On a low scoring day at the Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky, Anirban Lahiri’s introduction with the course did not go as well as he may have planned. Starting on the back nine, Lahiri floundered to a double bogey at the 16th before ending the day at one over, precariously perched on the edge. The Indian will need an under par effort on Friday to ensure he remains relevant for the weekend. The other Asians in the fray did themselves no favours too – Hideki Matsuyama and Thongchai Jaidee were both at even par, six back from a crowded frontline. KJ Choi was tied with Lahiri too. Lee Westwood, Kevin Chappell and Ryan Palmer were all tied at six under after making 65 in the first round of the 96th PGA Championship.
Matsuyama was two over at the turn – having made three bogeys and a birdie on the front nine. But he produced a mirror image on the inward nine – three birdies and bogey to recover to even par for the first round. The Japanese though will have to make a marked improvement on his accuracy with the driver and irons if he has to present a better face for the second round. On Thursday, Matsuyama managed only 50% driving accuracy and only made 50% of the greens in regulation.
Jaidee was far more consistent than his Japanese counterpart, but a birdie-bogey combination on either side of his journey meant that he could produce no better than even par. With as many as 53 men under par through the first round, both Matsuyama and Jaidee were lying in T54, with a bit of work left to do on Friday to avoid being slayed by the knife on Friday.
Choi got through the front nine in 34, but a pair of bogeys at 12 and 14 saw the Korean slide down to one over for the first round. Keeping him company were Ryo Ishikawa and Lahiri. The Japanese also made the outward nine in 34, but bogeys on 11 and 18 saw him slip to one over for the day. Lahiri found the thick rough on the right at the 16th and never quite recovered.
After taking a drop, Lahiri drove into the green side bunker on the left. He got up to within 9ft from the pin, but failed to make the putt on his next attempt. Eventually it took a 6 for him to get through the par-4 hole. But he will seek to build from the positive energy of having nailed a birdie at the 7th from 22ft out to try and discover some magic on Friday. He will need that and more to avoid missing another major weekend.
