Day 1 - Closing Stages Golf: US PGA Championship

Hello, and welcome to live coverage here on the BBC of the final Major

of the season - the PGA Championship from Quail Hollow in North Carolina.

97 of the world's top 100 players are here, including 30 Major

champions. Amongst them, a man looking to become the youngest to

complete a Grand Slam of Majors. Could Jordan Spieth make history

this week? Plenty of players are trying to stop him. Here are some of

the favourites heading into the season's Major finale.

Well, Quail Hollow has proved to be a very tough test on day one. But it

was one of the morning starters who was setting the earliest pace. The

course is playing long and the greens are fast, but it is

27-year-old ball beyond Oryx and -- Thorbjorn Olesen with these birdie

putt on 18. In it would roll. His sixth birdie of the day. A couple of

drop shots, but he had a clubhouse lead of 4-under par. The US opens

champion Brooks Koepka, this was his third. -- the US Open champion. He

was chipping in there. That was for a birdie on the second to go to

1-under par. US Open champion Brooks Koepka, this time his third to the

par-4 3rd hole. His 12 whole of the day. He started on the tenth. That

would take into 1-under par. So will his 12 hole of the day. He would

finish on 3-under. This man is looking for the Grand Slam, Jordan

Spieth. His second shot to the eighth, his 16th hole of the day.

That would be good enough for back-to-back birdies, and he would

sign for a 72, 1-over par for the day. A very up-and-down day for

Luiten. A triple bogey seven on the 15th. -- Joost Luiten.

How about that for a little light relief? He would sign for 76. After

all that, 5-over par. Celebrations, though. Pretournament favourite Rory

McIlroy. This was his third shot to the par-4 3rd. It would trickle in

to put him 1-under par. But he had a nightmare on the 14th, ended up with

a double bogey there. He is currently 1-over par. So, let's see

how things stand. Thorbjorn Olesen with the clubhouse leader 4-under

par. He is being chased by a bunch of Americans. Grayson Murray, Gary

Woodland, Chris Stroud, the only bogey-free man of the day. US Open

champion Brooks Koepka all on 3-under par. To any Finau on

2-under. Patrick Reed looking for his first top ten finish in a Major.

He is in the clubhouse on to wonder, alongside England's Paul Casey. A

nice opening 69 for Paul Casey. Some of the chase is still out on the

course. Jon Rahm is playing alongside Rickie Fowler. Also on

2-under par. Some good scores. Louis Oosthuizen had an eagle on the back

nine to help into a 70, 1-under par. Alongside Tommy Fleetwood and former

champion Jason Day. Also in the clubhouse, Zach Johnson,

former Open champion. Adam Scott just finishing off his round on

level par. Ben and started the day on fire but he's fallen back. He is

level par through his first 15 holes. Chris Wood, a 72 today,

1-over par. Alongside Jordan Spieth, who is coming into this Championship

trying to make history. And there is Rory McIlroy. Through 16 holes he is

1-over par. Can he pull a couple back before he signs for his card in

the clubhouse? Keep going a little further down. There is Danny

Willett, 2-over par, 73, alongside Lee Westwood. Let's get out on the

course with your commentators, Ken Brown and Peter Alliss., Tait and

there's DeChambeau. He has a strange way of playing. When few weeks ago.

He makes it work -- winner there a few weeks ago. It's a bit of a

struggle today, but that's a good one.

A familiar face, Luke Donald. Average score today is 75. The

bottom at the 18th for a round of 76ers. No birdies on it.

Softish fairways. Firm and very fast greens today. Kevin Na.

Can he? That's a bit of a shirt, isn't it with Lexmark well might it

is! It's not doing him much good. It really has been a struggle, the

last, well, two or three hours. We're so used to seeing players six

or 7-under par. It's a change when you see them struggling like this.

Please go! He's all right to... Safe! 260 yard par-3 at the 6th

today. The Phil Mickelson. -- to Phil Mickelson.

39, he took a six at the 10th. Three more bogeys. 8-over par. Playing in

his 100th Major Championship. What he won't want to remember, thus far

anyway, Fowler at the 17th, just two holes left, he is to wonder. -- he

is 2-under. Elevated tee at the 17th. The greens

are five or six yards further. The red dots are the people who have

missed the green to the right hollow, who have often dropped a

stroke. Dangerous part three, tests the best. Rory McIlroy, a 6-iron.

Get in the whole! Oh!, long... -- come along. That's a fine result.

Haven't seen many birdies in the last hour or so. On the 14th of

15th, he to 3-under. A 6-iron. 226 yards, and he has

shoved it into the little hollow, I think. It has a 50-50 chance,

judging by the little dots, whether he will get down in two, very

tricky. Luke Watt faces Phil Mickelson, his

18th. The shot down the hill, and you play up the hill, a little green

runs down the left and a bunker on the right. -- a little stream.

Effect, absolutely perfect. -- perfect.

Looks pretty, but it hasn't been kind to too many people stop yellow

no, and some of these players will be glad to get away tonight and

think what might have been. He has got some holes left to play.

He could catch our leader, the man from Denmark.

2-over, Graeme McDowell. He was 1-under at one time. Oh, good shot.

Well done. 1-under, second into the 15th.

Slightly fluffy lie. Big tee shot. See how they keep rolling about. It

just shows you how tight the fairways are, the slopes and the

speed. It has rolled at least ten or 12 yards. YE Yang, he won this

Championship in the days of Tiger Woods.

Well, it ended up pretty good, really. I thought it was going to be

one shot. -- one shot. Kevin Chappell, an

eagle chance at the 7th. And he's done it. Outstanding. Seven and

eight do offer some chances, but there haven't been too many evils

there. -- too many eagles. The little hollow to the right of

the 17th, like so many before. Very tricky to get up and down. You have

to chip it up the bank, and then it green slides away from you. Kisner,

16th. 3-under. He would be delighted to stay at

3-under. Long par 36, DA Points. A little

unlucky that he didn't Rahm after that week chip shot.

Expected the ball to run so much more down the hill.

The same with the putt. Oh, it's getting there. But it won't quite

rich. The shot dropped back to 1-under for arm. -- it won't quite

rich. For Hahn. A long afternoon, coming up to 6:30pm, local time.

Rickie Fowler. No! Just ran out. Just ran out of speed. Scoring the

last couple of hours has rocketed up. Babs only 1-under par, four or

five game, 79s, 76s. Ryan bought, slightly more awkward angle than it

would have been if the ball had stopped by the track. Now, Rory need

something to brighten his round-up. No. Most extraordinary. He has

wonderful moments, and then, on occasions, a couple of poor shots,

weak shots, careless shots, a couple of missed putts, and he's back with

the pack. This is one of his favourite

courses. He's got a wonderful record here. He's going to have to do

something pretty good tomorrow on the weekend. It is a bad 13, 14. He

didn't play well there at all. Point surname gets away with another

one. He really is quite extraordinary. -- Points. Mickelson.

Good drive at the last. Now, Dufner. Playing alongside

Mickelson. STUDIO: It is still Thorbjorn Olesen

out in front. Amongst those at 3-under, Grayson Murray. He lives

just 2.5 miles from Quail Hollow. His debut at the PGA. He shot

3-under today. As did Gary Woodland. He missed the cut in his past three

PGAs. He is looking for his first top ten finish in a Major this week.

Chris Stroud, the only man without a bogey on his card, is also on

3-under par. Rickie Fowler is on to wonder, as is Bud Cauley, a

27-year-old from Dawidiuk, -- is an 2-under. -- from Florida. Jason Day,

the winner two years ago at Whistling Straits, he carded a 70,

alongside Hideki Matsuyama, who had 61 on Sunday to win at Bridgestone.

Matt Kuchar. COMMENTATOR: 226 yard 17, Matt

Kuchar. A couple of holes to go, and then think about what you're going

to have for dinner! That looks a bit like another

bailout... And such a difficult chip from there.

Bill Haas. Son of famous dad, 6-over par.

Steady... Oh, that could do well. If it just gets on the green... Yes!

JB Holmes. He is on a different hole. I thought that was Graeme

McDowell's impression of JB Holmes, I think! He has changed his swing

the past couple of years. He takes it more inside now, he has got rid

of the lay-off. But I'm not sure I prefer it. He's gone off the boil

the last couple of years. He was a very competent player. And that's

the beauty. That is absolutely... 63 players are the rover and better.

The cut looks like something of 5-over, given another good day. So

this course pretty much reading havoc on the field, when you

consider the position is. McIlroy at the final hole. We really could do

with a birdie here, or something. We certainly don't want to drop shot.

Par from 72, which runs a course like this is not bad, really. In

real terms. At this moment the best score is 67. He has made a couple of

unforced errors. Here is Points, remarkable watching him put his

round together. Three holes left. Asking for a bit of fade... And not

getting it. What's it to the bunker? The players' badge on his belt. It's

always a very elaborate belt given to the players at the PGA.

Now, Mickelson. Is this going to be the end? Or will the battle

continued? The battle will... Oh, will it ever continue?! What are you

doing, Philip?! I have never seen him play like this, I don't think.

I've been watching him for a long time.

A couple of bogeys in the last two holes. On the fairway at 18. All

three players very similarly placed, perfect.

Yes? ... No! Just wiggled in the end. These are new greens. They

haven't quite settled in yet, consistently, I don't know, but a

lot of putts have been missed. They certainly have. Now Mickelson, this

to break 80. Oh! That's real pressure.

Well, if you thought the front nine was bad, the rest is slightly worse.

TNT kindly providing details of Phil's worst career round this

weekend. He will be overjoyed at people knowing that! At the British

Open he wants shot 85. -- he wants shot. Dufner finishing off.

Five bogeys in the inward nine. Out in 2-under. All a big struggle.

Jimmy Walker, the defending champion, the other member of this

group. Double bogeyed the last round of 81. To say it was a lacklustre

trio is definitely an understatement.

Lahiri, 2-over, playing his last hole, the night. -- Wehrlein. Come

on, up you come! No. All this is good, well done. Two starting tees,

which is frowned upon rather by the bigwigs over in the UK. But it gets

the job done fairly quickly. Fowler first player this 80. Front

right -- at this 18. Got to get over a little false front. Oh, that's

beautifully done by Fowler. Absolutely perfect for distance.

Must be at least 178 yards to the second shot. 7-iron or 8-iron,

colossal. Now Rory. 494 yards, Peter. You're probably spot on,

there. That looked less, didn't it? That

looked like a wedge. Chance of a birdie four McIlroy.

That will send him home happy. He has been at times a bit untidy

today. A couple of slack shots. Final hole the Marc Leishman. -- for

Marc Leishman. This for a 74. Not to be. So, that one will be for around

75. -- round 75. Playing with Lahiri. Danny Lee, the New

Zealander. Ben and for a birdie at the 8th, his

17th. And look where that has finished, right behind the hole.

Can't believe it took so long to turn.

Justin Rose, like so many, heading out at 17. But able to putt it,

which is a bit of help. Not doing too badly at all.

Rafa. Cabrera-Bello S3 over. -- is 3-over.

Oh! A rather fortunate escape there. Now, who is that? He gave that a

very serious lash. Long and high, Ross. He should

relish this course. Only 1-over. That's a good shot. Perfect lie. Jon

Rahm. At the 18th. The crowds have stayed right to the

bitter end. It is nice to see the summer aparel after some rather grim

golfing conditions in the UK. The spectators look like they're about

to climb the Matterhorn. And here it is bright and fine silks. You have

been watching those old Bob Hope films again? No, that's classic

stuff. Now, Rory, send us home happy. Or happier! Down the left.

Down the left. Down the left! Everyone's missed it right, haven't

they? Incredible. Not what he wanted ready, but he

still has got to hole this for a 72. That is not the end of the world,

but it ain't good. I suppose on reflection it's better than average.

Much better than average. I wonder if Fowler will have learned

from both Rahm and McIlroy? Well, he should have done if he is coming

down from there. You have got to aim it down the left side and hope

speed's going to go just about right. Speed is important too. If he

hits it too hard down the left, it will pass on the left. According to

the caption. He is kind to his mother as well. Down the left. Now,

down the left! I told him. Go straight! I guess

that is just unholeable. It is ridiculous. What can you do? Kisner

at the 17th. The treacherous par-3. That is going to be all right I

think. Ooh, just got over the water! The natives are getting a bit noisy!

Now here is Points. He is now 3-under. He is having an

extraordinary day out. He has holed a good putt on pretty well every

green so far. Well that was a good save there from Rory. 72 shots.

Certainly wasted four. Tomorrow's another day. As you said, Peter,

still very much in it. We know he has a 65 in there, no bother at all.

Rahm, he also has let a few slip away.

Now Fowler to finish off hopefully. He has played well apart from that

stupid 7 at 9. But there we are. 69 with that dirty big 7 at the 5th.

Good play. Oh that surely not, no. What a shot

from Smith. Absolute cracker. Well Rory making his way up to the club

house, the scoring tent. Everyone wanting souvenirs, autographs. Where

was it he won? Hamburg. Yes, the week after the British. Just

discussing Jordan Smith there I think. He won the week after the

British, who we just saw hit a magnificent wood into 15. Beat Alex

Levy in a play-off there. Why they would be talking about him, I don't

know. Good tee shot on to this difficult

par-3. That was a delicate putt. Didn't

want a lot more. This is orthan Smith for an eagle.

No we saw him play up the green. So that is only a par I think. No, yes,

it was a par. Jordan Smith moves on to the

leaderboard almost at minus one. 5th birdie of the day. Brilliant effort

to get to minus 1. Olesen still leads. This looks like Steve

Stricker. Can it be? He is like old father Thames, he just keeps rolling

along. He is 4-over though today. Oh,

needed a hop! Long attempt for birdie. Oh, great

attempt. Par for him. He will stay plus 3. He will be glad of a couple

of pars and just get into the house. It's not been his day at all. Three

over after 4. He has kept it going well after the first four holes.

This looks a very juicy lie, doesn't it? Brian Harman at the 8th. They're

suggesting this is for a birdie. If that goes in, it will be in the

Guinness Book of Records! For birdie. That was an optimistic

caption. I think so! We are getting down to the hard core

of scoring now. There was so many nice things said

and written about this course before we started, I think the alterations,

although the actual physical alterations haven't been so bad so

far as the holes are concerned, the change of the grass on the greens

has caused a tremendous amount of problems.

Wang won a couple of events on the European Tour. Still only 21 or 22.

Him and Tang and Wang, three of them who...

That looks hard work that swing. It is very upright. Now DA. You have

holed some putts on this nine. No, it's swinging across. You can see

the hole starting to just disintegrate a bit on the the down

grain side. It is wearing away, yeah.

Beautifulfully played by Harman. Presumably he will get out of that

with a par. And a good escape. Cloud on the top of the leaderboard

- one ahead of tree! There we go. I think it's the time delay. It's

getting to you, is it? Yes, jet lag! It looks quite narrow up there with

that stream up the middle of the fairway. I don't think he likes

that. That is careering out to the right I fancy.

DA. Nobody know what is DA stands for! Softly. Come to me! The bunker?

No. He has had a charmed life. Charmed life today. Here is your

Ryan Moore. Looks good, doesn't it? Oh, come on then.

Beauty from Moore. Currently 1-under.

Justin Rose, bit of a struggle for Justin today, but here he is on the

final hole putting for a birdie. He might have done it. Oh, it went the

other way. That putt's impossible. Calm descends on the lakes here at

Quail Hollow. The wind almost completely gone now. There is a very

nice hospitality pavilion they put up there, they almost look like

permanent residences, but they're nestled in the trees, various

companies bringing their clients, giving them a day out.

Oh, no, no, what a poor finish for Justin Rose. That is a round of 76.

5-over on the back 9. It's one of those days. One of those

days. You see the row of hospitality pavilions. Cure the housing

shortage. This is a little tickler. We have seen people trying to be too

fancy tr here. Not this time though. Made it look very easy Mr Blixt.

When it works, it looks oh so simple.

Oh, that plunged into the back of that. I don't think we get many

balls plugging in the bunker, but it certainly looked as if it might.

This is Vegas. Birdie putt at the 16th. But he is

6-over. The grain there ripping into that

ball. At the end of the day, the grass has grown as much as it is

going to grow in one day. Temperature in the mid 80s. Really

having an effect now. Started off badly, then he has kept

his score going very well. Second shot at 8 for Points. And on

the top level, but... A good 20 feet for his birdie.

The unmistakable shape of Dechambeau at the 16th. Good. Good. Very good!

Ooh! That's the way to do it! I think that putter Tees same length

as all his irons as well. I think it is.

Looking down the 18th. Kisner, I think he is just short. I don't

think it made it. This is going to be a long shot out

of the clingy Bermuda. He has got at least a 5-iron there. That's got to

go. And it did. What a shot! Hadwin at the 8th. A hole and a half

to go. It just rolls off into an awkward

spot. Scotsman, Martin laird. Always

played the Tour over here. With some success too. Today's not his day

though. And we have said that a few times today. Yes the course has been

the winner today. Definitely. Kevin Na. 5-over.

Oh! Watching it in the air, dead on line, you're so happy and then,

boom, comes up short! Ross Fisher who had such a good

start in his golfing career, courtesy of the Wentworth Club. Oh,

look at that go! Dear me! It really is a struggle.

It is amazing the lack of judgment of pace we have seen as well as

line. But they're big misjudgments, I mean seven or eight feet past.

Chez Reavie for a birdie. Well done. Back to just one over. Par in for

72. For birdie, Ryan Moore, cannot

possibly move that much. Just a tweaker from off the green for

Points. He has not hit it. Frightened of the pace down the

hill. But that's OK. Another hole. STUDIO: It has been the lead for

most of the day, Olesen 4-under. A group 3-under. Let's have a look

back at their rounds earlier on today. The 27-year-old Dane

nicknamed Thunder Bear. This was him on the par-4 8th for a birdie. That

would take him to 2-under par. He was 33 on the way out. Par golf

after the turn. But a birdie chance here on the par-4 14th. He would

move to 3-under. To the next hole, the par-5 15th. This is his third

shot A tricky one over the bunker from the fluffy stuff. Nice and

high. Stopped it beautifully on the green. That would be good enough for

back-to-back birdies. That would put him to 4-under par. 67 and club

house leader. Grayson Murray at the par-3 13th. A birdie for him. He had

a couple of drop shots. He is now 1-under par for his round. This is

him again on the par-3 17th. Again a birdie putt on a par-3 and again the

same outcome. A par on the last and he would sign for 3-under par. Gary

Woodlands now. The par-4 second. The 33-year-old. A birdie at the 2nd. A

nice start for him. He moved to 1-under par. The par-3 6th. This

left him for birdie. It would go 2-under par. Moving along nicely.

The 15th, the par-5. That third shot would give him another birdie

opportunity. Which he would take to go to 4-under par. He would drop a

shot on the 16th. But Gary Woodland would sign for a 68 and a share of

second place. Brooks Koepka on the 13th. This is his fourth hole of the

day. A birdie to go 1-under. This is him on the par-4 3rd. Lovely stuff

from cope California another birdie -- lovely stuff from Koepka. He

birdied the fifth. Koepka slotted that in. 1-under par

and he followed that with another two birdies and finishing 3-under.

Chris Stroud, the 35-year-old Texan, who only qualified on Sunday. He was

bogey-free. This was a birdie on the 18th to fin wish 3-under par. Some

nice stuff from the earlier leaders. Olesen in front and after his round

he spoke to Rishi. Great start to thissier's PGA -- this year's PGA.

How did you feel? It felt good, the first 15 holes I played well. Hit my

driver well and got myself in some good positions. That was the key and

obviously it was a really nice way to finish with that long putt on 18.

You said it is a lovely course and the finishing holes are tough. When

you think about a course like that, does it mean it suits your game and

set up? Yes I was excited to get here. Played it two or three years

ago this tournament and it is a lot different and there was a lot holes

I couldn't remember. But I knew it would be a good course and it is.

The greens have changed a lot. The speed. The grain on them, it is very

tricky. If you hit a few too safe shots you leave yourself with tricky

putts. It is very challenging, but it is good fun. Well played. Well

done. So he is the leader and Olesen 4-under. Rory McIlroy was the

favourite coming into this and he is 5 off the lead and finished one over

par. He had a quick chat with Rishi. Give us your thoughts on day one?

Yes, if someone told me I would shoot one over par, I probably

wouldn't take it. But the course played tricky. It would have been

nice to shoot under par. But you know I played a three hole stretch

and three over and that really, that is the only thing that derailed my

round. I played that and you're expecting to play that in 2-under

par and play it in even or 1-under and the score card looks different.

I have a chance to get the shots back and get an Arley night and get

back at it. Thank you for your time. Ken, a bit of an up and down round

from Rory McIlroy. He had that spell on the back 9, the bogey and the

double-bogey. He holed two fantastic putts at 11 and 12. I thought he was

building to a good finish. But it was his tee shot at the 14th that

found the water. On a hole where you're looking for a 3. You have got

to decide if you're going to attack, if you get it out with the driver

and he paid the penalty. That was a shame. But as he said, 72 was not

bad today. Afternoon players had it tougher and didn't seem to home as

many long putts. I think the wind was up. 72, he would accept it. A

lot of players have been talking about the speed of the greens. It

had been very wet at the start of week and now it is very dry and

they're fast. They were Superfast. They have this sub air that stucks

the moisture out. Anything above the hole, or if you played a percentage

shot a safe shot, you were always in three-putt country. They must have

been Augusta fast today. Now let's look at the leaderboard. There has

been a bit of movement. Kevin Kisner with a birdie at 17 has moved to

4-under, joint leader. We will be back tomorrow. With the

day 2. Everything from day 2 live from Quail Hollow from 6 o'clock on

red button and the web-site and the iPlayer and on BBC Two from 5 past

11. You can, and we will be back on Saturday as well. Round 3 Saturday.

And BBC2 at half past 10. And of course on Sunday for all the final

day's drama. You can follow featured groups tomorrow from 1.30 on the

web-site. It is a course that has proved the

trickiest one to conquer. What will tomorrow bring? We have two players

in the club house in the lead. See you tomorrow to fine out what

happens.