PGA Championship 2019: Brooks Koepka surges into lead as Tiger Woods falters on opening day

The defending champion shot a course record 63 at Bethpage Black

Tiger Woods in numbers after winning The Masters

Defending champion Brooks Koepka made an inspired start at the PGA Championship with a dominant display that for several hours seemed destined to give him a big lead after the first round on Thursday.

Koepka made the gargantuan, rain-softened Bethpage Black layout look easy with a seven-under-par 63 that matched the second lowest round in any major championship.

But an inspired Danny Lee almost caught Koepka in the afternoon, the South Korean-born, American-based citizen of New Zealand finishing in style with birdies at the final two holes for a 64.

The two frontrunners had a handy cushion over their nearest pursuer, Englishman Tommy Fleetwood on 67.

Tiger Woods, in his first competitive round since winning the Masters a month ago, putted poorly for a 72 in the company of Koepka.

[16 May 2019 11:40 · Jack de Menezes]

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