Padraig Harrington posted an 8-under 64 to seize the first-round lead on the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship on Thursday in Frisco, Texas.
Eight birdies and no bogeys shaped the Irishman’s stellar spherical, giving him a two-shot cushion over Katsumasa Miyamoto of Japan, who shot a 6-under 66.
Harrington, 51, made the reduce ultimately week’s PGA Championship and tied for fiftieth, so his sport was in nice type coming into the week at Fields Ranch East, a brand new course at PGA Frisco internet hosting its first main championship.
He birdied 4 holes on the entrance 9 and 4 on the again, together with a chip-in birdie on the par-4 tenth.
“I had only, I think I had 170 yards into the wind, I hit a 7-iron that came up probably six yards short in the fringe and I just had to chip it over the collar and I chipped it in,” Harrington stated. “So there — it did a 360 too. So there was the highlight.”
Harrington additionally made a 35-foot putt for his first birdie of the day on the par-4 second.
“In some ways the reason it was an easy 64 is because when you’re playing with somebody like Rocco (Mediate) there’s always a bit of chat and there’s always a bit of fun going on, so you’re quite relaxed,” Harrington stated. “And that really does make a difference to how you feel about your shots and things like that.”
Harrington already has a senior main title in his pocket, the 2022 U.S. Senior Open. That was his first of 4 wins on the 50-and-older circuit, although he is but to interrupt via in 2023.
Miyamoto was comfortable along with his 66, which included a 50-foot par putt that dropped at No. 15. The 50-year-old is a veteran of the Japan Golf Tour and infrequently performed within the United States.
“I started with the birdie, birdie, birdie, so nice rhythm,” Miyamoto stated. “First tee shot very nervous, but make a birdie, so kind of relax. This course is really tough, the rough is tough. I never seen beautiful course, beautiful and tough and very nice course. I think best in the world.”
Adilson da Silva of Brazil, who had a bogey-free, 5-under 67, is tied for third place with Phillip Price of Wales.
Tied for fifth at 4-under 68 are seven gamers: Stewart Cink, Alex Cejka of Germany, Charlie Wi of South Korea, Richard Green of Australia, Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain, Robert Karlsson of Sweden and Thomas Bjorn of Denmark.
Defending champion Steven Alker of New Zealand opened with a 2-under 70. Bernhard Langer of Germany, who received in 2017, shot a 1-under 71. With yet another victory he can break a tie with Hale Irwin (45 victories) for the all-time PGA Tour Champions wins report.
–Field Level Media