Bryson DeChambeau started the PGA Championship off with a bang, leading the field after shooting a four-under-par 66 in the first round at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, New York. The 27-year-old American golfer finished the day one stroke ahead of Scottie Scheffler, Dustin Johnson, and Corey Conners.
DeChambeau’s round was not perfect, as he hit club pro Kenny Pigman with a shot on the 17th hole, but he overcame some difficult rough patches to finish under par. The U.S. Open winner from 2020 has been working on his physique and technique, and his performance on Thursday showed that his efforts are paying off.
Only seven out of the 78 players who played in the morning draw managed to break par, with Scheffler being the only player in the top 10 in the world to do so. Jordan Spieth, who missed the AT&T Byron Nelson due to a wrist injury, finished his first round three-over and tied for 63rd. If Spieth manages to win the PGA Championship, he will become the sixth player to complete the career Grand Slam.
Some other notable players who are within striking distance of the lead include Viktor Hovland, Adam Scott, and Rory McIlroy. On the other hand, Justin Thomas, Brooks Koepka, and others could fall out of contention depending on how they perform on Friday.
Tony Finau had a difficult start to his first round, with bogeys and a double bogey in the early holes. However, he rallied in the back nine, making four birdies to finish at two-over-par 72 and tie for 42nd place. Finau has made the cut in 22 of his 27 starts in major tournaments and is aiming to continue that streak at the PGA Championship.
Meanwhile, Patrick Cantlay won the BMW Championship on Sunday after defeating Bryson DeChambeau in a six-hole playoff. Cantlay made a 20-foot birdie putt on the final hole of regulation to force the playoff and eventually emerged victorious, securing his place on the US Ryder Cup team and moving to the top of the FedEx Cup rankings. DeChambeau, who had several chances to win the tournament but ultimately lost, refused to speak to the press afterward.
The PGA Championship is the final major golf tournament of the year, with a total prize purse of $11 million. The tournament will continue through Sunday, with the winner taking home $1.98 million. As it stands now, Bryson DeChambeau is the man to beat.
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