The 2023 PGA Championship has begun at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, New York, following a brief weather delay. This is the fourth time the course has hosted the championship.
Even though Tiger Woods is not in the field, some of golf’s greatest names, including 16 LIV Golf players, will tee off Thursday morning. There are 156 competitors, and they will play the first two rounds in groups of three on Thursday and Friday.
At Oak Hill, the leaderboard’s revolving door welcomes two new members, but their tenure is brief.
Today, Corey Conners and Viktor Hovland achieved a share of the lead for the first time. Hovland has birdied two of his last four holes to join Ryan Fox and Conners in a three-under tie for first place.
Conners has birdied six of his last 11 holes, including three of the last four, which presents a problem for Hovland and Fox. At 4-under par, his most recent birdie at No. 15 propelled him to uncontested possession of first place.
His approach shot on the 16th hole, however, landed well to the right in dense rough.
Fox, Sahith Theegala, Keegan Bradley, Scottie Scheffler, and Bryson Dechambeau are tied for fourth place at 2-under par.
More motion at Oak Hill’s summit.
At the PGA Championship, difficult pin placements and challenging holes have generated parity at the top of the leaderboard, which has been a recurring theme throughout the day. Ryan Fox has been the most consistent golfer so far today, with four birdies and one blunder through the first 16 holes. At 3-under par, he holds the sole position of leader.
Corey Conners and Viktor Hovladnd both birdied the 12th hole to tie for second place at 2-under par.
At No. 4, Justin Thomas had a birdie opportunity, but he took a long time to evaluate an 8-foot putt before missing it to the left. That kept him at 1-under.
Scottie Schefler has not had the finest round, but he has avoided bogeys all day and has scrambled exceptionally well. His birdie on the fifth hole advanced him into a 2-under tie for second place.
Long par putt save seems to inspire Rory McIlroy is a golfer.
Rory McIlroy’s day appeared to be getting worse at the second hole when his approach shot missed the green and landed in a ledge below the hole. He then did this.
This allowed him to remain within striking distance at 3-over par. But it also appeared to calm him down. McIlroy, infamously a slow starter, then struck a magnificent tee shot on the par-3 third hole and made his first birdie of the day.
His driver opening shot at the par-5 No. 4? Only his second fairway of the day, he drove the ball 340 yards and into it. His strategy? A lovely draw that landed securely on the green for a lengthy eagle putt. He tapped in for a birdie to advance to 1-over par, four shots behind the leader.
