Thorbjorn Olesen Leads USPGA Championship

The Dane leads alongside Kevin Kisner after day one at Quail Hollow

Thorbjorn Olesen Leads USPGA Championship

The Dane shot a four under par 67 at Quail Hollow to lead with Kevin Kisner after day one of the 2017 USPGA Championship

Thorbjorn Olesen Leads USPGA Championship

Thorbjorn Olesen sits atop of the leaderboard alongside Kevin Kisner after day one of the 2017 USPGA Championship.

Surprisingly with all the rain we've had, Quail Hollow's new bermuda greens were playing firm and fast, with numerous players commenting on their speed.

Four-time European Tour winner Olesen finished with a long birdie putt on the last to get to four under par and set the early clubhouse lead, which eventually stood for the rest of the day...Until Kisner birdied 18 late on Thursday.

Olesen said, "The first 15 holes, especially, I was driving the ball very, very well.

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"Coming in with some short irons into these greens was definitely the key to the round. It was a very, very nice way to finish with that long putt on 18."

Kevin Kisner snuck in with a birdie on the last to tie Olesen at four under.

Meanwhile, Jordan Spieth's quest for the career grand slam got off to a slow start.

The Texan struggled on Quail Hollow's new bermuda greens, saying "I couldn't putt any worse that I did today."

He salvaged a one over 72 with two late birdies on the 7th and 8th after starting on the back nine.

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It was a mixed bag for tournament favourite Rory McIlroy, who came in with a one over par round of 72.

The Ulsterman was cruising along at one under through eight and two under through 10, but made his third bogey on a par 3 on the 13th before a sloppy double bogey at the driveable par-4 14th.

McIlroy's driving was as impressive as ever:

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US Open champion Brooks Koepka seems to be continuing his run of form with a three under par 68.

The American finished T6th at The Open, and will fancy his chances over the next few days on the long Quail Hollow with more rain to come.

Related: USPGA Championship weather forecast

Joost Luiten had the shot of the day with this hole-in-one on the fourth:

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2015 winner and last year's runner-up Jason Day shot a one under par 70, as did last week's winner Hideki Matsuyama.

USPGA Championship Leaderboard

Thorbjorn Olesen - 4 67

Kevin Kisner -4 67

Brooks Koepka -3 68

Grayson Murray -3 68

Chris Stroud -3 68

Gary Woodland -3 68

DA Points -3

Paul Casey -2 69

Bud Cauley -2 69

Tony Finau -2 69

Jim Herman -2 69

Patrick Reed -2 69

Rickie Fowler -2 69

Jason Day -1 70

Jon Rahm -1 70

Ryan Moore -1

Jordan Smith -1

Tommy Fleetwood -1 70

Dustin Johnson -1 70

Hideki Matsuyama -1 70

Louis Oosthuizen -1 70

Selected others:

Adam Scott E 71

Jordan Spieth +1 72

Rory McIlroy +1 72

Justin Thomas +2 73

Lee Westwood +2 73

Alex Noren +3 74

Ian Poulter +3 74

Henrik Stenson +3 74

Sergio Garcia +4 75

Justin Rose +5 76

Phil Mickelson +8 79

Thomas Pieters +8 79

Ernie Els +9 80

Elliott Heath
News Editor

Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!


Elliott is currently playing:


Driver: Titleist TSR4

3 wood: Titleist TSi2

Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1

Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5

Ball: Srixon Z Star XV