Cameron Davis displayed a solid performance during the first round of the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, finishing with a score of 5-under 66. Despite suffering a bogey on his final hole, he is positioned just two shots behind Venezuelan Jhonattan Vegas, who leads the tournament. Davis, who began his round on the 10th hole, quickly found his rhythm, securing a birdie on his opening hole and making the turn at 3-under through a mix of four birdies and one bogey.
Though he had briefly taken the outright lead, an approach shot that fell short on the par-4 ninth prevented him from finishing even better. He ended the round in a tie for second place with rising star Ryan Gerard, who held the lead before dropping back with two late bogeys.
Davis remarked on his hard work at the driving range paying off, noting that he rolled in an impressive 49 metres’ worth of putts, demonstrating exceptional putting skills that bolstered his game on the demanding course. He aimed to maintain a steady strategy, rather than playing aggressively, which seemed to be effective in maintaining his score.
Other Australian competitors had a mixed showing. Adam Scott, who was in contention at one stage, finished with a score of 2-under after battling back-to-back bogeys. New Zealand’s Ryan Fox made a commendable start, ending the day at 4-under.
In contrast, Min Woo Lee’s round was characterised by highs and lows, including an eagle and a series of bogeys that led to a challenging 3-over 74. He faced difficulties on the par-3 holes, especially the 17th, which proved to be particularly punishing.
Elvis Smylie, in his rookie year, managed to finish at 1-under despite bogeying his final hole, while both Jason Day and Cameron Smith struggled, ending with scores of 2-over and 7-over, respectively. Smith could only muster a single birdie along with multiple bogeys and a double, reflecting the challenging nature of the course.
As the second round approaches, Davis and his fellow competitors will aim to improve their standings in pursuit of more than $5 million in prize money for this major championship.