Koepka and Schwartzel match record low score at US PGA Championship
Thunderstorms forced play to be suspended in mid-afternoon and later abandoned for the day
Brooks Koepka and Charl Schwartzel equalled the lowest score in tournament history as the 100th US PGA Championship turned into a shootout in St Louis.
Koepka’s flawless 63 left the double US Open champion two shots off the clubhouse lead held by fellow American Gary Woodland, whose 10-under-par halfway total of 130 established a championship record.
Woodland enjoyed a one-shot lead over compatriot Kevin Kisner, who bogeyed the last to shoot 64, with Schwartzel three off the lead alongside world number one Dustin Johnson and Thomas Pieters after eight birdies and a bogey in his 63.
Thunderstorms then forced play to be suspended in mid-afternoon and later abandoned for the day, with the second round set to resume at 7am local time on Saturday. Tiger Woods had completed seven holes in three under par, with playing partner Rory McIlroy carding seven pars.
Incredible rounds from Charl Schwartzel & Brooks Koepka as they join #PGAChamp history with rounds of 63! 😳 pic.twitter.com/0UPpOUF3ac
— PGA of America (@PGA) August 10, 2018
A birdie on the last would have seen Koepka or Schwartzel equal Branden Grace’s major record of 62, set during the third round of the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale last year.
But while Schwartzel did not come close from long range, Koepka’s attempt from 20 feet agonisingly caught the edge of the hole and stayed out.
“I just was trying to make the thing and I really thought I made it,” said Koepka, who successfully defended his US Open title at Shinnecock Hills in June. “I didn’t even think of it [the 62]. I’ve been so in the zone you don’t know where you are or where you’re at.”
Kisner had also had the opportunity to shoot 62 after covering the back nine in 29 and picking up another birdie on the seventh, only to bogey the ninth, his final hole of the day.
Kevin Kisner continues his 🔥 play as he birdies 6 of his first 9 holes! #PGAChamp
— PGA of America (@PGA) August 10, 2018
Full Leaderboard: https://t.co/0FLr0uDhcJ pic.twitter.com/bg8Iqd2sHP
Woodland is yet to record a top 10 in 27 major appearances but has reaped the rewards of working with two British coaches, Phil Kenyon on his putting and Pete Cowen on his short game.
“For me as a whole, the putting was kind of just the last piece of the puzzle,” said the 34-year-old from Kansas, who admits he is in “enemy territory” in neighbouring Missouri, after a 66.
“Butch [Harmon] and I focused so hard this year on driving the golf ball because, when I drive it in play, I’m playing a game a lot of guys aren’t playing out here, and that’s a huge advantage. Once that started to come around, really the putting was the last piece.
An 🦅for Gary Woodland! pic.twitter.com/Zc5PJE0DHP
— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) August 10, 2018
“When I see putts go in, I’m a completely different player, especially with as aggressive as I’m playing right now. So it was nice to get some work in with Phil at the Open, and then I’ve had a couple weeks to work on it.”
Kenyon also works with Open champion Francesco Molinari, who is five shots off the lead after a 67, with world number three Justin Rose another stroke back following a 69.
“I’m happy with the way I scored considering how I played,” said Rose, who did not play a practice round after recent back spasms. “I played poorly today, really struggled, didn’t hit my irons well at all.”
