2022 PGA Champs Day 1
Posted on May 20, 2022
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Thursday at the PGA Champs
Southern Hills greeted fans and players to a superbly set-up golf course with brilliant nuances of bumps and run-offs. The wind gusted as predicted, there were moments where players backed off waiting for the perfect moment. They still struggled.
The greens ran slower than usual, but were still firm and not receptive at all. It was pleasing to see bunkers that penalised players and the players hurt badly, up and downs were rare.
The early starters had all the fun. Birdies were there to be had, if you were patient and Rory delivered, at 1 stage having a 3 shot lead at 6 under. In the end, he posted a slick 65.
It was not all easy going, with Rory’s playing partners, Jordan and Tiger, shooting 72 and 74 respectively. Ouch.
Zala also enjoyed a good start with a 66, where he missed short ones and made long ones, like usual. Other top tenners like Xander and Cambo are nicely poised with 68s.
The afternoon scoring was certainly much tougher than the morning and the averages showed the same. Best of the bunch was a 67 by JT, followed by 68s by Herbert and Fitzy. All 3 will be excited at the prospect of a morning run at Southern Hills after the heat kicked in during the afternoon.
The players really struggled with the greens and this hurt some of the big names who drifted well over par, like BK and Cantplay.
Round of the Day
That 65 by Rory was pure. A real stripe show! Hardly put a foot wrong until he missed the par 3 greens late on the back 9. The putter smiled all day with great makes for birdie and par saves alike.
JT’s 67 in the afternoon was superb, finishing with a bogey free back 9 and a birdie on the 18th which was playing incredibly hard.
Shot of the Day
There were a few eagle holeouts from the wide fairways, including one from Jesse Mueller of the much famed Team of 20.
Other Eagle hole outs came from Harman and Harding.
Shot of the Day belonged to the World # 1 Scottie who plundered a 3-wood from 308 yards to set up an early eagle!
Performance of the Day
There are a few lurkers around the 2 and 3 under mark who are headed into the morning spin on Friday.
It was amazing how many holeouts there were, undulating greens definitely playing their part.
The Leaders
The Chasers
majorpunter Picks
Top Bucket:
Scottie and Jordan dominated the picks, but Rory was not far behind. Finally Rory delivered in the first round of a major. Otherwise a mixed bag of results, but especially weak from Rahmbo and Cantplay.
2nd Bucket:
Hideki and DJ dominated the bucket - and surprisingly so with the quality on offer in the bucket. Both had over par rounds. Fitzy was the man to beat here and looks good heading into Friday.
3rd Bucket: This bottom bucket was a tough one to nail down - and the picks are spread far and wide. The Others made up 51% of the picks. The leading picks were a surprise to a degree - but also understandable. Tommy and Keegan dominated but not so much on the scoreboard.
Stats:
Bucket 1: Scottie 19%, Jordan 17%, Rory 14% & Rahmbo 13%. (1 is under par)
Bucket 2: Hideki & DJ both 15%, Lowry 13% & Joaquin 10%. (1 is under par)
Bucket 3: Tommy 13%, Keegs 12%, Tiger 10% & Bez 8%. (NONE are under par)
For a full view of the scores head to PGA Champs leaderboard and majorpunter leaderboard.
majorpunter Leaderboard:
| Rank | Team | Punter | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tee time | Claire Botha | -11 |
| 2 | Southern Hillbillys | Alec Schoeman | -9 |
| T3 | PigsInAblanket | James Lee | -7 |
| T3 | Fitzmagic3 | Wil Harper | -7 |
| T5 | 5255 | Lowry Beck | -6 |
| T5 | Blokkies | Ross Harris | -6 |
| T5 | HAYBS | Nelson Long | -6 |
| T8 | Creamy Goodness | Justin Hodgson | -5 |
| T8 | Happy Gilmore | Jeremy Jones | -5 |
| T8 | WRPHILLIPS21 (2) | William Phillips | -5 |
Day 1 is all about keeping yourself in it and not getting too excited in the chase for your first major. There were some good scores for the punters, but not many players under par.
Tee Time and Southern Hillbillys both enjoyed their time in the sun, with both of them underpinned by Rory and Zala. Thats reward for backing that perennial slow starter and they will be hoping Rory keeps tracking, a cheeky gusty Friday afternoon will test that wedge game!
Nipping at their hooves is PigsInABlanket and Fitzmagic3.
majorpunter Bottomboard:
| Rank | Team | Punter | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| T69 | GoochJohnsonArnaus | James Bisset | +7 |
| T69 | I HATE MIKE ADAMS | David Alexander | +7 |
| T69 | To the Trees. | Clyde Botha | +7 |
| T72 | Wishbone | Gary Myers | +8 |
| T72 | Farfield | Matt Verbaan | +8 |
| T72 | Diamond Dogs! | Bruce Wylie | +8 |
| T72 | Bradthig3 | Bradley Thigpen | +8 |
| 76 | Tomoose & Friends | Kath East | +9 |
| 77 | Salix Slayers | Keith Van Niekerk | +10 |
| 78 | Jerry and Brad2 | Bradley Thigpen | +11 |
The bottomboard is littered with train wrecks, but its early days as they say.
Jerry and Brad2 are last at the moment, but this can change quick. Salix Slayers were empathetically slayed on day 1 with another double digit over par score.
Tomoose & Friends will be bleak they picked Jordan over Justin Thomas, but such is life and they are 1 shot from double digits at the moment.
It’s a long road to go and no one is safe on this course and with major champions in your team, we know they can flip the switch and turn it around.
For more news and information head over to majorpunter.
Looking forward to an attritional 2nd day with so much in anticipation. Keep an eye on the cut-line (currently sitting at +2, but sure to move) and the players finding some form and their grooves for your Substitutions strategy.
You don’t want to miss that Subs deadline, which is 10 mins before the first tee time on Saturday - wherever you may be across the globe.