PGA Championship: Day and Todd at the helm. Lorenzo-Vera in ambush

Jason Day, 2015 winner at Whistling Straits, Wisconsin, and Brendon Todd, Sunday morning leader of the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational less than a week ago, took the lead in the PGA Championship in San Francisco at the after the first round. The leading duo at -5 (65) is followed by a pack of nine golfers at -4 (66), including two-time defending champion Brooks Koepka and Frenchman Mike Lorenzo-Vera. The ' opening of the Grand Slam tournament, first round of the season turned upside down by the pandemic coronavirus, also saw the star Tiger Woods succeed proper starts since advanced three strokes behind the leader, his best first round in a Major since 2012.

But for this "D-DAY", this long-awaited D-day for golf fans who could not attend the event on site, behind closed doors requires, it was Jason Day who first remembered the fond memories of an event that brought him his only major title to date five years ago. The 32-year-old Australian, also 2nd in the tournament in 2016, got off to a great start here (no bogey on his card), just days after parting ways with his coach and mentor, Collin Swatton, who has been by his side ever since. .. twenty years ! “I got off to a great start,” he agreed. I had a little luck between the bunkers on the 10. You also have to take the chance when it presents itself. ” At the end of the day, he was joined at the top of the leaderboard by the American Brendon Todd, author of seven birdies against two bogeys.

Lorenzo-Vera: like in Bethpage a year ago

In 3rd place, they are no less than nine to have this duo in their sights, among which one of the big favorites, Brooks Koepka who hopes to become this weekend the second player in history to achieve a hat trick at the USPGA after golf legend Walter Hagen himself triumphed four years in a row in the 1920s (but it was then in match-play format). “We have only played 18 holes so far, but I feel good, confident and I can't wait to see the next three days. I think I can play much better. I have to tighten up some things and we will be there in the home stretch on Sunday, ”he said confidently.

The American, 6th player in the world, managed six birdies against two conceded bogeys to finish at -4. At his side are his compatriots Scottie Scheffler, Xander Sc Chaudele, Brendan Steele, Bud Cauley, Zach Johnson, the English Justin Rose, the German Martin Kaymer, also former winner of the tournament in 2010, and the French Mike Lorenzo-Vera. Already last year, on the demanding course from Bethpage to Farmingdale (New York) where he was ranked 3rd at the end of the first round, the Frenchman shone on the equally complicated one of TPC Harding Park, making a card of 66 (-4) thanks to a very solid return with three birdies slammed between holes 13 and 18, erasing here a more delicate go (three birdies against two bogeys). "I had a plan," he confided at the exit of the recording. I've been here for a long time now, because I was in quarantine. I developed it and stuck to it, while managing to hit the right shots at the right times. ”

Woods, on schedule for a 5th USPGA

Two shots from Lorenzo-Vera and three from Day point Tiger Woods, who returned a card of 68 (-2) and remains in ambush in 20th place, alongside Bryson DeChambeau and Australia's Adam Scott, whose c t is the big comeback to competition since March. A bogey committed on the 17th hole, his third of the day, prevented him from finding himself a little better positioned, but he can be content to stay in the game for his second tournament in five months, three weeks after a missed return to Memorial Tournament (40th).

And when we look at his history in the starts of the four UPSGAs he won - 70 in 1999, 66 in 2000, 69 in 2006, 71 in 2007 -, we see that he is well on time to win a fifth coronation and join Walter Hagen, as well as Jack Nicklaus, co-holders of the number of victories in this competition. "I feel like I did a decent job," he said, prepared to see "the difficulty increasing every day a little more" until Sunday.

Present in the United States since the recovery (June 11 in Texas), Victor Perez, 50th player in the world, started with a good 70 (par) which places him in 48th position with, too, some very big fish at his side such Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm, and ahead of the current world No. 1, Justin Thomas (68th to +1). Convened in the last part from tee n ° 1, Benjamin Hébert, the third tricolor engaged, was however less successful. On a much drier course due to a much stronger wind than in the morning, the Briviste posted a difficult card of 75 (+5) which relegates him to 139th place. With a virtual cut set in the par, the second round will therefore be crucial for whoever plays his first PGA Championship this week ...