Bryson DeChambeau HITS PLAYER IN HEAD en route to taking lead at US PGA
LIV Golf's Bryson DeChambeau strikes player in head en route to fast start at US PGA.
Bryson DeChambeau struck a wayward drive into the head of fellow player Kenny Pigman en route to taking the clubhouse lead on day one at the US PGA Championship.
DeChambeau, who recorded his best-ever finish on LIV Golf last week with a tie for fifth in Tulsa, posted a stunning 4-under 66 on a tough opening day of scoring at Oak Hill.
The first round was delayed by just shy of two hours as a result of frost.
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Things got even frostier for DeChambeau, who started on the 10th, with a bogey at the 12th but he quickly defrosted his scorecard with birdies at 14 and 16.
It was on 17 where drama unfolded as Crushers GC captain DeChambeau crashed his tee shot into the head of Pigman, who was just about to unleash his drive down 18.
Thankfully DeChambeau shouted 'Fore!'
But it was an unfortunate moment for Pigman, who slumped to an 11-over 81.
WATCH WHAT HAPPENED HERE
Bryson Dechambeau just absolutely drilled Kenny Pigman with a drive.
When asked he said…Guy shouldn’t have been standing there #pgachampionship pic.twitter.com/rdtpft10Dv— Ryley E Fitzsimmons (@ryleyfitz) May 18, 2023
The errant drive would lead to a bogey to send DeChambeau back to level par but he bounced back immediately when converting a five-foot birdie putt on 18.
DeChambeau would then make the turn with another birdie at the 1st from 13 feet, and he added two more to the house at 4 and 6 to set the early clubhouse target of 4-under par.
Play was suspended due to darkness at 8.30pm local time and by that time Eric Cole had moved into the outright lead on 5-under par.
Cole will return early on Friday morning to complete his first round.
After his round, DeChambeau said:
World No.2 Scottie Scheffler is hot on DeChambeau's heels after opening with a flawless 3-under par 67.
Scheffler, who can move back to World No.1 with a solid finish this week, enjoyed a trouble-free round of golf with three birdies coming at the 14th, 5th and 8th.
That score of 3-under par was matched by Canada's Corey Conners, who is searching for his maiden major title, and two-time major champion Dustin Johnson who bogeyed the final hole.
Norway's Viktor Hovland carded a solid round of 2-under 68 alongside former Masters champion Adam Scott, New Zealand's Ryan Fox and 2011 US PGA champion Keegan Bradley.
Elsewhere, Rory McIlroy got off to a slow start with a 1-over 71 but it could have been worse as he was 3-over par thru 9 holes.
"Pretty erratic, pretty messy, thought I did well to shoot 1-over in the end," said a lethargic McIlroy, who admitted he's feeling a little under the weather this week.
"Played a little better on the way in but going to need to play a lot better over the next three days to have any chance."
McIlroy hit just two fairways all day.
But he did make one of the putts of the day at the 2nd.
You won't want to miss this putt from Rory McIlroy pic.twitter.com/mqWFSiXsJ2
— Sky Sports Golf (@SkySportsGolf) May 18, 2023
World No.1 Jon Rahm had a day to forget and has all-but played himself out of the tournament with a dismal 6-over 76.
US PGA CHAMPIONSHIP R1 LEADERBOARD
-5 E Cole* (US)
-4 B DeChambeau (US)
-3 D Johnson, S Scheffler (US), C Conners (Can)
-2 R Fox (NZ), V Hovland (Nor), K Bradley (US), A Scott (Aus)
*Yet to complete first round
Andy first joined the brand on a month's work experience back in April 2011, and he now assumes the Editor role. When Andy joined GolfMagic it was a small site with potential.
