Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, New York hosts the second Major of 2023, the PGA Championship. Justin Thomas won the event back in 2022, with a dramatic play-off victory over Will Zalatoris. Jon Rahm goes into the tournament as favourite following his superb Masters victory at Augusta National back in April.
Tiger Woods may not be playing following his recent operation, but all the other world's best players are in action.
Keep up to date with all the latest news and score updates with our live blog.
PGA CHAMPIONSHIP LEADERBOARD 2023
- - 3 Higa, Bradley, Theegala
- - 2 Fox
Revised tee times for Round 1
Starting at First Hole:
8.50 Shaun Micheel, Braden Shattuck, Steven Alker (NZ)
9.01 Ben Griffin, Chris French, Joel Dahmen
9.12 Wyatt Worthington II, Nico Echavarria (Col), Wyndham Clark
9.23 Tom Hoge, Ryan Fox (NZ), K.H Lee (Kor)
9.34 Sam Stevens, Adam Svensson (Can), Beau Hossler
9.45 Zach Johnson, Kurt Kitayama, Sahith Theegala
9.56 Corey Conners (Can), Ockie Strydom (Rsa), Joaquin Niemann (Chi)
10.07 Kevin Kisner, Jimmy Walker, Padraig Harrington (Ire)
10.18 Alex Noren (Swe), J.T Poston, Mackenzie Hughes (Can)
10.29 Lee Hodges, Callum Tarren (Eng), David Lingmerth (Swe)
10.40 Taylor Moore, Denny McCarthy, Brendan Steele
10.51 Jeremy Wells, Justin Suh, Adri Arnaus (Esp)
11.02 Anthony Cordes, Mark Hubbard, Dean Burmester (SA)
2.20 Matt Cahill, Taylor Montgomery, Cam Davis (Aus)
2.31 Michael Block, Hayden Buckley, Taylor Pendrith (Can)
2.42 Alex Beach, Brendon Todd, Sihwan Kim
2.53 Patrick Reed, Rasmus Hojgaard (Den), Nick Taylor (Can)
3.04 Christiaan Bezuidenhout (SA), John Somers, Chez Reavie
3.15 Tommy Fleetwood (Eng), Cameron Young, Hideki Matsuyama (Jpn)
3.26 Adam Scott (Aus), Max Homa, Tony Finau
3.37 Xander Schauffele, Tyrrell Hatton (Eng), Dustin Johnson
3.48 Patrick Cantlay, Rickie Fowler, Phil Mickelson
3.59 Alex Smalley, Russell Henley, Mito Pereira (Chi)
4.10 Adam Hadwin (Can), Matt Kuchar, Talor Gooch
Starting at Tenth Hole:
8.55 Trey Mullinax, Josh Speight, Kazuki Higa (Jpn)
9.06 Adam Schenk, Colin Inglis, Thriston Lawrence (Rsa)
9.17 Min Woo Lee (Aus), Andrew Putnam, Emiliano Grillo (Arg)
9.28 Harold Varner III, Scott Stallings, Nicolai Hojgaard (Den)
9.39 Steve Holmes, Adrain Otaegui (Esp), Davis Riley
9.50 Scottie Scheffler, Brooks Koepka, Gary Woodland
10.01 Rory McIlroy (NI), Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa
10.12 Shane Lowry (Ire), Jordan Spieth, Viktor Hovland (Nor)
10.23 Matt Fitzpatrick (Eng), Cameron Smith (Aus), Jon Rahm (Esp)
10.34 Luke Donald (Eng), Adrian Meronk (Pol), Yannik Paul (Ger)
10.45 Kenny Pigman, Davis Thompson, Maverick McNealy
10.56 Keegan Bradley, Jason Day (Aus), Bryson DeChambeau
11.07 Jesse Droemer [CFPT], Matt NeSmith, Rikuyo Hoshino (Jpn)
2.15 Sam Ryder, Gabe Reynold, Brandon Wu
2.26 Sadom Kaewkanjana (Tha), Ben Kern, Thorbjorn Olesen (Den)
2.37 Webb Simpson, Y.E Yang (Kor), Danny Willett (Eng)
2.48 Sepp Straka (Aut), Harris English, Robert MacIntyre (Sco)
2.59 Thomas Pieters (Bel), Keith Mitchell, Pablo Larrazabal (Esp)
3.10 Lucas Herbert (Aus), Brian Harman, Callum Shinkwin (Eng)
4.21 Tom Kim (Kor), Sam Burns, Abraham Ancer (Mex)
4.32 Sungjae Im (Kor), Chris Kirk, Seamus Power (Ire)
4.43 Si Woo Kim (Kor), Stephan Jaeger (Ger), Anirban Lahiri (Ind)
4.54 Victor Perez (Fra), Aaron Wise, Jordan Smith (Eng)
4.21 Justin Rose (Eng), Billy Horschel, Francesco Molinari (Ita)
4.32 Russell Grove, Patrick Rodgers, Ben Taylor (Eng)
USEFUL LINKS
- PGA Championship Tee Times
- PGA Championships Picks and Predictions
- Weather Forecast for PGA Championship
- All You Need To Know About 2023 PGA Championship
- How To Watch The PGA Championship
THE WEATHER FORECAST WAS CORRECT!
The weather forecast predicted a frosty start, and that is exactly what we have, hopefully it is the only delay of the tournament.
GARETH BALE HOLE IN ONE
While we wait for the pro golfers there has already been some action this morning - Gareth Bale got his first hole in one... and at Torrey Pines! Watch him hole out here
LOWRY SHOWS HOW COLD IT IS!
Chilly morning @Offaly_GAA @PGAChampionship ☘️ pic.twitter.com/MsTUzUMj8ZMay 18, 2023
Shane Lowry got his hurling stick out to show how cold it is in Rochester this morning!
WHO WILL WIN?
Oddschecker.com have clear favorites with Jon Rahm and Scottie Scheffler with the shortest prices. Rory McIlroy and Patrick Cantlay just behind them.
Still waiting
We were told that 'further info' would be given by 7am (when play was due to start) regarding the delay in play caused by frost, This self-imposed deadline of 7am passed a few minutes ago with no further info given, Clearly we are in for a substantial delay.
How the Majors differ with regard to invitations to past champions
The PGA Championship and The Masters both give their past champions a lifetime exemption for qualifying for the tournament.
The US Open gives a 10-year exemption to its champion, while the Open winner qualifies for the event until they're 60 years old.
Missing champions
The most recent PGA Championship winner who is not playing this year is 2013 victor Jason Dufner. That year was also the most recent time that the tournament was held at Oak Hill.
Dufner finished two shots clear of runner up Jim Furyk. In the second round, he broke the course record when he carded a 63, which also tied the record for the lowest round in a Major. (This record was subsequently broken when Branden Grace shot 62 at Royal Birkdale in 2017.)
Sweden's David Lingmerth has replaced Dufner in the field for 2023.
Other absent past PGA Champions this year include Tiger Woods, John Daly, Martin Kaymer, Davis Love III and Vijay Singh.
Davis Love, 59, last played in the USPGA in 2020 and last made the cut in 2011. Singh, 60, has not played in a Major since the USPGA of 2018, when he came 78th. Daly, who withdrew this year through injury, has played most USPGAs since he win in 1991, but has not made the cut in one since 2012.
Update on start of play
Well sort of. We have been updated to be told that we will be updated by 7.30am. At present all facilities remain closed due to the frost. We had previously been told that the start will be about an hour and a quarter after the practice facilities open. Play had been due to begin at 7am, which is noon UK time.
Play to start at 8.50am
Practice facilities open at 7:35am EDT; Practice putting green opens at 7:45am EDT; 1st tee time (#1 tee) will be at 8:50am EDT; 1st tee time (10th tee) will be at 8:55am EDT. Round 1 Starting Times are delayed by 1hr 50min total.May 18, 2023
Champions Dinner
Justin Thomas' Champions Dinner menu.What would you serve at your Champions Dinner? #PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/xwfCLDF4YJMay 16, 2023
We get to hear loads about the Champions Dinner at The Masters, but little about the Champions Dinner at The PGA Championship held every year on the Tuesday before the tournament. This is a shame, as it sounds a bit more fun. Just like the Masters one, the defending champ decides the menu, however unlike The Masters, families have been invited and the tradition is that the host gives gifts to the guests. (When Phil Mickleson exempted himself from last year’s tournament, the so the PGA of America took over the gift-giving duties, presenting fire pits to the guests.)
The dinner started in 1965 when the PGA of America asked defending champion Bobby Nichols to preside over a meal for past champions, which 19 of the 20 past champions attended. The tradition of the host giving gifts started in the 1990s.
For this years menu Justin Thomas chose as his caterers Rao’s, a New York Italian restaurant founded in 1896 in East Harlem. Thirteen other past champions attended his dinner: Rich Beem, Keegan Bradley, Mark Brooks, Jason Day, Padraig Harrington, Brooks Koepka, Rory McIlroy Collin Morikawa, Jeff Sluman, Justin Thomas, Shaun Micheel, Phil Mickelson and Jimmy Walker.
Quick quiz question– can you match these gifts with the champions who gave them out at their dinner?
GIfts: Korean ceramics; Bose wireless speakers; designer wallets; ostrich-leather cowboy boots; wooden clocks depicting the four time zones of the cities hosting that year’s Majors.
Champions: Rich Beem, Brooks Koepka, Rory McIlroy, YE Yang, Tiger Woods.
Gift answers
YE Yang = ceramics
Rory McIlroy = speakers
Brooks Koepka = wallets
Rich Beem = cowboy boots
Tiger Woods = clocks
How will the two-tee start now work?
The tournament will now start at 8.50am local time (1.50pm in the UK) with Shaun Micheel, Braden Shattuck and Steven Alker teeing off on the 1st. At 8.55am the first group to start from the 10th tee, will do so. This comprises Trey Mullinax, Josh Speight and Kazuki Higa. At 11-minute intervals on each tee a new three-man group takes to the course. That goes on up until 11.07am.
Then there is a pause in groups taking to the course, as the course is now full. It is only when the first groups leave the course that new ones can be added. The second wave of play starts at 2.15pm from the 10th tee and 2.20pm from the 1st.
Players remain in the same grouping for the first two rounds, A group which tees off on 10 in round one will tee of from the 1st in rounds two – and vice versa.
When are the biggest guns going out?
At 9.50am world number 2 Scottie Scheffler, tees off with Brooks Koepka, who was PGA Champion in 2018 and 2019, and Gary Woodland, the 2019 US Open winner.
The 10.01am group has five PGA Championship titles between them. The current PGA champion, Justin Thomas, who also won in 2017, is playing alongside world number 3 Rory McIlroy, PGA Champion in 2012 and 2014, and Collin Morikawa, who won in 2020.
The PGA Championship traditionally group together the previous three Major winners. Jon Rahm, the Masters champ, US Open champion Matthew Fitzpatrick and Open Championship winner Cameron Smith tee off at 10.23am today (3.23pm UK time).
Today’s pin positions
They are not putting them near the middle...
We’re finally underway
Hurrah! The 2023 PGA Championship has begun. First to tee off Shaun Micheel. He is playing with Braden Shattuck and Steven Alker. Micheel found the middle of the fairway with a 283-yard drive, but Shattuck carved his opener off to the right and Alker missed the fairway on the left.
The PGA Championship has 20 places in it for club professionals, and Braden Shattuck is one of those who have qualified by this route. For 12 of them this is their first Major appearance, as it is for Shattuck.
That Shattuck would playing in a Major seemed unlikely a few years ago, when he was have trouble walking let alone swing a club, after a car accident. It was two years after the accident that he was able to swing a golf club properly again, albeit with a modified swing after the accident that had left him with disc damage in his back and nerve issues in his legs.
Director of instruction at Rolling Green Golf Club, near Philadelphia, by dint of winning the PGA Professional Championship at Twin Warriors Golf Club in New Mexico earlier this month, he will also gets some starts on the PGA Tour.
But of his chances this week the 28-year-old has said: “I don’t think it’s reasonable to think I can win the golf tournament and beat the best players in the world, but I think I can definitely make the cut this week.”
Just how tough is it?
The opening hole is called The Challenge. Kinda makes sense, especially as Ben Hogan once called this hole the toughest opening test in championship golf. But the second hole is called Breather. Just how exhausting is that first hole supposed to be?
It was very frosty this morning
Opening group all make pars
Despite going left, right and centre off the tee, all the players end up in the hole after four shots on the 460-yard first hole. That should steady Shattuck's nerves after that wayward tee shot. All 156 players are still tied for the lead.
Happy memories
Shaun Micheel has made bogey on the 2nd. He is the only one of the three previous winners of the PGA Championship around Oak Hill to be playing this week. In 1980 Jack Nicklaus won the USPGA here, as did Jason Dufner in 2013. The US Open has been held here three times – in 1956, 1958 and 1989, when the winners were, respectively, Cary Middlecoff, Lee Trevino and Curtis Strange. The club has also hosted the Senior PGA Championship twice, in 2008 and 2019.
We have a leader
Whatever else happens in his sporting life, Kazuki Higa can say he was leading the 2023 PGA Championship, This is courtesy of the first birdie of the day, made by him on his second hole, the 11th.
Casey misses out on his starting berth in the PGA Championship for second year running
The group of Adam Svensson, Beau Hossler and Sam Stevens have taken to the course, starting at the 1st tee. World number 130 Stevens is a replacement for Paul Casey, who withdrew with injury for the second successive year due to injury.
Casey, a LIV golfer, had been a controversial inclusion in this year’s tournament as he did meet the selection criteria. However he was one of those given a special invitation. It was thought that he was invited after missing last year's championship, for which he had qualified in various ways, including by coming T4th at the 2021 PGA Championship.
Shot of the day so far
Scott Stallings holes his approach from 128 yards on his first hole, the 10th, for an eagle which takes him immediately into the lead.
That lead-taking eagle by Stallings
And THAT is how you start your #PGAChamp. Scott Stallings ➡️ Eagle pic.twitter.com/ovCuku8X7kMay 18, 2023
What score might be needed to win round Oak Hill?
Well if history is any guide, here is that guide:
Kazuki Higa takes the lead
Starting on the 10th he has gone par, birdie, birdie, birdie.
Local support for McIlroy
He is a member at Oak Hill and there are several of cries of "come on Rory" as he walks down the fairway.
The four golfers with the most top 10s in Majors since 2015 are Rory McIlroy, 17; Brooks Koepka, 16; Dustin Johnson, 15; and Jordan Spieth, 13. Koepka, Johnson and Spieth have won nine Majors between them in that time; Rory none. The most recent of McIlroy’s four Major titles was in August 2014.
Worth waiting for
Kazuki Higa. Wait for it.#PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/EDDvtfVMPhMay 18, 2023
Fourth birdie in a row for Higa
The Japanese golfer is on fire. He is now four under after five holes.
Thomas begins his title defence well
He makes a long birdie putt on his first hole.
Higa's birdie run ends
He makes par in his sixth hole, the 15th, but he is still two shots clear of the field. Fox and Stallings share second spot.
Joining the fray
The flight of Lee Hodges, David Lingmerth and Callum Tarren have begun their round. England’s Callum Tarren was a replacement for LIV’s Martin Kaymer. Kaymer, the 2010 USPGA winner, had withdrawn explaining that after wrist surgery in the winter, and with LIV events the weeks before and after the PGA Championship, he did not feel able to play three weeks in a row. The PGA Championship comes between two LIV events.
The German finished 41st in the 48-player LIV field last week at Tulsa, and the Cleeks, the team he captains, finished last.
Tarren plays on the PGA Tour where he has yet to win. This is the 32 year old’s third Major appearance. His other two have come in the US Open – a missed cut in 2019, and a T31 finish last year.
That opening birdie putt by Justin Thomas
From Downtown 🐦@JustinThomas34 | #PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/RnWJMydwQeMay 18, 2023
Spieth is hunting a career grand slam
Five golfers have a career slam. Of the dozen players who have three out of four, three are still playing. Phil Mickelson, lacks the US Open, and Rory McIlroy The Masters. Jordan Spieth lacks the USPGA.
Spieth won the Masters and the US Open in 2015 and the Open in 2017. Having missed the cut in his first two PGA Championships, the next year, which was 2015, he finished runner up, In 2019 he came tied third, but his three most recent finishes in the USPGA have been T71, T30 an T34.
Spieth, who had a wrist injury coming into the tournament, is 1 over after three holes.
*Can you name the quintet? Answer in five minutes if you cannot.
Answer: the five players with career grand slams
Gene Sarazen (pictured), Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. As if you didn’t know.
Higa's lead cut
He drops a shot on the 17th, his 8th hole, his first bogey of the round. He is now at 3 under, back to two shots clearof the field. Fifteen players are on 1 under par.
Hoodie and a cap?
Several players are weairng hoodies, Rory McIlroy (pictured), Justin Thomas and Cam Smith among them. All of them are wearing caps. Is it just me, or does the hood seem a tad redundant? What is the point of the hood if you already have a head covering?
We have a single player in second place
Someone has finally broken free from the gaggle of players on minus one, That man is 32-year-old Englishman Callum Tarren. He has done so by birdieing the 2nd and 3rd holes. He plays on the PGA Tour where he has yet to win. However he won the PGA Tour China Order of Merit in 2018.
Wrist injury, what wrist injury?
A saucy touch from the bunker 👏@JordanSpieth | #PGAChamppic.twitter.com/rXRslzuVhJMay 18, 2023
Joint leaders
Callum Tarren makes it three birdies in as many holes and he and Higa are tied for the lead on -3. Morikawa is now alone in third place on 2 under.
Ryder Cup planning
An all-European group is not appealing much to the US television director, especially not when it has been slotted in among the marquee groups. But Adrian Meronk of Poland and Yannik Paul from Germany are playing with European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald.
This is the perfect chance to ingratiate themselves with the man who has six wildcard picks to make for the Ryder Cup side. Okay, I appreciate his is easier in club golf where you can hunt extra hard for the other chap’s ball and try to be the one that finds it each time; buy the first round at the19th etc. Trouble is, they don’t do much ball hunting at Majors, as any wayward shots tends to bounce off, or near, a spectator. Also I’m not sure the players all troop off together to the clubhouse for a pint afterwards. But you get the picture.
Mind you, one of them may not end up needing a captain’s pick. Automatic qualification goes to the three best players from European Points List, followed by the three best from World Points List who haven’t already qualified from the European one. Currently Paul is third in the European List, Meronk 5th. But only one slot is likely to available from this list as Rahm and McIlroy are in one and two and daylights separates them from the rest.
As Meronk stands 10th among Europeans on the Worlds Points List and Paul; 16th neither are likely to qualify from this route. So probably best to congratulate Luke on his good shots, laugh heartily if he cracks a joke and mention casually how the course at Marco Simone really suits their game.
Meronk is tied 5th on one under. Donald and Paul are T30 on one over.
Back to joint leaders
Keegan Bradley drains a long putt on 13 for a birdie. Having made birdies on 10 and 12, he joins Higa on three under.
Hoving into sight
Viktor Hovland likes some bold colours and patterns in his outfits, and today's effort is no different. He started on 10, which he bogeyed, as he did 12. Then he made three consecutive birdies. He lies tied in sixth.
The third of those consecutive birdies for Hovland
Throwing darts with Viktor Hovland 🎯pic.twitter.com/ODrqC2S7XwMay 18, 2023
McIlroy out of sorts
He swished his driver angrily towards the tee marker on the 18th tee after his ball exited off to the right. He has yet to make a birdie and bogeyed 15 and 17, to be two over after 8.
Chance to go low?
There does not appear to be much wind today, but it is forecast to pick up over the next few days. Now looks to be a good time to get a score going with the day warming up after a chilly start.
Each of the last 18 men's major champions have opened the week with a round under par.Since 2015, the first round scoring average of major championship winners is 68.2.May 18, 2023
HELLO AND GOOD EVENING!
Ed Carruthers here taking over from Rodeeick who has smashed today’s coverage!
It’s been a great start to this year’s tournament and I’ll be taking you through the next few hours of action live here on Golf Monthly, so don’t go anywhere!
Let’s just recap on the leaders and it’s been a fast start from Kazuki Higa and Keegan Bradley both sit at the top of the ladder today after going -3 in the opening exchanges.
Corey Connors, Ryan Fox and Sahith Theegala sit below them both on -2, followed by a chasing pack of several big names.
Right let’s get stuck into the action!
ICYMI - KURT KITAYAMA'S BIRDIE PUTT
Kurt Kitayama has really impressed with his putter lately and this fantastic putt is something you should certainly see!
Bringing the Texas wedge to New York 🤠@Kurt_Kitayama buries it for birdie.pic.twitter.com/UCbsT7YpZpMay 18, 2023
SCHEFFLER STAYS ONE UNDER
Scottie Scheffler gets his birdie to hole out for par and stays one under.
Meanwhile, Bryson DeChambeau, who has swapped his coach this week, is looking really good out there, and puts his chip within a couple of feet of the hole!
RORY'S IN THE ROUGH...
McIlroy has a really tough shot in here, but he works it really well, spinning his shot out onto the fairway.
It's a tough one but the best he can do.
He'll have a nice lay-up.
AND LOWRY GETS ONE BACK!
Shane Lowry hits a fantastic shot from off the green to hole out on the 10th, putting him +1 heading into the final eight holes.
Superb stuff from the Irishman.
SLOW PLAY?
There's been a bit of talk in the Scheffler/Koepka/Woodland group about slow play this afternoon.
Check out the video below and let me know what you reckon...
5 minutes 🥱 pic.twitter.com/8KOvOyfcpKMay 18, 2023
PAR FOR KOEPKA ON 12
Brooks Koepka has made a couple of nice par saves to keep his round going and snags a par on the 12th too, he's currently at evens and is looking solid heading into 13.
Meanwhile, two-time PGA Championship winner, Justin Thomas has gone within a few feet of the hole!
RORY MCILROY HOLES OUT!
That will do Rory McIlroy TONS of confidence this week! He scrambles back from a torrid lie to putt in up hill over 20 yards to shoot a fantastic par!
THOMAS PARS TOO
Justin Thomas keeps his spot at fourth on the leaderboard, hitting a par to keep his score -1.
SKY SPORTS EXTENDS US OPEN COVERAGE
We've been talking a lot recently about the coverage of golf on television and in the media.
The Masters attracted a lot of criticism from fans for its coverage with many upset they couldn't watch early round coverage on TV.
The good news is, particularly for any viewers in the UK, that Sky will now be showing more golf on their channels after coming to a 'last-minute' deal to secure the rights to show the US Open for the next few years.
Sky Sports agrees deal to show the next three US Opens https://t.co/M0CmZfdfoOMay 18, 2023
RORY MCILROY IS BOUNDING HERE
He's just dropped the ball on the green with a stunning drive on the third hole. Can he keep it going? He's plus three right now with seven to go!
HOVELAND MAKING A MOVE ON THE TOP
After a chaotic start to his round carding two bogeys, Viktor Hovland has just four birdies in his last eight holes to go straight to the top of the leaderboard on -2.
BIRDIE FOR MCILROY!
His stunning drive pays off and he's back to +2!
... AND IF YOU'VE MISSED IT HERE'S HIS PAR SAVE!
It was an outstanding putt on the second hole from the Northern Irishman. He tapped it up a hill and straight down the drain - that'll hopefully give him a boost!
HUGE par save for Rory McIlroy - who stays +3 at the PGA Championship after a difficult start pic.twitter.com/4yLwnwaEazMay 18, 2023
