By Rahul Banerji
In-form K.H. Lee carded his lowest round in a major when he fired a 1-under 69 in the first round of the PGA Championship on Thursday to lie four strokes back of leader Rory McIlroy.
Indian star Anirban Lahiri however, struggled to a 3-over 73 on Thursday, done in by some forays into the sand and a cold putter.
The 30-year-old Lee registered three birdies against two bogeys at Southern Hills in Tulsa, Oklahoma to mark his first ever round in the 60s in his sixth career major start.
“Last week was a very happy time for me and my family, and hopefully I try to just keep the momentum well,” said Lee.
“Played well … I’m very happy now,” added the highest placed Asian golfer in the year’s second major at tied 16th place who successfully defended his AT&T Byron Nelson title on the PGA Tour last week,.
Compatriots Y.E. Yang, who delivered Asia’s first major victory at the 2009 PGA Championship, and Si Woo Kim, a three-time PGA Tour winner, opened with 71s for tied 38th position.
Japanese star Hideki Matsuyama carded a 72.
Lahiri’s 73 included two bogeys and a double against a lone birdie.
On the back nine, the new father who welcomed son Avyaan just before flying to Tulsa, swapped bogey for birdie after having dropped three shots in two holes on his way out.
Sand trap
On the par-4 fourth, Lahiri drove off the fairway and sent his second shot into the greenside bunker. Chipping out, he two-putted to drop his first shot of the day.
The next hole was worse.
Teeing off on the par-5 fifth, Lahiri found the sand twice, once with the driver into a fairway bunker and then on his approach.
Earlier, the early bogey from his opening hole, the 10th was leavened somewhat with Lahiri’s only birdie of the day when he nailed his tee shot on the par-3 11th.
There was no respite early on in his second round too as Lahiri has already dropped two shots in his opening three holes and is three shots off the [projected cut line at 2-over 142.
Lee had not broken par in his five previous starts in the majors where he has yet to make a cut, pgatour.com added.
He shot 78 and 77 at the PGA Championship last year after his winning breakthrough at the Byron Nelson and missed the cut at the Masters last month following rounds of 74-75.
Fresh confidence
However, he is now riding on new-found form and confidence after going back to work with his old swing coach Chris Mayson, and his former mental trainer.
He won last week with a winning total of 26-under.
“I try a new challenge,” said Lee of his major quest. “Just try to keep my momentum. I want to always play well every week.
“Hopefully good for the whole week up until Sunday.”
Yang, who started playing on the PGA Tour Champions after turning 50 this year, started well with two birdies on his front before being pegged back with four bogeys against a third birdie of the day.
He has not made the cut in his last five starts at the PGA Championship.
Fast start
McIlroy’s 65 is his best opening-round score to par in a major championship since he opened the last of his four major championship victories with a 5-under 66 at the 2014 PGA Championship at Valhalla.
The Northern Irishman, who won the CJ Cup last October for his 20th PGA Tour victory, made four successive birdies on his outward nine.
He then added three more against two bogeys to lead by one from Will Zalatoris and Tom Hoge.
Down the order, world no. 1 and FedEx Cup leader Scottie Scheffler opened with a 1-over 71 while Jordan Spieth, hunting a career slam, opened with a 2-over 72.
And making his 89th major championship appearance, Tiger Woods’ 4-over 74 was his worst opening round at the PGA Championship since 2015 (75).
Also read: At Tulsa, Tiger Woods is here, there and at practice with Anirban
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