US PGA: Day & Jones impress as Johnson leads

BY JOHN HUGGAN AT WHISTLING STRAITS

Notoriously, the Open Championship is the major where tee-times can make a decisive difference. Come out of the hat on the “wrong” side of the draw – generally speaking after the tide-driven wind gets up - and chances are a competitor will either miss the halfway cut or finish far down the leader board. Conversely, the fortunate souls on the other side of the abyss are presented with a course playing easier by as much as three or four shots.

Things weren’t quite that black-and-white on day one of the 97^th US PGA Championship at Whistling Straits. Second-placed David Lingmerth’s late 67 showed what could be done in chasing leader Dustin Johnson’s early 66. But the collective fates of the nine Australians in the 156-strong field hinted strongly at the notion that a morning date with Pete Dye’s diabolical creation on the shores of Lake Michigan was surely a lot more pleasant than 18-holes post-lunch.

Jason Day thanks the crowd after holing his putt for eagle on the 2nd hole. PHOTO: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

Three Aussies played before noon: Jason Day, Matt Jones and Geoff Ogilvy. Day and Jones nipped round in 68, four under par; Ogilvy, handcuffed by a stone-cold putter laboured to a 16-par, two-bogey 74. For the rest – Steven Bowditch (74), Brett Jones (75), Marc Leishman (79), Adam Scott (76), John Senden and Cam Smith (74) – it was a “hang-on” sort of day, one where anything under par would represent a more than solid effort.

In the end, only Senden of those afternoon starters got round in fewer than 72 blows, his 71 a tribute to his renowned ball striking in the increasingly blustery conditions. As a measure of the former Australian Open champion’s play, at about the same time world numbers one and two, Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth, also shot 71s.

Still, for all Senden’s fine performance, it is Day and Jones who will head into the second round with the highest hopes of recording Australia’s first success in this event since Steve Elkington prevailed in a sudden-death play-off with Colin Montgomerie at Riviera in 1995. Jones, who made five birdies and dropped only the one shot, was especially happy to get back to the clubhouse. Only too clearly, the 35-year old from Sydney could see what was coming.

Matt Jones hits his drive on the 11th hole during his best opening round in a major championship. PHOTO: Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images.

“Number 9 is just a tough hole, especially with the wind off to the left. There's nowhere to miss that green. If you miss it … I just couldn't get up and down,” said Jones of his only first round bogey.

“Anytime you start off with a good round, especially in a major championship, it's great. There's not going to be a lot of great scores this afternoon.

“I see Dustin at six, I'm at four. If anyone else shoots four under this afternoon, they've played a hell of a round.”

It wasn’t too shabby pre-breeze either, of course. And Day justified his status as one of the pre-eminent pre-tournament favourites with a solid display highlighted by an eagle-three at the 593-yard 2nd hole. Like Jones, he dropped only one shot.

“We got the better side of the draw,” said the 27-year old Queenslander, confirming the most prevalent theme of the day. “We were able to attack the golf course. I’m happy with a 68, even if I did get a little sloppy and miss two greens with a wedge in my hands.

“But there was never any need for panic. Even when I made a couple of early mistakes, I knew there were opportunities on the back nine. The early scores told me there were birdies out there. When I got my first one (at the 14^th, his fifth hole) that got my game going and I started driving the ball a lot better. I hit a lot of greens and felt like I putted pretty solidly.”

For the third time this year, Dustin Johnson has put his name at the top of the leaderboard early in a major. PHOTO: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images.

Still, for all his obvious pleasure, Day will know only too well how he has typically frittered away a plethora of chances to record a maiden major victory not on day one but on day four. Six times since 2011, he has finished fourth or better in major championships.

“It’s very difficult to close on a Sunday at the majors,” he suggested in his pre-tournament press conference. “But I think the more times I put myself there, the more opportunities I give myself, sooner or later it’s going to happen. I know that.

“I see this as a learning time for me. Hopefully, I’m building something for the future, a situation where I can feel a lot more comfortable and can just go out and attack a lot easier.”