Keegan Bradley, the final man into the BMW Championship subject, shot a six-under-par 66 to take the first-round lead Thursday at Fort Pines Golf Membership in Fort Rock, Colo.
Bradley’s one-shot lead remained intact after a three-hour delay resulting from extreme thunderstorms that pressured eight gamers to place off the end of their rounds. His closest competitor is Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama, who accomplished his ultimate gap after the delay to complete a five-under 67.
Matsuyama gained final week’s playoff opener, the FedEx St. Jude Championship, to soar into third within the FedEx Cup standings. Bradley didn’t fare as effectively on the St. Jude however squeaked into the sphere this week at No. 50 on the factors listing.
That didn’t appear to matter Thursday because the upcoming U.S. Ryder Cup captain posted a bogey-free spherical with six birdies, together with a 10-footer to complete at No. 18. As a result of playoff occasions are value 4 occasions the factors of a regular-season event, Bradley would rocket into the highest 5 in factors with a win within the skinny air of Colorado.
“Sunday afternoon was one of many hardest afternoons of my PGA Tour profession,” Bradley stated. “It was actually brutal. It’s such a reduction to be right here. I simply felt quite a bit calmer right this moment. However I performed actually, very well.”
Bradley birdied three of the 4 par-five holes on the 8,130-yard course, the longest in PGA Tour historical past owing to the skinny air at altitude.
“For those who put the ball within the fairway, you’re going to have numerous scoring golf equipment,” Bradley stated. “You’ve received to actually have an excellent grasp in your numbers with the altitude. We did an excellent job of that right this moment. You’ve simply received to hit as many fairways as you’ll be able to.”
Tied for third at four-under 68 have been Sungjae Im of South Korea, Alex Noren of Sweden, Adam Scott of Australia and Corey Conners of Canada. Xander Schauffele, Nick Dunlap and South Korea’s Si Woo Kim shot three-under 69.
Northern Eire’s Rory McIlroy made a 21-foot eagle from off the inexperienced on the par-five 14th to get to a few below. He was dealing with a 20-foot par putt on the 18th when the climate delay started. When he returned, he settled for bogey.
The three-time FedEx Cup champion dropped to two-under 70, becoming a member of a tie with Collin Morikawa, Tony Finau, J.T. Poston and Russell Henley.
World No. 1 and FedEx Cup chief Scottie Scheffler turned in a one-under 71 and was seen grabbing at his decrease again throughout his penultimate gap. Scheffler later stated he awakened sore on Thursday morning and was “laboring” however is just not injured.
“I had hassle sort of loosening it up,” Scheffler stated. “… On 17, I used to be making an attempt to hit a excessive draw, and that’s a shot the place I’ve actually received to make use of an enormous flip, massive movement. Actually simply felt it slightly bit. However aside from that, all good.”
Reigning BMW Championship and FedEx Cup winner Viktor Hovland of Norway additionally opened with a 71.