Louis Oosthuizen was backed by a strong putting display on Thursday as he opened his PGA Championship account with an even-par 70, writes WADE PRETORIUS.
READ: Van Rooyen opens with steady 70, Harding 74
The 2010 Open winner, who famously completed the career slam of runners-up at this event in 2017, hit a little over 70% of fairways in regulation and fewer greens, but was composed with the flatstick to set up a steady base at Bethpage Black.
The notorious 10th hole cost him a shot early, after his approach from 200 yards found the greenside bunker. A sand save on 17 prevented him falling further behind the blistering pace set by Brooks Koepka. The defending champion was flawless early on Thursday as he flew out of the blocks in 32.
Oosthuizen would drop another on the 18th as he turned in 37.
His putter then helped restore parity with putts from 11 and 12 foot on the second and fourth holes respectively. The top-ranked South African then dropped back to black numbers after a missed fairway on the next, before his closing birdie – a four-foot birdie after an approach from 187 yards – saw him match Erik van Rooyen’s tally.
The leading South Africans trail Koepka by a staggering seven shots after the American fired the 17th 63 in PGA history.
Shaun Norris battled his way to a 73 after a front nine that included six bogeys. The Japan Tour golfer managed to find just 50% of the fairways off the tee on Thursday, and paid the price for his wayward tee game.
Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images
