Though they’re not the biggest stars in golf, it’s no accident that Viktor Hovland and Corey Conners are in contention after Thursday’s Day 1 of the PGA Championship.
Both are among the best ball strikers in the sport, and Oak Hill requires big-time ball striking.
Conners, who’s from Canada, and Hovland, from Norway, shot a 3-under-par 67 and a 2-under 68, respectively. Eric Cole, who is 5-under through 14 holes, is the leader after Day 1.
“There were a lot of great shots today,’’ said Conners, who carded six birdies. “It’s just a great test. I think it stacks up with some of the toughest major championship venues that I have ever played. It feels great to get off to a nice start.’’
Hovland rallied after going 2-over on his first three holes.
“Getting it to 3-under, making five birdies, that was really, really cool,’’ he said. “I certainly feel like this course fits me well. I haven’t played very much golf in the Northeast. I love this type of golf. It reminds me a little bit of Winged Foot or that type of golf course. I’m a big fan of this type of golf.”
The low club pro for the first round was Michael Block, a pro from Mission Viejo, Calif., who shot an even-par 70.
“I was expecting that,’’ Block said. “My goal was even-par. I feel like I can shoot even-par at pretty much any course in the word. I figured, ‘Why not today?’ I feel like I could do that another three days.’’
Alex Beach from Westchester Country Club, the only Metropolitan Area club pro in the field, shot 80.
Chris Sanger, the pro at nine-hole Woodstock Golf Club, was 7-over through 15 holes when play was suspended due to darkness.
Gabe Reynolds, a pro at a TopGolf in Texas, shot the high score of the day at 85.
Since 2010, a club professional has made the cut at the PGA Championship 10 times, led by two made cuts by Glen Arbor pro Rob Labritz, who’s now playing on the Champions Tour.
He finished T-68 in 2010 at Whistling Straits and T-60 2019 at Bethpage.
No club pro made the cut last year.
Block said he “would love to see multiple club pros make the cut’’ and added, “I’m aligned to do it. I’ve got the game to do it, I know. I will do it this week.’’
Japan’s Kazuki Higa made four birdies in a row after making par on the first hole and looked like was headed toward a record-setting round.
Eventually, he cooled down and shot a 2-over 72.
What made his start even more startling was that he entered the week having missed the cut in the past five events he played in.
“Last year I was playing well at the Japanese Tour, and I was able to play like this at the Japanese Tour, so I was very happy that I was able to play the same on this tough course,’’ he said. “I very enjoyed playing today.’’
Higa, who has six wins on the Japan Golf Tour, came to the PGA having missed the cut at the Masters earlier this year and the British Open last year and is seeking to make his first career cut in a major.
