CHARLOTTE, N.C: India’s ace golfer Anirban Lahiri’s scorecard might not have been that noteworthy but he certainly impressed his fans with his game at the end of the first round of the 99th PGA Championships at Quail Hollow yesterday. The star golfer, who opened with a bogey and three-putted twice still came back with a one-over 72 that placed him Tied-33^rd.

 

 

Three-over after eight holes he got a birdie but gave that back to be once again three-over with three holes to go. Lahiri then closed with birdies on par-5 seventh and ninth for a more uplifting 72 on a day when the greens were very fast.

 

Lahiri tweeted to share his experience at the PGA Championship. He said “Happy with the way I fought back. Feeling calm and relaxed. Will try and catch up in the morning.”

 

 

 

 

A deep dive into some interesting nuggets

 

Will Speith become the youngest champion?

 

Three-time major championship winner Jordan Spieth posted an opening-round 1-over 72 (including three birdies and four bogeys) as he seeks to win the fourth and final leg of the career Grand Slam. Should he do so, he’d become the youngest player to perform the feat (will be 24 years and 17 days old Sunday).

 

Jimmy Walker-the defending champion

 

Defending champion Jimmy Walker struggled to a 10-over 81 as he seeks to become just the 20th player to win the PGA Championship multiple times, with Rory McIlroy (2012, 2014) the last to perform the feat.

 

Indian golfers – the top finishers!

 

The PGA Championships is the only Major, where Indians have twice finished in the Top-10 of a Major. Jeev Milkha Singh did that with his Tied-9th in 2008 and Anirban Lahiri made it the first ever Top-5 for an Indian with his T-5 at the 2015 event in Whistling Straits. Lahiri will tee for his 13th Major, where Jeev has played 14.

 

How the past champions fared?

 

Here’s a look at how the past champions in the field fared in round one: Jason Day (70), Rory McIlroy (72), Shaun Micheel (73), Keegan Bradley (74), John Daly (74), Jason Dufner (74), Vijay Singh (75), Y.E. Yang (76), Davis Love III (78), Phil Mickelson (79), Padraig Harrington (79), Jimmy Walker (81), Rich Beem (82).