Walker leads PGA Championship as favorites falter in Round 1

Matching his low score in major championship competition with a 65 in what was an otherwise humbling opening round at the 98th PGA Championship, Jimmy Walker holds the outright lead at a major for the first time in his career.

Walker, who has floundered at major events over the last couple years and has not had a particularly strong season, recorded six birdies and one bogey, and sits one stroke ahead of Martin Kaymer, Emiliano Grillo, and Ross Fisher.

The buzz at Baltusrol, though, wasn't Walker's performance. Rather, the tour's handful of headliners were collectively out of sorts, some failing to find their rhythm off the tee, while most others kicked it around on the greens.

Rory McIlroy had perhaps the most trouble discerning the pace. He missed ample scoring opportunities and failed to convert far too many par saves, seemingly giving up stroke after stroke with his misfiring flatstick. He failed to record a birdie for only the fourth time in his major championship career, and finished nine shots back.

In McIlroy's group, defending champion Jason Day, too, whiffed on countless scoring chances, though his struggles weren't quite to that same degree. Day hit 17 greens in regulation to record a career-best percentage at a major, but sank just two putts from outside six feet. He finished three shots off the lead.

Elsewhere, Henrik Stenson was the only member of this year's championship threesome to break par. He started slow, but notched three inward-nine birdies, and moved to within two strokes with a successful roll on 18. Also in that group, Masters winner Danny Willett shot a 71, while U.S. Open champ Dustin Johnson dropped seven strokes for his round, finishing five slots out of last place.

Finally, Jordan Spieth was, somewhat inexplicably, a complete non-factor at a major - again. He had 15 pars, and erased a double-bogey on the front with two late back-nine birdies, finishing five shots off the pace.

Leaderboard

Notables

Martin Kaymer was really the only player who threatened to overtake Walker, whose lead essentially stood throughout the entire opening round. He birdied five times over a six-hole stretch over the turn, scoring in the more difficult afternoon conditions.

With a 68, Rickie Fowler had an uncharacteristically solid morning, dipping below par in an opening round of a PGA Championship for just the second time. He was a combined 25 strokes over par in his previous seven major starts.

Phil Mickelson survived four bogeys in his first 11 holes, but recouped three strokes down the stretch to finish 1-over.

With the Ryder Cup on his mind and damaged ligaments still holding his ankle together, Brooks Koepka shot 68 through considerable discomfort.

Tweet of the Round

Remember when this sort of thing was reserved for Spieth?