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The first day of the PGA Championship contained a little bit of everything. Here’s a quick rundown of some of the things you can talk about at the water cooler — or on a Zoom call — on Friday morning.
Breson Dechambeau, comeback? It’s been a strange few years for DeChambeau, who underwent a massive physique transformation, winning the 2020 US Open, and taking another win at Bay Hill in 2021, but has done little since then. He struggled in 2022 – with both injuries and his form – and joined LIV Golf, and over the past year or so, he’s shifted his body again, losing some of that weight he’s worked so hard to carry.
Thursday ranked second in strokes gained: from the tee and first in strokes gained: total, compiling a four-under 66 for the club’s early lead. In his eight previous majors after winning winged foot, he has only finished in the top 30 twice and top 10 twice.
“I had to figure out what I did well in 2018 and what made me so successful at that time,” Dechambeau said. “I feel like I’m catching on and riding in the trend. I identified a couple of things this week, and they definitely paid off today.”
DeChambeau held the lead for most of the day, and although a few players also made it below four during points from their runs, he was still the only player there after the opening day ended. A frost delay in the morning pushed the tee times back nearly two hours, so 11 groups failed to finish their runs. Eric Cole is the overall leader at five and has four holes to play. He will resume his round early Friday morning from the middle of the par-4 sixth fairway, the 15th hole of the day.
Scotty Scheffler is where you thought he’d be. John Ram is not. Scheffler and the Ram were the strong pawns going into the tournament, but the Ram never found a rhythm and finished among the bottom of the field in shooting, signing a 76. Scheffler, on the other hand, is in a three-way tie for second after a three-under 67. He didn’t bogey—it’s the first time he’s He does it in a specialty.
Bryson hit a man (with a proximity shot). DeChambeau, who was once criticized for not yelling “Immediately!” After putts off the line, he hit a errant second on the 17th hole and hit PGA professional Kenny Bigman, who was playing the 18th, in the back. The good news? Pigman seemed to get rid of it, and in fact DeChambeau yelled “Immediately!” But if you believe in karma, this next piece isn’t for you: DeChambeau is club captain at four, while Pigman is second-to-last at 11.
More Bryson. There seems to be a typo in Netjets. There is no analysis to add.
Rory McIlroy finished better than Justin Thomas. If you didn’t see their featured set today (Colin Morikawa was also in it), it’s not that notable for you. But if you keep going, you might just be amazed to find out McElroy (71) is outpacing Thomas (72). Thomas was really, really good, most of his tour. Oak Hill wasn’t letting players down, but Thomas was rolling the ball well despite some hits not falling. He seemed fixed. He had a birdie and 13 mares through 14 holes, then doubled 6 and rallied 9 to go three in the last four holes.
Meanwhile, McIlroy only hit two runs and had to scramble all morning. He had three bogeys and no birdies in his first 11 holes – which included an astonishing level of par-zone par 2 – but found form late on. Perhaps it was the long save from under the green that encouraged him, as he played the last seven on two teams to save his run and stay a lot in this tournament.
It was a tough day for the recent winners of the PGA Tour. Jason Day, who won the AT&T Byron Nelson race on Sunday to snap a five-year winless drought, shot a 76. His pre-championship strategy didn’t seem to help him. He said on Wednesday that he hasn’t seen the course yet, and probably won’t see it until Thursday.
“I just don’t fight anything, I just want to make sure I’m mentally prepared and mentally ready for it.” [Thursday],” he said. “No matter how well I prepare, even if I go out and play a practice round, if I’m tired and exhausted, it’s not going to do me any favors, so I’ll just try to take it easy.”
Another top Tour winner didn’t fare much better. The last time Windham-Clark played a tournament was two weeks ago, when he beat a stellar court in a Wells Fargo tournament specific event. On Thursday, his first tournament since then, he opened with a score of 77.
But it’s been a good week for the new winners at LIV Golf. Dustin Johnson won Sunday in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and picked up right where he left off, shooting a three-under 67. He was in the last group finish Thursday night, failing to get up and down on par. eighteen. The 14-footer who just missed his bogey was his only bogey of the day, and he dropped him one behind DeChambeau.
Speaking of DJ and LIV, Jim Nantz dug into the rival league (again) during the telecast. (LIV has not released TV ratings for the last handful of events.)