2016 PGA Championship: Thursday birdies & bogeys

Birdie: Jimmy Walker

“Stagnant and stale” is how Walker describes his 2016. Only one top 10 since March for a player with five wins over the past three years matches the description. With an opening 65 at Baltusrol, Walker showed flashes of his former self. Making the Ryder Cup was an expectation of Walker’s this year, and you could hear the regret in his voice that he hasn’t played up to those standards. “I’ve been working hard to get there,” he said. In a year with first-time major winners, Walker is hoping to join the group. -- Stephen Hennessey

Photo By: PGA of America via Getty Images

Bogey: Rory McIlroy

On Wednesday night, the Vegas books had McIlroy as the betting favorite. Those that put a few bucks on the Northern Irishman are likely regretting that gamble, as McIlroy tumbled to a four-over 74 on Thursday. McIlroy's ball-striking was on point, hitting 13 greens on Day 1, but he was a mess on the greens, logging 35 putts during his round. "I'm driving it as well as I ever have, I think," McIlroy said. "When I get on the greens it's a different story." Luckily, McIlroy leads the tour in Round 2 scoring. But if he doesn't get it going quickly on Friday, he's in danger of missing the cut at a major for the second time this year. -- Joel Beall

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Birdie: Martin Kaymer

Since August 2010, Kaymer has had just two top 10s in majors, but both of them were wins. With that in mind, it's fair to say when Kaymer has it at majors, he really has it. If so, watch out this week. Playing in more difficult afternoon conditions, Kaymer was the lone player in the second wave to even sniff the lead, with four birdies in a five-hole stretch catapulting him to a four-under par 66. A half-dozen years after his breakthrough PGA win, Kaymer sits a shot off the lead, in perfect position to add to his haul. -- Sam Weinman

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Bogey: Dustin Johnson

Maybe it was because he lost the beard. There was simply no other way to explain the hottest player in the planet falling on his face in the first round at Baltusrol. After winning back-to-back starts in June, including his first major at the U.S. Open, Johnson arrived in New Jersey still in form and ready to tackle a golf course that would seem to reward his blend of power and precision. Instead, Johnson floundered, turning in a seven-over 77. Before the first round, Johnson entertained questions about taking over the top spot in the world ranking at week's end. Now it's a question if he can even make it past Friday. -- SW

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Birdie: Emiliano Grillo

Grillo grabbed the season-opening Frys.com Open and has made 17 of 20 cuts in his rookie campaign, but the Argentine hasn't really competed since his win, logging zero top-10s outside his victory. That could change at Baltusrol, as the 23-year-old fired a four-under 66 on Thursday. Grillo hit 13 greens in the morning, and avoided big numbers with just two bogeys on the card. If he can keep his short-game woes at bay -- he entered the week 183rd in overall putting -- expect to see Grillo's name on the leader board this weekend. -- JB

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Bogey: Phil Mickelson's start

Mickelson entered the PGA Championship as one of the favorites. Not only was the 46-year-old coming off a remarkable performance at Royal Troon, but Mickelson captured the Wanamaker Trophy the last time the PGA visited Baltusrol in 2005. Quite surprising then when Mickelson toured his first 11 holes in four-over par, including a bogey on the 18th, the easiest hole on the course. Forget contending, it appeared Mickelson wouldn't make the weekend... -- JB

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Birdie: Phil Mickelson's finish

...Until the five-time major winner birdied three of his next five holes, posting a 32 on his back nine to finish with a one-over 71. While he has his work cut out on Friday -- especially with his driving accuracy (50 percent) and approaches (just 10 greens in the round) -- Mickelson's comeback kept him in the tournament conversation. -- JB

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Birdie: Jason Day

Given Day’s start to the week -- a late-night hospital visit with wife, Ellie, on Tuesday, then feeling sick himself before he played Baltusrol for the first time on Wednesday -- a two-under 68 seems like a fine start for the defending PGA champion. The World No. 1 sits just three back of Jimmy Walker and outplayed Rory McIlroy and Phil Mickelson in the morning’s marquee pairing, besting them by a combined seven shots. So much for local knowledge. --SH

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Birdie: Brooks Koepka

One of the biggest question marks entering this week, Koepka, who has been recovering from torn ligaments in his right ankle, played his first 18-hole round since Sunday at the U.S. Open. It was a success if you look at his score, a two-under-par 68, but not if you measure it by comfort. “By the fourth hole, I could feel it,” he said after. But Koepka has plenty of motivation to play through the pain. In addition to trying to win his first major, he’s also trying to move back into the top eight of the U.S. Ryder Cup standings. Three more rounds like Thursday’s and he’s a good bet to play at Hazeltine. -- Alex Myers

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Bogey: Matt Kuchar

Kuchar is second on tour with nine top 10s, and has been especially hot as of late in non-majors (six straight top 10s). On golf's biggest stages, however, Kuchar has failed to muster anything of value, placing 46th at both the U.S. and British Opens and never breaking par at Augusta. That trend continued Thursday at Baltusrol, as the Georgia Tech product turned in a four-over 76. Unless he goes low on Friday, the 2016 PGA Championship won't be the platform for Kuchar to rid the major monkey off his back. -- JB

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Birdie: Ross Fisher

In 2009, Fisher finished in the top 30 in all four majors, including a solo fifth at the U.S. Open. Since then, the Englishman has only done that once, but after an opening 66 at Baltusrol, he’s excited to be playing well again in one of golf’s biggest events. "I mean, this is where you want to be,” Fisher said. "You want to be in the four majors. I've missed some of those over the last few years.” One of those missed was this year’s Masters, which was won by countryman Danny Willett. Fisher knows “there’s a long way to go,” but he also knows that one week can completely change a career. -- AM

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Birdie: Henrik Stenson

Stenson's reign as the latest major champion may be short-lived given the rushed turnover between the year's final two majors, though he is dilligently working toward maintaining that title until April. The 40-year-old Swede carried the momentum from his record-setting victory at the British Open well enough to shoot a three-under 67 on Thursday. He was one of the few players in the afternoon wave to make the leader board, and could make a run early Friday morning in wet, softer conditions. -- Pat Kiernan

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Birdie: Jordan Spieth

Spieth had little control off the tee Thursday, finding just six of Baltusrol's fairways; one of the wayward drives contributed to a double at the seventh. And though he hit 14 greens in Round 1, Spieth rarely challenged the hole with his approaches or birdie putts. Despite these troubles, along with the misfortune of playing in tougher afternoon conditions, the two-time major winner was able to post a commendable even-par 70, highlighted by two birdies in his final three holes. He'll likely face a tamer course Friday morning, offering a chance to make up ground on the leaders. -- JB

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Bogey: Thursday's afternoon marquee pairing

There were smiles in the Spieth-Watson-Garcia group as the trio walked off the 18th hole with birdies on Thursday. That was a stark contrast to much of the first round, as poor shots and disgusted looks were more the flavor of the marquee group. It didn't help that they played in brutal conditions, and strong finishes kept all three in the tournament mix. But for so much firepower, this trio failed to provide many highlights on Thursday. -- SH

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Birdie: Rich Beem

Blink-182 is one of the most popular bands in America, Jason Bourne is back in theaters and Pokemon is all the rage. It appears golf is going retro as well, as evidenced in the Beemer, winner of the 2002 PGA Championship, inserting his name on the Baltusrol leader board Thursday. Beem, who hasn't logged an appearance on tour this season, made news thanks to a one-under 69, beating the likes of Jordan Spieth, Dustin Johnson and Rory McIlroy. Beem mainly shows up on television as a color commentator for Sky Sports. A repeat performance on Friday will have Beem on your screen in a different capacity this weekend. -- JB

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2016 PGA Championship: Thursday Birdies & Bogeys

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Birdie: Jimmy Walker

Bogey: Rory McIlroy

Birdie: Martin Kaymer

Bogey: Dustin Johnson

Birdie: Emiliano Grillo

Bogey: Phil Mickelson's start

Birdie: Phil Mickelson's finish

Birdie: Jason Day

Birdie: Brooks Koepka

Bogey: Matt Kuchar

Birdie: Ross Fisher

Birdie: Henrik Stenson

Birdie: Jordan Spieth

Bogey: Thursday's afternoon marquee pairing

Birdie: Rich Beem

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