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First Day Leaderboard Of PGA Championship From Baltusrol

SPRINGFIELD, NJ - JULY 28: Jimmy Walker of the United States reacts to his chip shot on the 12th hole during the first round of the 2016 PGA Championship at Baltusrol Golf Club on July 28, 2016 in Springfield, New Jersey. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

As the opening round of the 98th PGA Championship has been underway in Baltusrol, four Americans are in the top ten places.

American Jimmy Walker leads the way at 5-under 65. He birdied five of his first ten holes Not bad for someone who missed the cut in two of the last four PGA events. Walker is sitting ahead of fellow Americans Harris English and James Hahn by two strokes tied at fifth and Rickie Fowler by three tied for ninth.

Fowler started the day on the tenth hole and had four birdies and a bogey on the front nine. After the first nine holes Fowler was tied with Walker and American Brian Stuard. Stuard finished the day tied for 36th spot.

Australian golfer Scott Hend and American golfer Vaughn Taylor had the first birdie runs of the Championships. Both golfers birdied holes 13 – 15 all par 4s.

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American Brooks Koepka finished his first round with 68, tied for ninth. He had to pull out of Bridgestone at the beginning of June due to a torn ligament in his right ankle. For the Championships he’s got tape and a brace to keep it secure as this will be his last major of the year. He had four birdies throughout the day and made an eagle on the 18th hole.

Sergio Garcia, Jordan Spieth and Bubba Watson combined had a total of two birdies on the first seven holes. A bit of a lackluster start for the trio. The birdies belonged to Garcia and Watson who both made them on the same, and second, hole to put Garcia and 1 under and Watson at 1 over. Garcia and Watson finish the day 1 over tied at 55th and Spieth finished the first day even tied at 36th.

Rory McIlroy started on the back nine and finished the day 4 over 70. Dustin Johnson finished 7 over 70, no doubt we will see better performances from these two in the coming days after Johnson won the U.S. Open in June.

German Martin Kaymer, who won his first major at the PGA Championship in 2010, gave Walker a run for first place on opening day. He started on the back nine and had four birdies over five holes to rest at 4 under. The second half of the course he bogeyed No. 2 leaving him and 3 under and he birdied the 17th and 18th hole.