PGA: Aussies 'content' after solid opening rounds

BY JOHN HUGGAN at BALTUSROL

ALL in all, the opening round of the 98th USPGA Championship at Baltusrol represented a pretty good day to be Australian. Only Matt Jones’ four-over par 74 could perhaps be defined as disappointing; none of the other eight Aussies in the 156-strong find in the year’s final major championship shot more than Greg Chalmers’ 72.

Closest to the overnight lead held by American Jimmy Walker on 65 are Jason Day, Scott Hend and John Senden. All three shot 68 to head up the Australian challenge for a title won previously by Jim Ferrier (1947), David Graham (1979), Wayne Grady (1990), Steve Elkington (1995) and Day 12 months ago.

Jason Day tosses his putter on the 9th green after just missing a putt. He says he's happy with his opening round 68. PHOTO: Andrew Redington/Getty Images.

“I’m pretty pleased,” said Day, who played only one practice round before defending the title he won at Whistling Straits. “I’m very excited about how I hit it today. I hit a lot of good quality shots, which hasn’t been the case lately. I just didn’t capitalise on the opportunities I had out there. That’s disappointing. But other than that, there was some really positive stuff going into the next three rounds.”

Jimmy Walker made six birdies in his round of 65, to lead Emilliano Grillo, Martin Kaymer and Ross Fisher by one stroke. PHOTO: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images.

By and large, that was the message emanating from most of Day’s compatriots. But not all. One day on from lambasting the “one-dimensional” Baltusrol course, Marcus Fraser’s 71 left the Melburnian more than a little downbeat. Two-under par through 11 holes courtesy of three birdies and only a single dropped shot, Fraser finished weakly. Three bogeys in the last seven took him over-par from the day. Not that you could tell from the scoreboard as he approached the final green. Billed as “Frasier,” his score was shown to be two-under par instead of one-over. Apart from that…

“Even when I was under-par I never really felt like I had it going,” he claimed.

“I made a couple of long putts and chipped-in. But the game feels like shit. I wasn’t expecting much, to be honest. I don’t really have the firepower to shoot low on this course. It’s not only the length though; I just don’t have much of a game at the moment. Maybe it’s a lack of ability. Every time I come to a major event I seem to get found out. I have a couple of good weeks here and there and think I’m going alright. But I get found out at this level. And it happens every time. My game isn’t anywhere close to where it needs to be to be competitive.”

Adam Scott said he missed some chances and is hoping for better on day two.
PHOTO: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images.

In the middle of the “verdict-scale,” was Adam Scott after an even-par 70 that left him “somewhere between happy and unhappy.”

“I haven’t shot myself out of the tournament,” said the former Masters champion. “But I certainly haven’t jumped out of the gates. Hopefully I have three good rounds to come. Today needs to be my worst round if I am going to have a chance.

FIRST ROUND LEADERBOARD

“I hit some good shots. I hit some average shots. I made some good par-saves. I missed one five-footer that you would like to make. And I made one long one. All in all, there wasn’t much happening. It was just one of those ‘plodding’ days. But if that is the bad one I will be okay. I made it as good as it could be, given how things were going. Getting back to even par is important. It always makes me feel so much better. Why I don’t know. It shouldn’t matter that much. But it helps psychologically. I’m pleased with that.”

So was Hend at the end of an eventful round highlighted by a run of five consecutive 3s in the middle of his back-nine.

Scott Hend produced another solid tournament start on a course that will suit him this week.
PHOTO: Drew Hallowell/Getty Images.

“Just a good solid day, apart from when I got out of position on 10 and 11,” he said, rather downplaying his fine performance. “But the rest of the time I played really nicely. It could have been even better too. I was a little unfortunate not to make birdies on the last two holes. Anything in the 60s is a good score though. I’d take three more 68s and sit down and watch the rest of them.”

Aaron Baddeley was another to express contentment with his day’s work. The recent winner of the PGA Tour’s Barbasol Championship shot 70.

“I played really nicely, hit a lot of fairways and a lot of greens in regulation,” said the former Australian Open champion. “For the most part it was stress-free golf. I hit only two poor shots, which both led to bogeys. But other than that it was just a really solid day and a continuation of my good form. I’m pretty relaxed and confident right now. I’m really looking forward to playing at the moment.”

And yes, there is one score left to mention. Marc Leishman shot 71.