In his third attempt to complete the career grand slam, Jordan Spieth opened with a 69, and will enter Friday’s second round of the 2019 PGA Championship at 1-under par, six off the pace of leader Brooks Koepka.
Playing in the afternoon wave, Spieth got off to a good start at Bethpage Black with birdies on Nos. 4 and 6, but a double-bogey on the par-4 10th hole, followed by another dropped shot on 12 had him 1-over par. Spieth righted the ship, though – with three straight pars, and closed strong with birdies on Nos. 16 and 18 to get back in the red and land a spot in the top-10.
As has been the case throughout his year-long slump, Spieth was shaky off the tee on Thursday, hitting just half his fairways. He made up for it with an excellent approach game (15 of 18 greens hit) and some clutch putting (26 putts/GIR).
Spieth’s First-Round Stats
Driving: 290.8 yards (46th)
Fairways: 7/14, 50.0% (109th)
Greens: 15/18, 83.3% (2nd)
Putts/GIR: 26/1.7 (36th)
Scoring: 4 Birdies, 12 Pars, 1 Bogey, 1 Double
"See a couple putts go, makes you sleep a little bit easier." @JordanSpieth after Round 1#PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/t8ewvEj07T
— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 16, 2019
