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Day one of the 2023 PGA Championship has concluded with Eric Cole as the solo leader at 5-under par with four holes remaining in his round. Play was suspended due to darkness after frosty weather delayed tee times by about two hours in the morning.
Bryson DeChambeau (-4) sits in solo second and holds the clubhouse lead, while Scottie Scheffler, Dustin Johnson and Corey Conners lurk behind in a tie for third at 3-under par.
PGA Championship Leaderboard
Rank | Player | Score (hole) |
1 | Eric Cole | -5 (14*) |
2 | Bryson DeChambeau | -4 (F) |
T-3 | Dustin Johnson | -3 (F) |
T-3 | Corey Conners | -3 (F) |
T-3 | Scottie Scheffler | -3 (F) |
T-6 | Keegan Bradley | -2 (F) |
T-6 | Viktor Hovland | -2 (F) |
T-6 | Ryan Fox | -2 (F) |
T-6 | Adam Scott | -2 (F) |
Key Moments of the Day
The following section will showcase the highlights and memorable moments of round one.
Eric Cole surges to first place
The PGA Tour rookie fired a 33 on the back nine (teed off on 10) before recording three consecutive birdies on holes two, three and four to move him to five under par, ahead of the other 155 players in the field. The horn blew as he was on the 14th hole signaling an end to play (darkness).
Cole hit 78.6% of greens in regulation and ranks second in the field in total strokes gained (7.32).
Come meet your new @PGAChampionship leader 👀
After teeing off at +35000 at FanDuel, Eric Cole sunk this to get to -5.
Now down to +3300 to lift the Wanamaker.
— Golfbet (@Golfbet) May 19, 2023
This is only Cole’s second major appearance after playing in the 2021 U.S. Open and missing the cut. The Palm Springs, California native qualified for the PGA Tour via the Korn Ferry Tour.
At the Honda Classic in February, Cole nearly won his first event on tour but lost in a playoff to Chris Kirk.
Bryson DeChambeau takes the early clubhouse lead
The LIV golfer was the first to enter the clubhouse with the lead at 4-under par after posting a 66. DeChambeau carded six birdies compared to just two bogeys. He played a clean front nine (-4) with four circles on the card.
The SMU product hasn’t won since the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill in 2021. Entering this week, DeChambeau recorded his best finish on the LIV Tour with a T5 at the LIV Golf Invitational in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Bryson DeChambeau sticks the landing ⛳️#PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/i6acbs3vnm
— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 18, 2023
The “long bomber” off the tee averaged 347 yards per drive and hit 83.3% of greens in regulation. DeChambeau’s lone major win came at the 2020 U.S. Open at Winged Foot Golf Club which is a lengthy track with thick rough similar to Oak Hill.
Scottie Scheffler goes bogey-free while Jon Rahm falters
Scheffler (T6) put together an impressive round with three birdies and zero bogeys as he climbed the leaderboard at 3-under par. The 26-year-old is currently the World No. 2 and is trying to win his second major.
World No. 1 Rahm shot a disappointing 6-over par 76 as he tries to become the 14th player in history to win back-to-back majors. The Spaniard took home the green jacket last month at the Masters but sits in a tie for 117th, 11 strokes off the lead.
Weather forces delay
Tee times were moved up to later in the morning from 7:00 a.m. to 8:50 a.m. ET after frost made the conditions practically unplayable. The weather could play a factor for the rest of the weekend and cause delayed tee times, as well as rounds being cut short. A Monday finish is not expected.
Rory McIlroy tells Justin Thomas he’s playing ill
While walking down the tee box after their drives, microphones picked up McIlroy telling Thomas he hasn’t been feeling right. The Northern Irishman still managed to card a 1-over par round of 71.
Rory McIlroy appears to tell Justin Thomas he's been dealing with an illness of some sort.@DFSgolfer23 was the first to notice something didn't seem right.
What do you guys hear?
📸: @cantputt94 #PGAChampionshippic.twitter.com/4kZ5ABaWpU
— GOLF INJURY REPORT (@InjuryReportPGA) May 18, 2023
McIlroy remains in contention and is searching for his first major since his 2014 PGA Championship victory at Valhalla.
Rory McIlroy saves par from 36 feet out and off the green on the 2nd! 💥 #PGAChamp
🎥 @PGAChampionshippic.twitter.com/zPUyuAo0n1
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) May 18, 2023
PGA Championship odds after day 1
- Scottie Scheffler: 5/2
- Dustin Johnson: 7/1
- Bryson DeChambeau: 12/1
- Viktor Hovland: 12/1
- Corey Conners: 16/1
- Rory McIlroy: 20/1
- Adam Scott: 22/1
- Keegan Bradley: 25/1
- Eric Cole: 33/1
- Collin Morikawa: 33/1
- Xander Schauffele: 33/1
- Brooks Koepka: 40/1
- Justin Rose: 40/1
- Tony Finau: 40/1
- Max Homa: 50/1
- Ryan Fox: 50/1
Notable longshots
- Cameron Smith: 66/1
- Justin Thomas: 66/1
- Jon Rahm: 100/1
- Jordan Spieth: 100/1
- Patrick Cantlay: 100/1
- Phil Mickelson: 200/1
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