Koepka holds 1-shot lead at PGA Championship after record-setting day
Brooks Koepka stormed out to an early lead at the PGA Championship, setting the course record at Bethpage Black with a 7-under 63 in Round 1.
The defending champion turned in a bogey-free performance Thursday, although he shockingly failed to birdie either of the two par 5s on the Long Island property. It's his second round of 63 in the last two PGA Championships.
Koepka, who's looking for his fourth major victory in his last eight starts, leads Danny Lee by one shot. The Kiwi birdied his final two holes to sit alone in second. Lee's best major finish was a T-17 at the 2016 Masters.
Tommy Fleetwood is holding down the third position with a 3-under 67.
Here's how the top of the leaderboard looks after 18 holes:
| Place | Player | Total to par | Round 1 score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brooks Koepka | -7 | 63 |
| 2 | Danny Lee | -6 | 64 |
| 3 | Tommy Fleetwood | -3 | 67 |
| T4 | Mike Lorenzo-Vera | -2 | 68 |
| T4 | Chez Reavie | -2 | 68 |
| T4 | Luke List | -2 | 68 |
| T4 | Sung Kang | -2 | 68 |
| T4 | Pat Perez | -2 | 68 |
| T9 | Rickie Fowler | -1 | 69 |
| T9 | Matt Wallace | -1 | 69 |
| T9 | Patrick Cantlay | -1 | 69 |
| T9 | Dustin Johnson | -1 | 69 |
| T9 | Jordan Spieth | -1 | 69 |
| T9 | Phil Mickelson | -1 | 69 |
| T9 | Jason Day | -1 | 69 |
| T9 | Si Woo Kim | -1 | 69 |
A laundry list of stars shot even par. Justin Rose, Xander Schauffele, and Jon Rahm headline the group sitting seven shots behind Koepka.
Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy both shot 2-over 72s but in very different ways. Woods erased three birdies and an eagle with three bogeys and two doubles. McIlroy waited until his final hole to record his only birdie.
Three former Masters winners struggled on Day 1. Sergio Garcia and Patrick Reed shot 4-over rounds of 74, while Bubba Watson carded a 76.
Round 2 begins at 6:45 a.m. ET on Friday. All second-round tee times can be found here.