(Scroll down for the latest updates)
And that’s not to diminish the other storylines of these other players . . . Jordan Spieth pursuing the career Grand Slam as he has reemerged as one of the world’s best. Bryson DeChambeau, with his power and brawn, will likely apply a different strategy than other players—and how will that translate to Kiawah Island?
As we said, the anticipation for the week is so strong. We’re happy not to wait any longer.
Below, you will find the most significant updates from Day 1 at Kiawah Island.
8:15 a.m.: Now Jimmy Walker and Jason Dufner are knocking in birdie putts. This is a little Throwback Thursday going on at the Ocean Course. J-Walker, the 2016 PGA champion at Baltusrol, birdied Nos. 1 and 2 to take the outright lead here early. The San Antonio native has fallen outside the top 500 in the world, so this is a rare bright spot in his past couple of years.
8:10 a.m.: Two major stalwarts join the party at 1-under early: Paul Casey two-putted for birdie at the par-5 11th hole. Casey seems like he hasn’t missed a shot yet, burning a couple edges with birdie putts.
7:52 a.m.: It’s the 30th anniversary of John Daly’s 1991 PGA win at Crooked Stick, and the former PGA champion is off to a WILD start. He drove it in the rough, his approach bounded off the green deep into a transition area—then he holed out the shot from the sand. A ho-hum start for the 55-year-old.
Adam Scott just started his day with a triple bogey at the 10th hole after losing his opening tee ball. Big John Daly beating Scott by four shots after one hole? We might be in for a wild week at Kiawah…
There are now five players tied atop the early leader board:
John Daly, Jimmy Walker, Cameron Tringale, Ben Polland (club pro curently at Shooting Star Golf Club in Jackson Hole, Wyo., and George Coetzee … all 1-under early.
7:33 a.m.: George Coetzee of South Africa makes the first birdie of the 2021 PGA Championship, pouring in this birdie putt at No. 1 to be the first in red numbers.
7 a.m.: The 103rd PGA Championship got underway in fitting fashion, with PGA pro Patrick Rada, head professional at McArthur Golf Club in Hobe Sound, Fla., hitting the first tee shot. Rada is a South Carolina native, so having the University of South Carolina native starting us off on Kiawah Island was the proper way to start.