RESULTS “A” FIRST ROUND PGA CHAMPIONSHIP May 18/19, 2023

                RESULTS “A” FIRST ROUND PGA CHAMPIONSHIP May 18/19, 2023 

Round 1 tee time was 2 hours late due to frost.  Stoped at dark, resumed at 7:30AM Friday.

Interesting groups:

Jon Rahm, Matt Fitzpatrick, Cameron Smith.  All 3 played poorly combined 17 bogies 1DB.  

Scottie Scheffler, Brooks Koepka, Gary Woodland Only Scottie broke par.

Rory McIlroy, Colin Morikawa, Justin Thomas.  No one breaks par.

Jason Day, Bryson DeChambeau, Keegan Bradley.  Day+6 other 2 in hunt.

Jordan Spieth (playing with a wrist injury)+3 Viktor Hovland-2, Shane Lowry+3.

Phil Mickelson+3, Rickie Fowler+3, Patrick Cantlay+4, No one breaks Par.

Adam Scott-2, Max Homa+1, Tony Finau+2.  All should make cut

Dustin Johnson, Xander Schauffele, Tyrrell Hatton+7 #133, DJ in mix, Xander+2 (+4 first 3).

FIRST ROUND

#1 Bryson DeChambeau-4 66 A 90/1 he surprised me.  I thought he was done.

#2 Dustin Johnson-3 67 Four birdies 00 bogies.  Won LIV last week, may go back to back.

#2 Scottie Scheffler-3 67 Three birdies no bogies.  3 more RDs like this and he wins.

#2 Cory Conners-3 67 Wild RD 6 birdies, 3 bogies.  At 90/1 don’t think he will be in top 10.

#2 Eric Cole-3 67 At 34 he is appearing in only his 2nd major, had lead but DB his 17th hole.

#6 Keegan Bradle-2 68, Ryan Fox, Viktor Hovland, Adam Scott-2 68.

#10 Victor Perez-1 69, Adam Hadwin, Justin Rose, Hayden Buckley, Sepp Streka, Thomas Pieters, Keith Mitchell, Pablo Larrazábal, Justin Su, Patrick Rodgers-1 69.

#20 Michael BlockE 70  He is a club Pro with 1 DB, 3 bogies & 5 birdies.  He has played in 24 Events making the cut 4 times and winning a total of $38,038.  His goal is to be the top club pro in this tournament.

#20 Harold Varner III E 70, Adam Svensson, Kurt Kitayama, Taylor Pendrith, Mathew NeSmith, Chris Kirk.

#39 Rory McIlroy+1 71 Bogied 3 from 5 to 9.  3 birdies on back 9, needs good RD to make cut.

#39 Cam Smith+1 3 bogies on his back 9.  Lost to D. Johnson in LIV playoff last week. 

#43 Sahith Theegala+1 Tied for lead on front 9, but bogied 5 of last 7 holes.

#56 Brooks Koepka+2 3 bogies outplayed by Scottie.  Gary Woodland part of group played worse+3 Started his round boging 5 of 1st 11 holes, he probably will miss the cut.

#56 Justin Thomas+2 72  +3 on last 4 holes.  His game not there.

#56 Kazuki Higa+2  Started great, birdied 4 of 1st 5 holes, then fall apart at end +5 last 4 holes.

#84 Jordan Spieth+3 73 One DB, 3 bogies, 2 birdies.  Wrist problem may have some effect.

#122 Jon Rahm+6 One BD & 6 bogies.  One of his worst RDs in a long time.

#122 Matt Fitzpatrick+6 76 Bogies 6 holes no birdies, same as Rahm.

#132 Jason Day+6 76 One DB on his 5th hole followed by 4 more no birdies.  Bogies kill him!!!

#154 Shaun Micheel+11 83  2000/1, won a surprise victory in 2003 at Oak Hill. He was ranked #164 in the world, and it is his only PGA win.  He lost his tour status in 1911. Now age 54, he has played on the Senior European Tour, and is currently Asst. golf coach at Butler University.  His net worth is estimated at $1 to $5M.

#155 Gabe Reynolds+15 85 His first PGA Tour event.  One of the Club Pros, he is Director of Instruction at Top Golf in Dallas where he has worked for 8 years.  Played practice round of 9 holes with Viktor Hovland. Was interview and is very happy to be here, 1TB 2DB’s & 8 bogies. 

HIGHLIGHTS: 

Eric Cole comes out of nowhere to lead by 1, but DBs his 17th hole, finishing 1st round on Saturday morning to finish in a tie for #2.

Tom Kim falls into the marsh on #6 had to change his soaked shirt and roll his pants up for rest of the round.  He shoots 73.  

Three LIV players in top 10; 1 DeChambeau, 2Johnson, 10 Pieters.

Phil Mickelson got strong fan support.  Shoots +3 73.  May not make cut.