PGA Championship: Corey Conners in the lead at the end of the 1st round, the French left behind

There was a surprise guest Thursday at Kiawah Island. A strong wind swept the greens, largely hampering the debut of the favorites of the PGA Championship. But not Corey Conners. The Canadian returned the best card (-5) to take the lead at the end of the first round on Thursday. Apart from the defending champion, Collin Morikawa (8th good 8th, -2) at three lengths, Bryson DeChambeau, winner of the US Open 2020, and Spaniard Jon Rahm 31st at five strokes, the other contenders finished their first day. in positive. Whether it is the world No. 1 and 2, Dustin Johnson (+4) and Justin Thomas (+3) or the Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy (+3) and Jordan Spieth (+1).

All not only struggled to dance with Eole, but they also suffered in the sandy areas, where Conners, 39th in the world and 8th in the last Augusta Masters, his best ranking in a Major, did well, in scoring six birdies, including two at N.15 and 16, for a single committed bogey. “It was a fairly stress-free day. I hit a lot of putts. I kept the ball in the fairway most of the time“said the 29-year-old golfer, who has only the 2019 Texas Open to his name.”There is nothing I want to do differently. I didn’t really make any mistakes on the course. I played solid the whole way“, he added.

Morikawa, ambushing

He is two lengths ahead of six competitors, including the American Brooks Koepka, four-time Major winner, rather “satisfied with his six birdies, after a bad start” in the back nine, symbolized by this double-bogey at N.10. “In a way it helped me get in the game, focus, find my rhythm“, estimated the latter, who plays despite a knee operated in March. He shares 2nd place with his compatriots Aaron Wise and Keegan Bradley, winner of the USPGA in 2011, as well as the Norwegian Viktor Hovland, the English Sam Horsfield and Australian Cameron Davis.

Behind, Collin Morikawa, winner of the event in August 2020 at Harding Park on the heights of San Francisco, instead succeeded in his first round. In 8th place, he leads a colony of eight competitors three strokes behind Conners, including South Korean Sung-jae Im and veteran Phil Mickelson. The 50-year-old American, five-time Grand Slam winner, reacted tremendously after four bogeys committed on the first holes. In addition to the birdie at N.3, he added five more later to finish at -2.

“It’s devilish”

In 31st place (0) five strokes behind the leader are world N.3 Jon Rahm and N.5 Bryson DeChambeau, winner of the last US Open, who saved the day after having conceded four bogeys in a row. “It’s devilish“Said the American of the course.”You have to be constant and persevering and stay patient.“With a +1 card, the Japanese Hideki Matsuyama, winner of the Masters 2021, is 41st, like the world No. 4, Xander Sc Chaudele, and Jordan Spieth, yet in good shape in recent weeks and who is trying to Kiawah Island to win the only major missing from his list.

As for the world No. 1 Dustin Johnson, he is already on the brink in 97th position, nine lengths from the lead. He had already missed the cut at the Augusta Masters last month and that’s what hangs out in his face if he doesn’t pull himself together on Friday. His runner-up Justin Thomas and Rory McIlroy, however crowned on this course in 2012, did little better, classified in 77th place (+3). Finally, on the French side, the first day of this second Grand Slam lifting of the season was also difficult. Victor Perez (+6) is 127th, Antoine Rozner (+7), even lower 138th.