Dustin Johnson posted a 6-under-par 66 to claim a one-stroke lead over David Lingmerth of Sweden after the first round of the 97th PGA Championship in breezy conditions at Whistling Straits Golf Club in Kohler, Wis.
Johnson, who has had more than his share of heartbreak in the majors–including a two-stroke penalty on the final hole of the 2010 PGA at Whistling Straits that kept him out of a playoff–recorded five birdies, holed a 27-foot eagle putt on the 16th hole and made his lone bogey at No. 4.
“I played really well,” said Johnson, who three-putted the final green with a chance to win the U.S. Open at Chambers Bay in June and finished one stroke behind Jordan Spieth. “All-around, my game was really solid. I drove the ball well, hit my irons well and rolled the ball well.
“Around here you have to take advantage of the par 5s, that’s your best opportunity, and I was able to play the par 5s really well all day. I thought I did a good job of just staying patient and hitting the shots that the course allowed me to hit. I struck the ball well today, so I was very pleased.”
Lingmerth, who captured the Memorial Tournament in June for his first PGA Tour victory, birdied five of his first seven holes after starting at No. 10 and was tied for the lead after sinking a 12-foot birdie putt on the fifth hole.
However, he missed a four-foot par putt on the next hole and finished with three straight pars to wind up at 67.
“To come out with a fast start like that in the wind was great,” said Lingmerth, who also won the 2012 Neediest Kids Championship on the Web.com Tour. “I gave myself some good looks for birdie on the front nine and made a few.
“It was pretty good on the back, too, although I didn’t make the putts, but I’m happy with the way I played. I just have to keep my foot on the gas and hopefully give myself a chance in the final round on Sunday.”
Jason Day, another player who has been close in the Grand Slam events without winning, shot 68 with the help of an 11-foot eagle putt on the second hole in a 68 and was tied for third with Matt Kuchar, J.B Holmes, Russell Henley, Harris English, Danny Lee of New Zealand and Matt Jones of Australia.
Brendan Steele of Irvine and UC Riverside carded a bogey-free 69 and was tied for 11th with Justin Rose of England, Thomas Bjorn of Denmark and James Morrison of England.
Martin Kaymer of Germany, who beat Bubba Watson in a playoff in the 2010 PGA at Whistling Straits, was tied for 15th at 70, while Watson opened with a 72 and was in a tie for 39th that included Phil Mickelson.
Defending champion and top-ranked Rory McIlroy, playing for the first time since June because of an ankle injury, finished at 71 and was in a tie for 24th that included the second-ranked Spieth.
Zach Johnson, who won the Open Championship in a playoff at St. Andrews, started with a 75 and was in a tie for 88th that included four-time PGA champion Tiger Woods.
