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Three English golfers hold share of early lead on day one at the PGA Championship

Summary

  • Round one at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina

  • Donald -3 (11), Fox -3 (11*), Echavarria -3 (8)

  • Fitzpatrick -3 (7*), R Hojgaard -3 (6*), Bradley -3 (5*)

  • Fleetwood -2 (8*), Rahm -2 (7*), Scheffler -2 (6*)

  • McIlroy -1, Schauffele E (*6)

  • Rory McIlroy aiming to become just the sixth golfer in the past 70 years to win the first two majors of the year

  • Highly-fancied Americans Bryson DeChambeau, Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth among those in the second wave (from 18:00) - all times BST

  • Click on the play icon for BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra commentary

Live Reporting

Paul Higham and Peter Scrivener

  1. Fleetwood dropspublished at 15:10 British Summer Time

    Fleewtood -2 (8*)

    Tommy Fleetwood is the first of the Englishmen at the top of the leaderboard to blink.

    He zips an eight-foot par putt through the break on the par-three 17th and wanders off the green chuntering away after tapping in for bogey.

  2. Birdie for McIlroypublished at 15:08 British Summer Time

    McIlroy -1, Schauffele E, Scheffler -2 (6*)

    Rory McIlroy can't match the eagle from Scottie Scheffler, but from the same range at 35 feet he just leaves three feet up the hill, which is no bother, for his birdie to get back under par for the tournament.

  3. Eagle!published at 15:07 British Summer Time

    McIlroy E, Schauffele E, Scheffler -2 (5*)

    Here's been a bit scrappy all day, but out of nowhere Scottie Scheffler makes a big move to two under with an eagle on 15.

    A good drive, a solid approach and then the putter of all clubs doing the damage with a long attempt from off the green, all of 35 feet away, finding the bottom of the cup.

  4. How good is McIlroy at Quail Hollow?published at 15:06 British Summer Time

    McIlroy E, Schauffele E, Scheffler E (5*)

    Rory McIlroyImage source, Getty Images

    Rory McIlroy is a four-time winner at Quail Hollow, and his record around the North Carolina course is as dominant as you'd expect for someone with that many wins at the same place.

    His scoring average here is 69.48 during his career here, which is almost one full stroke better than anyone else, and his average of 4.88 birdies per round if half a birdie better.

    McIlroy is also 102 under par for his career at Quail Hollow - 55 shots better than the next best over the same span, Rickie Fowler.

    Even more eye catching is the fact that McIlroy is 102 under par purely on the par-fives here, and level par over the rest of the course!

  5. Postpublished at 15:05 British Summer Time

    No prizes for guessing which Ryder Cup captain is sporting these shoes.

    Trainers with a US flag onImage source, Getty Images

  6. Ryder Cup captains lead the US PGApublished at 15:03 British Summer Time

    Bradley -3 (4*), Donald -3 (10)

    Keegan Bradley, the US skipper, rolls in a short one on the 13th for a third birdie in four holes and he joins the growing group sitting atop the pile.

    His European counterpart Luke Donald has played a few holes more but with seven pars and three birdies, is also showing the young guns how to do it.Maybe the tournament organisers missed a trick by not pairing them together for the opening two rounds.And perhaps they should both be playing captains when the US host Europe at Bethpage Black in September?!

  7. 'Edgy' start for McIlroypublished at 15:01 British Summer Time

    McIlroy E, Schauffele -1, Scheffler E (5*)

    Oliver Wilson
    Former Ryder Cup player on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    He'd be looking for something in the 60s and not playing himself out of the tournament. Giving himself a decent opportunity moving forward.

    He has got off to an edgy start and let a few shots go. He's definitely not where he would want to be but this is the toughest nine holes he has started on.

    Some more scoreable holes to come.

  8. Close callpublished at 15:01 British Summer Time

    McIlroy E, Schauffele E, Scheffler E (5*)

    Rory McIlroy is wayward off the 15th tee and his ball is heading for the water on the par-five, but luckily it just pulls up before slipping into the drink.

    Not what you expect from Rory on this hole, as it's part of his incredible record at this venue - over his career here he's played holes 7-10 and 15-17 inclusive better than anyone during his 14 previous appearances at Quail Hollow.

  9. One year onpublished at 14:53 British Summer Time

    Scheffler E (4*)

    Scottie Scheffler double shotImage source, Getty Images

    You could say that missed birdie chance from Scottie Scheffler at the last was criminal, but we won't, and here's why...

    A lot of chatter on BBC Radio 5 Live about Scheffler's colour choice of T-shirt on day one of the US PGA Championship.

    Mainly to do with its resemblance to last year when he was arrested on his way into the second day of this tournament and a mugshot that made headlines around the world.

    To be honest, I think his choice of outfit in practice yesterday was far more of a tribute act.

    Scottie SchefflerImage source, Getty Images

  10. Missed chancespublished at 14:50 British Summer Time

    McIlroy E, Schauffele E, Scheffler E (5*)

    A couple of golden birdie chances go begging here, as Scottie Scheffler misses from eight feet and then Rory McIlroy also misses from only half that distance.

    McIlroy's chip down from an awkward spot above the green was beautifully played, while Scheffler was a bit weak with his effort - not for the first time.

    For two of the best players in the world you'd expect one to make birdie, but in the end neither could make a three.

  11. Europe on the marchpublished at 14:49 British Summer Time

    Fitzpatrick -3, Rahm -2 (6*)

    This leaderboard is looking increasingly great for fans of European golf.

    England's Matt Fitzpatrick drives the 14th and two-putts for a birdie and then takes advantage of the par-five 15th, finishing 10 yards short of the green in two and pitching his third to two-feet for a birdie that sees him move into a share of the lead.

    Fitzy is playing with Jon Rahm and the Spaniard plays the hole in similar fashion and he is up to one back - two birdies and four pars. Solid.

  12. Bogey for Xanderpublished at 14:48 British Summer Time

    McIlroy E, Schauffele E, Scheffler E (4*)

    Xander Schauffele plays a nice recovery after taking a drop for hitting the water, but he doesn't give his par putt enough juice down the hill as it just runs out of steam.

    So it's a bogey for the defending champion.

  13. Donald joins leaderspublished at 14:47 British Summer Time

    Donald -3 (10)

    Luke DonaldImage source, Getty Images

    How about that from Luke Donald?

    A tremendous birdie putt tucked away at the 10th and he joins Ryan Fox and Tommy Fleetwood at three under par and in a share of the early lead.

    Team Europe on the march.

  14. 'Don't get in world's top 10 by luck'published at 14:42 British Summer Time

    Lowry +3 (7*)

    Oliver Wilson
    Former Ryder Cup player on BBC Radio 5 live

    Obviously Shane Lowry is playing great golf and experienced enough to keep riding it out. It does eat at you after a while. He can't allow that to happen but has to just step up and keep plugging away.

    It's still the beginning of the tour, not an easy golf course. While he's not off to a great start, he's still playing good golf and hopefully can turn it around.

    It would be nice to see him win. He's crept into the top 10 in the world - you don't get there by luck.

    He's going to keep knocking on the door and hopefully will get a win soon.

  15. Bogey woes for Lowrypublished at 14:41 British Summer Time

    Lowry +3 (7*)

    Shane LowryImage source, Getty Images

    Not everybody who has started on the back nine is enjoying such fun though.

    Ireland's Shane Lowry has bogeyed three of four holes from the 13th and his hopes of following up last week's good showing in Philly are quickly disappearing.

    Work to do for the 2019 Open champion

  16. Fleetwood shares leadpublished at 14:38 British Summer Time

    Fleetwood -3 (6*)

    Tommy FleetwoodImage source, Getty Images

    It's a hat-trick of birdies for Englishman Tommy Fleetwood, who rolls in a short one on the par-five 15th to join Ryan Fox at the top of the leaderboard.

    A solid start by the man from Southport is turning into an excellent one. Cracking.

  17. Fox maintains leadpublished at 14:36 British Summer Time

    Fox -3 (9*)

    Our early leader is through his opening nine holes.

    Three birdies in his opening five holes shot Ryan Fox to the top of the leaderboard and nobody has been able to catch him yet.

    A straightforward two-putt par on the 18th sees the New Zealander turn at three under par.

    But is about to be joined at the top...

  18. Splash!published at 14:36 British Summer Time

    McIlroy E, Schauffele -1, Scheffler E (4*)

    Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy both smack their tee shots up to around the 14th green, which is a driveable par-four measuring 311 yards today.

    Xander Schauffele pulls his tee shot left though and he watches his ball splash down into the water.

  19. Par savepublished at 14:32 British Summer Time

    McIlroy E, Schauffele -1, Scheffler E (4*)

    Good par save from Scottie Scheffler after his chip from below the green just had a bit too much grab on it and pulled up eight feet short.

    Rory McIlroy hits an educated long putt down the hill that leaves him with just a tap-in for his three.

  20. Postpublished at 14:27 British Summer Time

    McIlroy E, Schauffele -1, Scheffler E (3*)

    Nial Foster
    BBC Sport NI at Quail Hollow

    Rory McIlroy faced a delay at the 13th tee box but the world number two thrives on quick play. After a sluggish practice round yesterday in sweltering heat, these hold-ups may test his patience.

    A four-time winner here, McIlroy prefers a brisk pace to maintain rhythm.

    With conditions drying out and the temperature already 25 degrees at 9.20am in Charlotte, he will be keen to refocus and finish before it gets even warmer later.

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