Australian Matt Jones has seen his early lead in the 103rd US PGA Championship disappear, as he plummeted down the leaderboard following a brutal finish to his opening round at Kiawah Island’s Ocean Course.
Key points:
- Canadian Corey Connors has a two shot lead after shooting 5-under in the first round
- Matt Jones led through 14 holes before shooting bogey, bogey, double bogey, bogey on the last four holes of the day
- Cameron Davis is the highest ranked Australian, tied for second at two shots back
Despite coming into the tournament with what he called an “awfully poor swing” Jones found himself four-under and out in front of the pack through 14 holes on Thursday before Kiawah’s intense closing stretch bared its teeth.
With wind blowing over 20mph directly into his face, Jones played the last four holes in bogey, bogey, double bogey, bogey to end up with a one-over 73.
He wasn’t alone in his struggles as 18, 15 and 17 rated as the hardest holes on the course for the morning wave, averaging well over par.
Another former Australian Open champion, 26-year-old Cameron Davis, also started hot, ending with a share of second, two shots back.
The country’s highest-ranked player, Cameron Smith, carded an even-par 72, with Jason Day signing for a 74 and Marc Leishman a 75.
Canadian Corey Connors had the clubhouse lead with a 67 to be five under.
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Joining Davis at three under were four-time major winner Brooks Koepka, young Norwegian star Viktor Hovland, American Aaron Wise, and 2011 PGA Championship winner Keegan Bradley.
Earlier, Jones opened with five straight pars on the front side of the course before getting into red figures with a 14-foot birdie at the sixth hole.
The Sydney native and two-time Australian Open winner backed that up with another at the par-five seventh to make the turn at two-under before further birdies on the 11th and 13th holes.
Looking to survive, Jones was unable to hold it all together as he lost a few shots to the left into tough spots.
“Experience-wise, this is as ready as I’ve ever been at a major but the way I’m playing right now is awful,” Jones told AAP.
“My swing feels awfully poor and it’s been really hard not seeing my coach in a year and a half because of the pandemic.
“I can’t start it on the line I want to. But hopefully I can find some lightning in a bottle.”
Jason Scrivener, a regular on the European Tour, matched his compatriot Jones with a 73.
Former Masters champion Adam Scott’s opening tee shot was a shocker, sailing right into a water hazard on the par-four 10th.
Before he had a chance to settle any nerves, he was writing down a triple-bogey seven on his scorecard on his way to a six-over 78.
AAP
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