PITTSFORD, NY – The PGA Championship at Oak Hill is officially underway.
Shaun Micheel, the 2003 PGA champion, opened the second golf major of the year on the first tee after a nearly two-hour freeze delay.
The delay likely means that groups in the 156-player field teeing off later in the day may struggle to complete their rounds of the East Course before dark.
Defending champion Justin Thomas will begin his bid for a third PGA championship just after 10 a.m. EDT. Thomas plays with two-time PGA champion Rory McIlroy and 2020 PGA champion Collin Morikawa.
Masters Champion and No. 1 Jon Rahm plays with British Open Champion Cameron Smith and US Open Champion Matt Fitzpatrick. Scottie Scheffler, the second best player in the world, belongs to a group that also includes two-time PGA champion Brooks Koepka.
Strong, harsh and cool morning temperatures make the par 70 layout even more difficult for early starters. Temperatures are expected to rise throughout the day, peaking in the mid-60s in the afternoon.
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That’s what everyone feared when Oak Hill hosted the PGA Championship in May.
baby it’s cold
The opening round is delayed by frost and everyone is ordered to stay off the turf. The fairways were covered by a thin layer of frost. By the time dawn broke, temperatures were around freezing.
The good news for the PGA Championship is that it won’t last long. The PGA of America announced that the first tee time would be 1 hour and 15 minutes after the practice facilities opened. And the weather is expected to get warmer every day for the rest of the week.
Shaun Micheel is set to hit the first tee, an honor bestowed on the oldest former champion in the field. He won the PGA at Oak Hill in 2003. It was his only PGA Tour win.
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