On the opening day of the 100th PGA Championship, Bellerive Country Club proved to be a tougher test than many initially imagined coming into the season’s final major. A talented field of 156 of golf’s top competitors scrambled in hot and humid Missouri conditions as they scrambled to make any birdie they could. Rickie Fowler took the early lead of the day with a 5-under round of 65.
Fowler held the lead for the majority of the first round of play. it wasn’t until late in the day Thursday that Gary Woodland grabbed sole ownership on top of the leaderboard. Fan favorites and dark horse candidates kept things close while turning in plenty of opening-round highlights from Thursday at the PGA Championship.
Rory, Tiger and Thomas kick things off
The early morning marquee group of major champions may not have turned in first place performances but each wasn’t without their own highlights through their opening rounds.
Three past champions in the same featured group? Yes, please. @JustinThomas34, @McIlroyRory & @TigerWoods are off!
Watch LIVE: https://t.co/8pMZGGCvh9 pic.twitter.com/rUmqWvchh3
— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) August 9, 2018
Four-time PGA Championship winner Tiger Woods had to battle back early just to save his round of even par. The 42-year old icon did so on the heels of superb scrambling as he showcased on the par-4 15th hole.
An all-world par save from Mr. @TigerWoods. pic.twitter.com/2OTgMHPCKZ
— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) August 9, 2018
Defending PGA Champion Justin Thomas stumbled down the stretch but turned in an early round of highlights to close out his opening round at 1-under par.
Back-to-back 🐥🐥 pic.twitter.com/V8uOpqYrge
— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) August 9, 2018
A two-time winner of the PGA Championship, Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy bounced back from an opening bogey with an early birdie at the par-4 11th hole.
Bounce-back birdie for Rory. #PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/z6H5bTzV6a
— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) August 9, 2018
Birdies soar around Bellerive
After coming up short off the tee, the world’s top ranked golfer Dustin Johnson chipped in for birdie on the par-3 6th hole.
Pitch perfect. 👏
Just a flick of the wrist for @DJohnsonPGA. pic.twitter.com/qzAwx4Oubc
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 9, 2018
Jordan Spieth was dialed in as he looks to close out the career grand slam on the strength of his remarkable wedge play.
Not many better than @JordanSpieth when it comes to wedges. 🎯#PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/ZfyH5xL6aY
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 9, 2018
Not to be left out of the birdie hunt Zach Johnson not only turned in a chip-in birdie on the par-4 9th hole but sits just two strokes off the lead at 4-under.
The chip-in birdie. The birdie dance. Nicely done, ZJ. #PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/T1xvlEIRia
— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) August 9, 2018
Just off the green on hole 15, Australia’s Marc Leishman proved he’s not going down without a fight following a chip-in birdie.
Marc Leishman moves to 1-under with this birdie. 🇦🇺 pic.twitter.com/8SHi9qgmv1
— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) August 9, 2018
You may not know his name but Omar Uresti knew this sand shot was going in on the 1st hole to open his round with a crowd roaring birdie.
When you know … you know. 😎
What a start for @OmarUresti1. #LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/fZMAi8cJv8
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 9, 2018
The battle a top the leaderboard
Donning the late fashion switch to yellow in memory of Jarrod Lyle, Rickie Fowler set the pace early on with patience and poise around the course in search of his first career major.
Just one of @RickieFowler's 6️⃣birdies today!
He is the clubhouse leader at 5-under. pic.twitter.com/hCD8aZPdBg
— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) August 9, 2018
Gary Woodland took a steady approach on the greens to tie Fowler at 5-under on the par-3 16th and would later take sole possession of the lead with another birdie at 17.
Company at the top.@GaryWoodland is tied for the lead at the #PGAChamppic.twitter.com/6D2KPkVzNp
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 9, 2018
