Jordan Spieth’s quest to complete a career Grand Slam at the PGA Championship began with a mixed performance.
After making the turn at 1 under, Spieth birdied three of the first six holes, tying for the lead at 3 under before consecutive bogeys slowed his momentum. He concluded the round with a 1-under 69, remaining in contention with three rounds to go.
Spieth Remains Positive Despite Frustrations
Spieth felt his ball-striking was strong. He believed he was in a good position on many holes. “If I drive it like that, I’d expect to shoot what I did or better. Just didn’t quite finish the way I wanted to the last three holes, but under-par was a good score.”
Spieth noted the challenging conditions. He said the morning chill and wind at Aronimink Golf Club made play difficult. He rolled in a 15-foot birdie putt at the par-4 16th, made the turn and drained a 10 footer at the first, and then made putts of just over 3 feet and a touch under 7 feet at Nos. 4-5, respectively.
“It’s one of those rounds where I feel like I played better than I scored, which is frustrating because you want to get the most out of your round,” said Spieth. He added, “It’s also a good thing, which means things are in a good spot.”
Thomas Stays in the Hunt
Justin Thomas kept his hopes for a third PGA title alive with a round-saving 53-foot bogey putt at the 14th hole.
Thomas, who won in 2017 and 2022, was tied for the lead at 3 under but gave two strokes back over the final holes. At the 14th, he pulled his approach shot left, near the grandstands, and then left his chip short of the green in heavy rough. His fourth shot drifted more than 50 feet on the undulating green. He salvaged a bogey with the long-distance putt.
Thomas dropped another shot at the par-5 16th when he drove into the left rough, advanced the ball less than 100 yards with his second and hit his third shot into a greenside bunker. Two shots later he was at 1 under.
“I played, I felt like, flawless in there for probably 13 holes,” the 33-year-old said. “Honestly, I just had a very hard time staying focused. It’s a long, long day out there. It’s so, so tough, very, very windy, some tough pins.”
“Really proud of the way I played and the way I hung in there. Solid first round.”
Spieth’s last major victory came in The Open Championship in 2017. His only top-10 finish in a PGA was in 2019.