many who I have coached or ever will. He said his ball striking was upper level, it was mainly minor things and confidence. Like my old coach you to say, WINNING SHUTS UP PEOPLE QUICK. HAHAHA!
        
        Reply Report comment
Yrrdead

Jul 28, 2016 at 11:02 pm

Telepathy != telekinesis

Reply Report comment
- Ronald Montesano
  
  Jul 30, 2016 at 9:20 am
  
  My head hurts from using both of them.
  
  Reply Report comment
Jeff

Jul 28, 2016 at 8:48 pm

Not that it matters, but isn’t it 6 of the top 35 that have won majors? Forgetting Webb Simpson and Louie Ooooo.

Reply Report comment
- Zak Kozuchowski
  
  Jul 28, 2016 at 9:39 pm
  
  Thanks for the edit, Jeff. You are correct.
  
  Reply Report comment
- Ronald Montesano
  
  Jul 30, 2016 at 9:21 am
  
  Thanks, Jeff. Leader Board changed on me a few times, but no excuse. Can’t ignore Webb “Birdman” Simpson or Louis “I just want a tractor” Oosthuizen and their moments of glory.
  
  Reply Report comment

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