Wrapping up our coverage for tonight. Séamus Power is +3 through 11 holes, needs a strong finish to stay within touching distance. Straka gets up to -3 and Scott going well after 11 holes on the same score. Dustin Johnson one to watch after two birdies and no drop shots at -2.
The leaderboard as we finish up:
LEADERBOARD
(*Started on the 10th)
- -4 Bryson DeChambeau (F)
- -3 Corey Conners (F), Scottie Scheffler (F), Adam Scott (10), Sepp Straka (13*)
- -2 Keegan Bradley (F), Viktor Hovland (F), Ryan Fox (F), Thomas Pieters (12*), Hayden Buckley (15), Dustin Johnson (10), Eric Cole (7*)
The Irish
- +1 Rory McIlroy (F)
- +2 Pádraig Harrington (F)
- +3 Shane Lowry (F), Séamus Power (11*)
Other notables
- +1 Justin Thomas (F), Collin Morikawa (F)
- +2 Brooks Koepka (F), Justin Thomas (F), Cameron Smith (F)
- +3 Jordan Spieth (F)
- +6 Jon Rahm (F)
Join us again tomorrow as Malachy Clerkin will be taking us through the coverage from 1pm. Good night!
LEADERBOARD
(*Started on the 10th)
- -4 Bryson DeChambeau (F)
- -3 Corey Conners (F), Scottie Scheffler (F), Adam Scott (10), Sepp Straka (13*)
- -2 Keegan Bradley (F), Viktor Hovland (F), Ryan Fox (F), Thomas Pieters (12*), Hayden Buckley (15), Dustin Johnson (10), Eric Cole (7*)
The Irish
- +1 Rory McIlroy (F)
- +2 Pádraig Harrington (F)
- +3 Shane Lowry (F), Séamus Power (11*)
Other notables
- +1 Justin Thomas (F), Collin Morikawa (F)
- +2 Brooks Koepka (F), Justin Thomas (F), Cameron Smith (F)
- +3 Jordan Spieth (F)
- +6 Jon Rahm (F)
A few birdies on the board, great approach by Scott leaves him a tap-in for birdie on 10. Thomas Pieters birdies to get back to -2 on 3. Justin Rose birdies 7 to get to -2.
Rory McIlroy speaks with Sky: “I was very erratic, did very well to shoot 71. Going to have to play a lot better tomorrow.”
He says he is under weather, is taking a lot of Vitamin C and to manage it. On the course set-up today.
“It was a tough, there were a lot of crosswinds, if you don’t hit fairways, it makes life very difficult for yourself.”
He said he thought scoring would be better than it was, so is satisfied he salvaged a round considering he only hit two fairways.
Massive Adam Scott drive on 8 centre of the fairway leaves just a wedge in which sets up another birdie chance which he duly converts from 10 feet, -3 now. Birdie for Dustin Johnson on 7, he moves to -1. A disastrous start for Tony Finau means he’s +5 after 8. Rose drops two shots at the 5th and is back to E. A three-putt from nowhere.
It’s Adam Scott’s 87th consecutive major, going back all the way to 2001. Quite the achievement.
Oh my. Séamus Power lips out nastily for birdie on 7, horrible luck. It’s only his second par of the day, he’s +2. Another report from golf correspondent Philip Reid live from Oak Hill.
“I worked hard for it,” confessed Pádraig Harrington on his 72, still troubled by a “sore” rib that manifested itself last week. “I drove it okay but didn’t hit many fairways which was a killer. I feel like I can play better. If that was my bad day, you’re delighted,” he added.
For Shane Lowry and his 73, the frustration was evident as he held his head in his hands and rested them on his golf bag after exiting the recorder’s tent. “It was relentless out there. Every time I hit an average shot, I made a bogey. I hit a lot of good shots, played a lot of good golf, but three over is not great, is it? Two over would have been fine but a bad bogey on nine leaves a bit of a sour taste,” said Lowry.
A terrible driving round by Rory today, and amazing he shot 71 when being so wayward. He even missed the fairway with an iron at some point. But unless he improves his driving, he can’t expect to contend this week. Sky Sports showed some footage of McIlroy on the range, working on it late in the day.
Justin Rose has birdied the 3rd and is now up to -2, as is Thomas Pieters. Adam Scott is playing well and birdied the 6th to get to that number as well. Sepp Straka drops a shot at 18.
A double bogey for Séamus Power sadly as his crazy round continues. A short par 4 14th, he took five shots from just 51 yards.
A birdie for Straka at the 16th, he’s up to -3 now and just one shot off the lead. Bad start for one of the favourites Finau as he ends up chipping a ball into the bunker, +1 already and looks like losing another shot.
Birdie for Séamus Power at the 4th! Birdie-bogey-bogey-birdie start, no pars on the card yet. He layed up short at the par 5 4th, and hit his approach to 20 feet and sank the putt. He’s even par.
Meanwhile, Justin Rose birdied the first after a nice putt.
Check out Philip Reid’s report on Rory McIlroy’s round today of 71.
“For 10 holes of his round, Rory McIlroy was like a guy down on his luck. He couldn’t buy a thing, for love nor for money.
And, then, like a magical swish of a wand, the hangdog look disappeared, at least for a time. The spark, when it came, was from out of nowhere, not from a birdie or an eagle, but rather from the unlikeliest of par saves.”
The shot in question:
DeChambeau finishes up with a 66, Bradley with a bogey at his last for a 68. The 2020 US Open champion back in form. And another major with an early lead for a LIV golfer.
Bad round for last week’s winner Jason Day, +5 and misses the green on his last hole, will struggle to save par. Decent shot into the last by DeChambeau, one last birdie chance. Another bogey for Power, as he gets in trouble in the rough on the 12th. He’s +1.
Fantastic long iron by Adam Scott at the par 3 3rd to close and he holes for birdie to move to -1. DeChambeau launches on the 9th through everything, his last hole of the day. Has lost the bulk but hasn’t lost the speed. Middle of the fairway. Terrible start by Schauffele, +3 after only two holes.
Unfortunately Power follows up his opening hole birdie with a bogey at the next. He pulled his iron shot left at the par 3 and failed to get up-and-down. Bad start for Schauffele, bogeyed the 1st and pitches over the green at the 2nd.
A birdie at his first for Séamus Power! Great start as he hits a wedge to 5 feet and sinks the putt for birdie. Meanwhile Bradley bogeyed his 7th hole to fall down to -3. DeChambeau leads on his own. Phil Mickelson, Rickie Fowler and Patrick Cantlay have teed off. Fowler nastily lips out for par at the first.
Ireland’s Séamus Power off the mark, on the 10th, as are some of the featured golfers for this evening - Dustin Johnson, Tony Finau and Xander Schauffele.
I am taking a quick break ahead of the next wave, lots to look forward to!
A disappointing final bogey for Shane Lowry after he got in trouble off the tee. Round of 73, three over. The only birdie of the day was a chip-in, just never got it going.
For Harrington, he rescued a par at the last after being in some trouble too. A grinding two over 72 for Harrington, only one birdie also, three bogeys. Middle of the pack.
DeChambeau takes the lead with a birdie at 7. Now looking slimmer, the LIV golfer has seemingly found his game after being in the doldrums. His playing partner Bradley joins him in the lead.
Viktor Hovland pars the last for a 68, two under.
McIlroy’s final putt misses to the left. It’s a round of 71. Not bad at all after going out in 38 and staring another bogey in the face at his 11th hole before he holed a putt from off the green. From there, he was -2 for his final seven holes. Given the lead is only -3 and the tricky conditions, only four off the lead is fine.
McIlroy’s round is matched by playing partner Morikawa, who shot 71. Playing partner Justin Thomas shoots 72.
World number one Rahm is shockingly +7. A disastrous day.
Bogey for Harrington on 17 unfortunately. Missed the green to the right and didn’t get up and down. Back to +2. McIlroy missed the fairway on his final hole but makes the green with his approach. Unlikely to birdie but should get his par you’d imagine. Conners also finishes his round, a 67 to tie the lead. Justin Suh moved into tied 5th with a birdie to get to -2.
Birdie for McIlroy! After a great iron shot, holes from 7 feet on 8 to get back to +1. Body language much better looking than his first nine holes.
Scheffler hits a great iron from the rough, powers it to the middle of the green on his last hole, the 9th. His putt just misses for birdie. That’s a great first round of 67 though.
Nice pitch by DeChambeau on 4 gives him a chance to join the players on -3, which he makes. He’s tied for the lead.
Super shot by McIlroy on 8, his approach from 135 yards to within 10 feet. He’s played a lot of good shots on his back nine today, something to be positive about after a bad start.
Not too much happening with Harrington and Lowry but still well in it. Only one birdie for both, but no major disasters either. +1 and +2 respectively.
Birdie for Scheffler! The world number two moves to the top of the leaderboard on -3. Bogey-free round so far, not too many of those out on the course.
McIlroy putting from just off the green but doesn’t like it. End result isn’t too bad though, a few feet for par which he makes. Another bogey for Rahm, wow. +5 now.
Only nine players under par today so far. Tough day of golf.
The leader Conners drops a shot at the 16th, back to -3. Fox’s putt to join the lead is short, but that’s going to be a satisfying round of 68 and the clubhouse lead. Hovland fails to save his par after hitting the water, back to -2.
Some more magic from Scheffler as he hits his iron close at 8 and a chance to join the lead. Bradley also goes to -3 after a birdie on 2.
Some 199 yards for McIlroy at the 7th, in the rough (again) off the tee. Muscled it towards the green but just short and work to do save par.
Rory just misses birdie on 6, good opportunity missed after a great approach. Justin Thomas makes a costly double bogey on the same hole as he misses a short putt for bogey. Costly drive by Hovland as he hits it in the water.
McIlroy missed the fairway again but a super escape from the trees sets up a good birdie chance. Conners takes the lead with a long birdie putt on 15 to get to -4. Fox lips out for par to move back on 17.
A birdie for Corey Conners on the 14th and he joins the lead. Hovland also joins the party with a birdie on the 4th. Conditions getting slightly easier? Five bogeys in six holes for world number one Rahm, he’s having a nightmare day. +4 now.
LEADERBOARD
(*Started on the 10th)
- -3 Ryan Fox (16), Corey Conners (14), Viktor Hovland (13*)
- -2 Scottie Scheffler (15*), Bryson DeChambeau (10*), Keegan Bradley (10*), Sahith Theegala (15)
The Irish
- +1 Pádraig Harrington (13)
- +2 Rory McIlroy (14*), Shane Lowry (13*)
Other notables
- -1 Justin Thomas (14*), Collin Morikawa (13*)
- +1 Brooks Koepka (15*)
- +2 Cameron Smith (12*)
- +3 Jordan Spieth (13*),
- +4 Jon Rahm (12*)
Oh dear, McIlroy drops a shot on the 5th with a three-putt. Back to +2.
Another tasty approach by Fox and he lips out from a hole-out eagle. A seemingly easy birdie putt to go two shots clear, but he lips out and it’s just a par.
Birdie for Scheffler on the 5th, he’s within one of the lead and taking up an ominous position early doors. A 185-yard iron on the 5th for McIlroy is a bit underwhelming, doesn’t get up the slope and long birdie putt left. Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald going well and up to even par. More birdies for Bradley and DeChambeau, who move to -2.
LEADERBOARD
(*Started on the 10th)
- -3 Ryan Fox (15)
- -2 Corey Conners (14), Viktor Hovland (12*), Scottie Scheffler (14*), Bryson DeChambeau (10*), Keegan Bradley (10*), Sahith Theegala (15)
The Irish
- +1 Pádraig Harrington (13)
- +2 Rory McIlroy (14*), Shane Lowry (13*)
Other notables
- -1 Justin Thomas (13*), Collin Morikawa (13*)
- +1 Brooks Koepka (14*)
- +2 Cameron Smith (11*)
- +3 Jordan Spieth (12*), Jon Rahm (11*)
Birdie for Scheffler on the 5th, he’s within one of the lead and taking up an ominous position early doors. A 185-yard iron on the 5th for McIlroy is a bit underwhelming, doesn’t get up the slope and long birdie putt left. Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald going well and up to even par.
LEADERBOARD
(*Started on the 10th)
-3 Ryan Fox (15)
-2 Corey Conners (13), Viktor Hovland (12*), Scottie Scheffler (14*)
-1 Sahith Theegala (13), Keegan Bradley (9*), Justin Thomas (13*), Callum Tarren (12), Justin Suh (10), Bryson DeChambeau (9*), Collin Morikawa (13*)
The Irish
+1 Pádraig Harrington (13), Rory McIlroy (13*)
+2 Shane Lowry (12*)
Other notables
+1 Brooks Koepka (14*)
+2 Cameron Smith (11*)
+3 Jordan Spieth (12*), Jon Rahm (11*)
Two birdies in a row for McIlroy! After two great shots at the par 5, a two-putt birdie. Well back into it after a poor start.
Rahm makes bogey on the 2nd after some messing around that green. Back at +3 which is unexpected. Bradley holes a long putt for birdie to get back to -1.
LEADERBOARD
(*Started on the 10th)
-3 Ryan Fox (15)
-2 Corey Conners (13), Viktor Hovland (12*)
-1 Sahith Theegala (13), Keegan Bradley (9*), Justin Thomas (12*), Callum Tarren (11), Justin Suh (10), Scottie Scheffler (13*), Bryson DeChambeau (9*), Collin Morikawa (13*)
The Irish
+1 Pádraig Harrington (13), Rory McIlroy (13*)
+2 Shane Lowry (12*)
Other notables
+1 Brooks Koepka (14*)
+2 Cameron Smith (11*)
+3 Jordan Spieth (12*), Jon Rahm (11*)
Rahm makes a mess of his chip, doesn’t get it up far enough and it rolls back down off the green. He putts from McIlroy country on two but not as good as Rory and has a putt to save bogey. Scheffler makes a good par on 4 considering his drive was up against a tree.
McIlroy’s drive on the 617-yard par 5 5th was a cool 347 yards. McIlroy hit s a towering long iron draw to the heart of the green. Eagle putt coming up! Great play. Lowry made bogey on 12 in the end to fall back to +2.
LEADERBOARD
(*Started on the 10th)
-3 Ryan Fox (14)
-2 Corey Conners (13), Viktor Hovland (12*)
-1 Sahith Theegala (13), Keegan Bradley (7*), Justin Thomas (12*), Callum Tarren (11), Justin Suh (9), Scottie Scheffler (12*)
The Irish
+1 Pádraig Harrington (13)
+2 Rory McIlroy (12*), Shane Lowry (12*)
Other notables
E Brooks Koepka (13*), Collin Morikawa (12*),
+1 Cameron Smith (10*)
+2 Jon Rahm (10*)
+3 Jordan Spieth (12*)
Ryan Fox holes from 15 feet for birdie to take the lead, as McIlroy finally hits a fairway and long at the 4th. Rahm airmails the green with a wedge on the 2nd from the middle of the fairway.
Bad news for Lowry who way overhits his chip on the 3rd and has a long par putt left.
LEADERBOARD
(*Started on the 10th)
-3 Ryan Fox (14)
-2 Corey Conners (13), Viktor Hovland (11*)
-1 Sahith Theegala (13), Keegan Bradley (7*), Justin Thomas (12*), Callum Tarren (11), Justin Suh (9), Scottie Scheffler (12*)
The Irish
+1 Shane Lowry (11*), Pádraig Harrington (12)
+2 Rory McIlroy (12*)
Other notables
E Brooks Koepka (12*), Collin Morikawa (12*),
+1 Cameron Smith (10*)
+2 Jon Rahm (10*), Jordan Spieth (11*)
The moment that saved McIlroy’s day?
Another great chip by Lowry and he gets up and down for par on the 2nd. Staying solid on a tough day. Meanwhile, McIlroy hits a brilliant iron shot at 3! Did that long putt launch him into action? 209 yards to two feet. He makes birdie.
Hovland joins the leaders with a good birdie on 2. Harrington drops a shot at the 12th. Theegala also drops a shot at the 13th to drop out of the lead.
LEADERBOARD
(*Started on the 10th)
-2 Ryan Fox (13) Corey Conners (12), Viktor Hovland (11*)
-1 Sahith Theegala (13), Keegan Bradley (7*), Justin Thomas (10*), Callum Tarren (11), Maverick McNealy (8*), Justin Suh (9), Scottie Scheffler (12*)
The Irish
+1 Shane Lowry (11*), Pádraig Harrington (12)
+2 Rory McIlroy (12*)
Other notables
E Brooks Koepka (12*), Collin Morikawa (11*),
+1 Cameron Smith (10*)
+2 Jon Rahm (9*), Jordan Spieth (10*)
Watch Shane Lowry chip in for birdie on 1, his 10th hole of the day, to get to +1:
McIlroy holes one from off the green! Putts up the hill and it tracks the hole and all the way in! It’s only for par but maybe that might spark him into life.
LEADERBOARD
(*Started on the 10th)
-2 Ryan Fox (13), Sahith Theegala (12), Corey Conners (12)
-1 Kazuki Higa (15*), Keegan Bradley (7*), Justin Thomas (10*), Viktor Hovland (10*), Callum Tarren (9), Maverick McNealy (7*), Justin Suh (8), Bryson DeChambeau (7*), Scottie Scheffler (11*)
The Irish
E Pádraig Harrington (11)
+1 Shane Lowry (10*)
+3 Rory McIlroy (11*)
Other notables
E Brooks Koepka (11*), Collin Morikawa (11*), Cameron Smith (9*)
+2 Jon Rahm (9*), Jordan Spieth (10*)
More woes for McIlroy, he chips over the green at the 2nd. Facing another bogey or worse in the face.
Bryson DeChambeau hits a tasty approach into the 16th, he’s up to -1 and one shot off the lead, which is now a large group of players. Harrington’s brilliant birdie on the 10th was a 148-yard approach from the rough to three feet. Another bogey for world number one Rahm on the 18th, his round slowly unravelling. He’s +2. Conners makes birdie at 12 to join the leaders. Double bogey for Spieth on the 1st, back to +2.
LEADERBOARD
(*Started on the 10th)
-2 Ryan Fox (13), Sahith Theegala (12), Corey Conners (12)
-1 Kazuki Higa (15*), Keegan Bradley (7*), Justin Thomas (10*), Viktor Hovland (10*), Callum Tarren (9), Maverick McNealy (7*), Justin Suh (8), Bryson DeChambeau (7*), Scottie Scheffler (11*)
The Irish
E Pádraig Harrington (11)
+1 Shane Lowry (10*)
+3 Rory McIlroy (10*)
Other notables
E Brooks Koepka (11*), Collin Morikawa (10*), Cameron Smith (8*)
+2 Jon Rahm (9*), Jordan Spieth (10*)
CHIP-IN FOR SHANE LOWRY! There we go, Lowry back in action with his brilliant short game. That’s a birdie on the 1st and back to +1. More good news, Irish birdies like buses etc... as Harrington birdies his 10th hole to move back to even par. That’s only two shots off the lead...
LEADERBOARD
(*Started on the 10th)
-2 Ryan Fox (13), Sahith Theegala (12)
-1 Kazuki Higa (14*), Keegan Bradley (5*), Corey Conners (11), Justin Thomas (10*), Viktor Hovland (9*), Callum Tarren (9), Maverick McNealy (7*), Justin Suh (7)
The Irish
E Pádraig Harrington (10)
+1 Shane Lowry (10*)
+3 Rory McIlroy (10*)
Other notables
E Brooks Koepka (10*), Collin Morikawa (9*), Cameron Smith (8*), Jordan Spieth (9*)
+1 Jon Rahm (8*)
All six previous majors held at Oak Hill were won by Americans, but Ryder Cup in 1995 was won by Europe away from home.
A double bogey by leaders Keegan Bradley and Kazuki Higa! That’s shook up the top of the leaderboard quite a bit as Theegala drops one too on the 12th. Tough test so far. Scheffler makes an important par save from six or seven feet at the 2nd.
McIlroy misses the fairway yet again, this time with an iron. He tries to hack out but short of the green.
LEADERBOARD
(*Started on the 10th)
-2 Ryan Fox (13), Sahith Theegala (12)
-1 Kazuki Higa (14*), Keegan Bradley (5*), Corey Conners (11), Justin Thomas (10*), Viktor Hovland (9*), Callum Tarren (9), Maverick McNealy (7*), Justin Suh (7)
The Irish
+1 Pádraig Harrington (9)
+2 Shane Lowry (9*)
+3 Rory McIlroy (9*)
Other notables
E Brooks Koepka (10*), Collin Morikawa (9*), Cameron Smith (8*), Jordan Spieth (9*)
+1 Jon Rahm (8*)
Rahm hits it over the green and another average pitch, work to do to avoid going over par for the day. Lowry pars the 18th to turn in two over.
LEADERBOARD
(*Started on the 10th)
-3 Kazuki Higa (13*), Keegan Bradley (5*), Sahith Theegala (11)
-2 Ryan Fox (12)
The Irish
+1 Pádraig Harrington (9)
+2 Shane Lowry (9*)
+3 Rory McIlroy (9*)
Other notables
-1 Scottie Scheffler -1 (9*), Justin Thomas (9*), Collin Morikawa (9*), Viktor Hovland (8*), Cameron Smith (7*)
E Brooks Koepka (10*)
+1 Jordan Spieth (9*), Jon Rahm (8*)
Hand off the club, a common finish to Rory McIlroy’s swings today. He’s in the rough again on the 10th but well down there. His wedge is well muscled out to the middle of the green, long putt for birdie.
Nice escape from Thomas from the trees at the 1st as he makes the green.
LEADERBOARD
(*Started on the 10th)
-3 Kazuki Higa (13*), Keegan Bradley (5*), Sahith Theegala (11)
-2 Ryan Fox (12)
Other notables
-1 Scottie Scheffler -1 (9*), Justin Thomas (9*), Collin Morikawa (9*), Viktor Hovland (8*), Cameron Smith (7*)
E Brooks Koepka (10*), Jordan Spieth (8*), Jon Rahm (7*)
The Irish
+1 Pádraig Harrington (9)
+2 Shane Lowry (8*)
+3 Rory McIlroy (9*)
McIlroy misses the putt for par, that’s +3 for his front nine. Already his chances of winning are slipping away if he doesn’t find something on the back nine. Lowry also drops a shot, on the 17th. Lowry hit into the rough, then into the bunker and then missed a 13-foot putt for par.
Theegala joins the lead after a brilliant tee shot on the par 3 11th left him a tap-in birdie putt.
LEADERBOARD
(*Started on the 10th)
-3 Kazuki Higa (13*), Keegan Bradley (5*), Sahith Theegala (11)
-2 Ryan Fox (12)
The Irish
+1 Pádraig Harrington (9)
+2 Shane Lowry (8*)
+3 Rory McIlroy (9*)
No birdies from the three Irish lads yet on their front nines. Come on lads. Not going to happen on the 18th for Rory. Lays up to 120 yards and he hates his wedge shot again. Good break as he kicks off the slope and has 15 feet left for par. His body language is terrible at the moment, looks a bit lost in his swing.
Jon Rahm overplays a pitch on the 16th and and then his par putt fades left, he’s back to E. Scheffler misses the birdie putt on 18, he’s still at -1. Good tee shots by Morikawa down the 18th, plays to the middle of the green, he’s -1.
Here’s one of the shots of the day by Hovland, who is -1:
LEADERBOARD
(*Started on the 10th)
-3 Kazuki Higa (11*), Keegan Bradley (4*),
-2 Ryan Fox (9), Callum Tarren (5), Sahith Theegala (9), Corey Conners (8)
The Irish
+1 Pádraig Harrington (8), Shane Lowry (7*)
+2 Rory McIlroy (8*)
McIlroy’s drive at his 9th is a big slice, in trouble again. He’s near the bottom of driving accuracy on the PGA Tour this year, which is a road to no town on the tight set-up of Oak Hill.
LEADERBOARD
(*Started on the 10th)
-3 Kazuki Higa (11*), Keegan Bradley (4*),
-2 Ryan Fox (9), Callum Tarren (5), Sahith Theegala (9), Corey Conners (8)
The Irish
+1 Pádraig Harrington (7), Shane Lowry (6*)
+2 Rory McIlroy (8*)
Hello there, David Gorman here, taking over from Malachy for the rest of today’s action at the PGA. A slow start from the Irish so far, but nobody is running away with it so far. Oak Hill always offers a stiff enough test, if the Irish players can get to under par by the end of the day, they will consider it a job well done. Keegan Bradley and Kazuki Higa still lead on -3. Theegala up to a shot off the lead at -2, along with Canadian Corey Conners. Scheffler a shot further back at -1 and hits it close from the middle of the fairway, short birdie putt to go to -2.
McIlroy drops another shot at the 17th, his 8th. He’s two over now.
If you want to get involved contact me on Twitter @DavidGorman20.
LEADERBOARD
(*Started on the 10th)
-3 Kazuki Higa (11*), Keegan Bradley (4*),
-2 Ryan Fox (9), Callum Tarren (5), Sahith Theegala (9), Corey Conners (8)
The Irish
+1 Pádraig Harrington (7), Shane Lowry (6*)
+2 Rory McIlroy (8*)
With that, I’m handing over to m’colleague David Gorman to take it the rest of the way. Enjoy!
McIlroy is putting together a completely meh round so far. His tee shot on 16 catches the left rough and settles down in the thick grass. The best he can do from 150 yards is the false front, a good 50 feet from the hole. Shouldn’t be a big hassle to get up and down but still, he’s no danger to the field in this kind of form. As expected, it’s a two-putt par and he stays on +1. Lowry redeems the hames he made of 14 with a brilliant approach to 13 feet on the short 15th. He doesn’t make it though.
At the head of affairs, Higa has company again. Keegan Bradley swishes in a long one from 32 feet to jump up to -3. That’s three birdies in his first four holes for the 2011 champion. Cam Smith lips out with a woegeous putt from two feet on the fifth. Most of the big guns are within two as they approach the turn. All except Rory.
LEADERBOARD
(*Started on the 10th)
-3 Kazuki Higa (11*), Keegan Bradley (4*),
-2 Ryan Fox (9), Callum Tarren (5),
-1 Kurt Kitiyama (8), Sahith Theegala (8), Scottie Scheffler (7*), Collin Morikawa (7*), Justin Thomas (7*), Viktor Hovland (6), Cameron Smith (5*), Jon Rahm (5*), Lee Hodges (5), Adrian Meronk (4*), Justin Suh (4), Maverick McNealy (4*)
The Irish
+1 Rory McIlroy (7*), Pádraig Harrington (7), Shane Lowry (6*)
This is getting gnarly for Shane at the 14th. He went through the green with that bunker shot and down the run-off behind it. His chip back has rolled down to the front of the green the other way, up against the collar. He’ll do well to get out of here with just a bogey. Two putts from the collar and he stomps off looking like he wants to brain somebody - most likely himself. Up ahead, McIlroy misses an eight-footer for par and drops to +1 as well. The air could be going out of this quite early for the Irish challenge. Meanwhile, Tarren drops one on the fifth to leave Higa out front on his own.
LEADERBOARD
(*Started on the 10th)
-3 Kazuki Higa (10*),
-2 Ryan Fox (9), Callum Tarren (5), Keegan Bradley (3*),
-1 Harold Varner (8*), Kurt Kitiyama (7), Corey Connors (7), Scottie Scheffler (6), Collin Morikawa (6*), Justin Thomas (6*), Cameron Smith (4*), Jon Rahm (4*), Adrian Meronk (4*), Justin Suh (3), Maverick McNealy (3*)
The Irish
+1 Rory McIlroy (6*), Pádraig Harrington (6), Shane Lowry (5*)
You wouldn’t say it’s the most scintillating course that’s ever hosted a major. The thickness of the rough around the green means that players are aiming for the bunkers a fair bit of the time, in the knowledge that they’re the easiest place to get up and down from. Lowry, Spieth and Hovland are all in the bunker short of the 14th green and it’s taking an age for them to get out of each other’s way. Hardly makes for the most thrilling golf. To top it all off, Lowry thwacks his through the green and responds with a Shaney special: “I knew I was going to do that - fuck!”
Ach, Rory. His 10-footer slides by ad that’s five straight pars to start. It’s getting breezy out there now. Tarren plays a nice approach to the downwind par-five and he has a 10-footer to join Higa at the top of the leaderboard. And he does! We have joint leaders.
LEADERBOARD
(*Started on the 10th)
-3 Kazuki Higa (9*), Callum Tarren (4*)
-2 Collin Morikawa (4*)
-1 Ryan Fox (8), Scott Stallings (7*), Harold Varner (7*), Davis Riley (6*), Kurt Kitiyama (6), Scottie Scheffler (6), Corey Connors (6), Justin Thomas (4*), Cameron Smith (4*), Lee Hodges (4), Jon Rahm (4*), Adrian Meronk (3*), Justin Suh (2), Keegan Bradley (2*)
The Irish
E Rory McIlroy (5*), Shane Lowry (4*)
+1 Pádraig Harrington (5)
Ugh. McIlroy has lost his tee shot on the short par-four 14th to the right and drawn a rotten lie in the rough. Oh, but that’s a hell of a recovery, fiddling one over the bunker and pulling up 10 feet short. It’s a half-chance of a birdie, which is a lot more than looked possible as the ball whistled out to the right off the tee.
Callum Tarren separates him from the logjam at -1 with a lovely birdie at his third hole. The Englishmen has had a decent few months, finding his feet at the elite of the game and now he’s a shot off the lead at the PGA. Higa two-putts for par on the 18th - his ninth of the day - and so he turns in -3. Brilliant opening nine. Scheffler finally finds a birdie on the short par-four 14th. Lot of big names doing nothing wrong so far.
LEADERBOARD
(*Started on the 10th)
-3 Kazuki Higa (9*),
-2 Callum Tarren (3*)
-1 Emiliano Grillo (7*), Ryan Fox (7), Scott Stallings (6*), Harold Varner (6*), David Riley (6*), Zach Johnson (5), Kurt Kitiyama (5), Justin Thomas (4*), Jimmy Walker (4), Cameron Smith (3*), Lee Hodges (3), Jon Rahm (3*), Adrian Meronk (3*), Justin Suh (2), Keegan Bradley (2*)
The Irish
E Rory McIlroy (4*), Shane Lowry (4*)
+1 Pádraig Harrington (5)
First wobble from Higa comes on the woefully tough 17th. He was only slightly wayward with his drive but got heavily punished. He had to chunk out into the fairway and left himself too much for his par. He falls back to -3. McIlroy plays another middling wedge shot into the par-five 13th and leaves himself 20 feet for birdie when he ought to have had less than 10. That’s a fourth par in a row. All very so-so so far. Meanwhile, Morikawa and Smith both hole out for birdie in quick succession. And Adrian Meronk rolls in a smart putt after a wonderful tee-shot at the long par-three 11th. It’s all starting to bubble.
LEADERBOARD
(*Started on the 10th)
-3 Kazuki Higa (8*),
-1 Emiliano Grillo (6*), KH Lee (6), Ryan Fox (6), Scott Stallings (5*), Harold Varner (5*), Zach Johnson (4), Kurt Kitiyama (4), Justin Thomas (3*), Cameron Smith (2*), Jon Rahm (2*), Lee Hodges (2), Callum Tarren (2), Adrian Meronk (2*), Justin Suh (1), Keegan Bradley (1*)
The Irish
E Rory McIlroy (4*), Shane Lowry (3*)
+1 Pádraig Harrington (3)
Dirty hole position on the par-five 13th, where Scheffler, Koepka and Woodland all contrive to miss birdie putts from makeable distances. On the other side of the course, Harrington drops his first shot of the day. He came up way short of the par-three third hole and couldn’t get up and down. He falls to +1.
LEADERBOARD
(*Started on the 10th)
-4 Kazuki Higa (7*),
-1 Emiliano Grillo (6*), KH Lee (6), Ryan Fox (6), Scott Stallings (5*), Harold Varner (5*), Zach Johnson (4), Kurt Kitiyama (4), Justin Thomas (3*), Jon Rahm (2*), Lee Hodges (2), Callum Tarren (2), Luke Donald (1*), Justin Suh (1)
The Irish
E Rory McIlroy (3*), Shane Lowry (3*)
+1 Pádraig Harrington (3)
McIlroy is having to depend on his lag putting a fair bit here - he’s been no closer than 30 feet with any of his three approaches so far. But he tidies up with no fuss on the third and moves on. Pity - because he hit a Rory Special off the tee there but followed it up with an exceedingly ordinary wedge. Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald gets into red figures - he’s one of 12 players under par with two hours of play behind us.
LEADERBOARD
(*Started on the 10th)
-4 Kazuki Higa (7*),
-1 Colin Inglis (6*), Emiliano Grillo (5*), KH Lee (5), Ryan Fox (5), Scott Stallings (4*), Harold Varner (4), Davis Riley (4*), Zach Johnson (2), Kurt Kitiyama (2), Justin Thomas (2*), Jon Rahm (1*), Luke Donald (1)
The Irish
E Rory McIlroy (3*), Shane Lowry (2*), Pádraig Harrington (2)
Bogey for Stallings, bogey for Fox and all of a sudden, Higa is three clear at the top of the leaderboard. Plenty of big names lined up behind him, obviously but this is some start. How long before gravity has its way? Lowry missed his putt on his second hole, by the by.
LEADERBOARD
(*Started on the 10th)
-4 Kazuki Higa (7*),
-1 Colin Inglis (5*), Thirsten Lawrence (5*), KH Lee (5), Ryan Fox (5), Scott Stallings (4*), Harold Varner (4), Davis Riley (3*), Zach Johnson (2), Justin Thomas (2*), Jon Rahm (1*)
The Irish
E Rory McIlroy (2*), Shane Lowry (2*), Pádraig Harrington (2)
Fantastic putt from 40 feet for McIlroy on the 11th, only just leaving it on the lip. He taps in for a nice par. Thomas has to work a little harder for his but he holes out from eight feet to stay on -1. Shane Lowry nails a stunning tee shot to 10 feet on the long par three. Jon Rahm is on the prowl as well, crunching a lovely drive down the first and rolling in his birdie putt. Cam Smith shaves the hole on his first. Plenty going on already!
LEADERBOARD
(*Started on the 10th)
-4 Kazuki Higa (6*),
-2 Ryan Fox (4), Scott Stallings (3*)
-1 Colin Inglis (5*), Thirsten Lawrence (4*), KH Lee (3), Adam Svenson (3), Steve Holmes (3*), Davis Riley (2*), Zach Johnson (2), Justin Thomas (2*), Jon Rahm (1*)
The Irish
E Rory McIlroy (1*), Shane Lowry (1*), Pádraig Harrington (1)
Shane Lowry and Pádraig Harrington are both up and running as well now. Harrington has left himself a teasing six-footer on the first for his par - which he duly holes. Lowry has started his round on the 10th and played a routine approach to 29 feet. He two-putts for his par and everyone moves on.
LEADERBOARD
(*Started on the 10th)
-4 Kazuki Higa (6*),
-2 Ryan Fox (4), Scott Stallings (3*)
-1 Thirsten Lawrence (4*), KH Lee (3), Adam Svenson (3), Steve Holmes (3*), Davis Riley (2*), Justin Thomas (1*)
The Irish
E Rory McIlroy (1*), Shane Lowry (1*), Pádraig Harrington (1)
None of McIlroy’s group have done anything special with their approach to the 10th, their opening hole. He, Justin Thomas and Collin Morikawa are all at least 30 feet away after mediocre iron shots. But lo and behold, Thomas drains his for an unlikely birdie. Meanwhile, Higa pushes himself to four under par with another birdie! This time on the par-four 14th (which is only 60 yards longer than the par-three 11th). The Japanese player has played in two majors in his career to date and missed the cut in them both - last year’s Open Championship and this year’s Masters. He’s missed his last five cuts in all tournaments. And now he’s got a two-shot lead! Golf is mad.
LEADERBOARD
(*Started on the 10th)
-4 Kazuki Higa (4*),
-2 Scott Stallings (2*)
-1 Thirsten Lawrence (4*), KH Lee (3), Steve Holmes (3*), Ryan Fox (3), Davis Riley (1), Justin Thomas (1*)
Rory McIlroy is on the course. His opening tee shot hung in the air for what felt like a month before landing in the left rough. Up ahead on the green, Sheffler misses hid putt and it’s pars all round for him, Koepka and Woodland. Meanwhile, Higa has made it three birdies in a row for an unbelievable start.
LEADERBOARD
(*Started on the 10th)
-3 Kazuki Higa (4*),
-2 Scott Stallings (2*)
-1 KH Lee (3), Steve Holmes (3*), Ryan Fox (1), Davis Riley (1)
Brooks Koepka definitely won the driving competition on the first, spanking a gorgeous one down the middle while Scheffler and Woodland found the rough. But Scheffler doesn’t quail in the face a of a little long grass and he whips in an approach to 18 feet. He’ll have that for birdie. Koepka comes up short with his and ends up 30 feet away.
LEADERBOARD
(*Started on the 10th)
-2 Kazuki Higa (3*), Scott Stallings (1*)
-1 Emiliano Grillo (2*), KH Lee (1), Steve Holmes (1*), Ryan Fox (1), Davis Riley (1)
Higa finds another one, rolling in a huge raking putt on the 12th to join Stallings at the top of the
. The big beasts are about to get involved. Scottie Scheffler is sporting a very loud yellow get-up. He finds the left rough with his opening drive.
LEADERBOARD
(*Started on the 10th)
-2 Kazuki Higa (3*), Scott Stallings (1*)
-1 Emiliano Grillo (2*), KH Lee (1), Steve Holmes (1*), Ryan Fox (1)
E Josh Speight (3*), Joel Dahmen (3), Colin Inglis (3*)
Oof! And now we have a sole leader in the shape of Scott Stallings. He didn’t hit a great drive down the first bit his second from the fairway has caught a bit of the hole and dived straight in to grab the rest. Hard to beat an eagle start.
LEADERBOARD
(*Started on the 10th)
-2 Scott Stallings (1*)
-1 Kazuki Higa (2*), Emiliano Grillo (1*), KH Lee (1)
E Trey Mullinax (2*), Josh Speight (2*), Joel Dahmen (2), Colin Inglis (2*)
We have joint leaders. The first player under par in the 2023 PGA Championship is Japan’s Kazuki Higa. He has birdied the monthstrous 248-yard par-three 11th hole, his second of the day. He pipes in a low-trajectory drive - yes, drive - that rolled up the centre of the green and stopped 14 feet to the right of the hole. Drains the putt and moves to one under-par. He is joined minutes later by Emiliano Grillo of Argentina, who birdies the 10th with a routine iron shot to eight feet from the middle fo the fairway.
LEADERBOARD
(*Started on the 10th)
-1 Kazuki Higa (2*), Emiliano Grillo (1*)
E Stephen Alker (2), Trey Mullinax (2*), Josh Speight (2*), Joel Dahmen (1), Adam Shenk (1*)
Plenty of big names out in the early wave, all coming onto the course over the next hour or so. Including the duo who have been out on their own as the best players in the game this year so far, Jon Rahm and Scottie Scheffler.
2:50 Scottie Scheffler, Brooks Koepka, Gary Woodland
3:23 Jon Rahm, Cameron Smith, Matt Fitzpatrick
Plenty of time for some light reading to set the whole thing up. Our man on the ground in New York is Philip Reid - here’s his tournament preview.
[ All eyes on Jon Rahm and Scottie Scheffler but US PGA far from a two-man raceOpens in new window ]
We’re an hour and 50 minutes behind schedule here, which will presumably mean issue later on getting everything finished tonight. But that’s neither here nor there for the early starters. The Irish hopefuls were mostly supposed to be on the course by now but the delay means that things have been kicked on a bit.
3:01 Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, Colin Morikawa
3:07 Pádraig Harrington, Jimmy Walker, Kevin Kisner
3:12 Shane Lowry, Jordan Spieth, Viktor Hovland
It took a little longer than expected to get going but the morning frost has cleared in Rocjhester, New York and the 2023 USPGA Championship is underway. The opening shot is a glorious, languid draw from 2003 champion Shaun Micheel. Let’s see some golf!
