San Francisco (AFP)

2015 winner Jason Day and Brendon Todd took the lead in the PGA Championship Thursday in San Francisco followed by a pack of nine one-shot opponents, including two-time defending champion Brooks Koepka and astonishing Frenchman Michaël Lorenzo -Vera.

The opening of the Grand Slam tournament, the first round of the season turned upside down by the coronavirus pandemic, also saw the star Tiger Woods make a good start since he is three shots 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 followed the debates in front of their television screens, behind closed doors obliges, Jason Day was the first to remember the good 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, returned a card of 65, five strokes under par, secured with as many birdies.

"I got off to a great start," he agreed. "I had a bit of 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 standings by Brendon Todd, author of seven birdies against two bogeys.

- Confident Koepka -

In 3rd place, they are no less than nine to have this duo in their sights, including 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 PGA Championship after Walter Hagen, himself triumphed four years in a row in the 1920s.

"It's only 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 a lot better. I have to tighten up some things and we will be at the rendezvous in the home stretch on Sunday, "he said.

The American 6th in the world managed 6 birdies and committed two bogeys to finish at -4. At his side are his compatriots Scottie Scheffler, Xander Sc Chaudele, Brendan Steele, Bud Cauley, Zack Johnson, Briton Justin Rose, German Martin Kaymer, also former winner of the tournament in 2014, and a surprise guest in the person of Michaël Lorenzo-Vera.

Surprise yes and no, since like 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 TPC Harding Park, returning a card of 66 (-4) thanks to a sixth birdie on the last hole, forgetting his two bogeys.

- "A decent job" -

"I had a plan," said the 81st world after the fact. “I've been here for a long time now, because I was in quarantine. I worked it out and stuck with it, while still managing to hit the right shots at the right times.”

Two shots from Lorenzo-Vera and three from Day point the legend Tiger Woods, who returned a card of 68 and remains in ambush in the 20th position, alongside Bryson DeChambeau in particular.

A bogey on the 17th hole, his third of the day, prevented him from finding a little better in ambush, 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 .

And when we look at his history in the starts of the four PGA Championships he won - 70 in 1999, 66 in 2000, 69 in 2006, 71 in 2007 - we see that he is well on schedule for win a fifth coronation and join Walter Hagen, as well as Jack Nicklaus, co-holders of the number of victories in this competition.

"I have the impression of having done a decent job", satisfied "the Tiger", prepared to see "the difficulty increasing every day a little more" until Sunday.

Among the other contenders, the Spaniard Jon Rham (world No. 2) and the Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy are in 48th place (0).

© 2020 AFP