LIV's DeChambeau Leads PGA Championship by 1
Friday, May 19, 2023

    PGA Tour bigwigs can't be smiling after round 1 of the PGA Championship as LIV long hitter Bryson DeChambeau posted a 4-under-par 66 and took a one-stroke lead over unknown Michael Block and four others, including LIV's biggest gun, Dustin Johnson, all at 3-under-67. 

    Rochester's venerable Oak Hill, where Lee Trevino vaulted into prominence with a victory in 1968, proved to be a difficult foe for many marquee players, who weren't able to stay ahead of the plus-3 early cut line. The most notable is Jon Rahm, who will have to make a huge turnaround after a surprising 76. But the list also includes Zach Johnson (+4), Patrick Cantlay (+4), Alex Noren (+4), Matt Kuchar (+4), Jason Day (+6), Abraham Ancer (+7), Webb Simpson (+7) and Sungjae Im (+10).   

    The most controversial figure in the PGA-LIV debate, Phil Mickelson, is at 3-over-73, right on the cut line; 75 players are at +3 or better. Gator Billy Horschel is tied for 30th at +1 and Seminole (and LIV stalwart) Brooks Koepka shot 72 and is tied for 40th. Rory McIlroy, reportedly ill Thursday, still shot 1 over despite hitting just 2 of 14 fairways. 

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