Steve Stricker rules the leaderboard in the first round of PGA Championship: Highlights
The highest ranking US player in the tournament is now the highest scorer in the first round of the PGA Championship which kicked off on Thursday, August, 11 at Atlanta Athletic Club in Georgia. Stricker shot a record-leveling seven-under, 63, just shy of
one shot to post the lowest score ever on a major event.
“I really had no expectations coming into today's round,” the 44-year-old Stricker said. “I didn't make too many birdies the first three days during the practice rounds. I got off to a good start, and it kind of got me going.”
And it certainly was a good start for Stricker who, despite of his quintessential performance throughout the season, is still in search of a major victory in his career. Opening up from back nine, Stricker pulled in three straight birdies and carded two
more before making the turn. He carded two more birdies on the front nine and remained bogey-free for the whole day. His attempt at the final hole to sink a 10-foot birdie putt, which could have gone to register him as the only player to shoot a 62 ever in
a major, failed to drop in, but drew huge uproar from the crowd.
Stricker claims he was unaware of the historic importance of that shot until his caddie approached him and told him about it.
“I realized it was for 62 but didn't realize it was for history,” Stricker said. “I hit a good putt. It just didn't go in. All in all, a good day.”
Stricker is two shots clear of the nearest contender, Jerry Kelly, who shot five-under, 65. Shaun Micheel was further down the lead resting for an outright second, one shot behind Kelly. Scott Verplank shot a three-under, 67 to settle for an outright fourth.
No fewer than 22 players broke par on the first day of the last major event of the season. Many of the big wigs of the sport fell for a terrible first day at the Atlanta, including Tiger Woods, who shot his worst round at the PGA Championship. He is now
seriously threatened by the prospects of failing to make the cut. The 14-major-champion posted three double-bogeys and five bogeys in the opening round to close for an unbelievable seven-over, 77.
Eight players are tied for the joint fifth including Matteo Manassero, Davis Love III, John Senden, Bill Haas, Brandt Jobe, Anders Hansen, Simon Dyson and Brendon De Jonge with their rounds of two-under, 68 each.
World number one Luke Donald decided to lay low for the moment with an even-par, but the field is well aware of his strong presence on the course. He fell in for two bogeys and a dreadful double-bogey at the 15th hole, which is no less than a
nightmare for the Englishman.
Woods, who had a strong start of the first day, also fell in for the treacherous 15th, drowning his ball in the hazard.
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