DeChambeau Sets Clubhouse Lead At Frost-Hit US PGA

American Bryson DeChambeau holds the clubhouse lead after darkness curtailed round one of the US PGA Championship at a testing Oak Hill in New York.

DeChambeau carded a four-under 66 to lead Scottie Scheffler, Dustin Johnson and Corey Conners by one.

Masters champion Jon Rahm and England’s US Open winner Matt Fitzpatrick both struggled and signed for six-over 76s.

Unheralded American Eric Cole is top of the leaderboard on five under but the 34-year-old has played only 14 holes.

Cole will return, along with 11 other groups, at 07:00 local time (12:00 BST) on Friday to finish his round. England’s Justin Rose will also be out early and his first shot will be a 20-foot birdie putt on the 15th to get to two under.

Former Masters champions Adam Scott and Dustin Johnson were among the later starters. They challenged for the lead and got to four under before both dropped shots on the 18th as they raced to complete their rounds in near darkness.

Johnson carded his first bogey of the round to finish on three under while Australian Scott ended on a disappointing two under after a double-bogey six at the last.

DeChambeau, who famously bulked up before outmuscling Winged Foot – a course likened to Oak Hill – to win the 2020 US Open, certainly seemed comfortable with six birdies and just two bogeys in his opening round.

Rory McIlroy, who has won this title twice, battled illness to shoot 71, one better than defending champion Justin Thomas. BBC