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The mud-caked, mid-round bath in a creek that punctuated day one of the US PGA

By Paul Zalunardo and Darren Walton
Updated

Mud-caked South Korean golfer Tom Kim took a bath in a creek during a dramatic opening day of the US PGA Championships in Rochester, New York.

The sight of Kim covered in mud from the waist down after a horribly ill-advised trip into some reeds provided one of the more bizarre scenes in recent majors history. But that was just the start.

Kim, well amused by the sight of himself, then opted for a rustic method to clean himself. He made a quick detour to an on-course creek and after some scrubbing emerged mud-free but soaking wet.

Considering that the morning’s play had been delayed by two hours due to a heavy frost, it’s fair to assume there was nothing tropical about the temperature of the stream.

Kim finished the round with his pants rolled up, a sweater replacing his golf shirt and a story that’ll only get more comical as the years roll on.

In more conventional golfing matters, Adam Scott has let a golden round slip with a sloppy finish on a rough opening day for Australia’s golf stars at the US PGA Championship.

Fashions on the course: Tom Kim returned to play after his mid-round adventures.

Fashions on the course: Tom Kim returned to play after his mid-round adventures.Credit: Getty

Scott signed for a two-under-par 68 to be well-placed tied for sixth at the weather-hit championship in Rochester, New York.

But the former world No.1 will be livid after leaving a ball in the bunker and taking a dreaded double-bogey six at the last hole.

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Scott also missed a five-foot birdie putt on the 16th that would have given him the outright lead at the season’s second major.

Alas, barely half an hour later, he found himself three shots behind unheralded American Eric Cole.

Cole was five under through 14 holes before the horn sounded to signal the suspension of play after the championship’s start was earlier delayed almost two hours because of frost.

Bryson DeChambeau is the clubhouse leader after posting a four-under 66.

American former world No.1s Dustin Johnson and Scottie Scheffler and Canadian Corey Connors are the only other players ahead of Scott after firing 67s.

Scott is the only Australian in red numbers after British Open champion Cameron Smith carded a two-over 72 and Jason Day crashed back to earth with a horror first-round 76.

Adam Scott during the first round at Oak Hill.

Adam Scott during the first round at Oak Hill.Credit: Getty

Backing up from his drought-breaking victory at the AT&T Byron Nelson Championship, Day flopped to leave himself 11 shots off the pace.

Day amassed a 23-under winning total last week in Texas but couldn’t manage a single birdie on Thursday.

The former world No.1 and 2015 PGA championship winner opted against playing a practice round at Oak Hill, preferring to save his energy, and now needs all he can muster on Friday to make the halfway cut.

Starting on the 10th, Day’s troubles began when he drove out of bounds on the 14th and wound up with a double-bogey six.

Jason Day is now at long odds to again lift the Wanamaker Trophy he won in 2015.

Jason Day is now at long odds to again lift the Wanamaker Trophy he won in 2015.Credit: AP

He added four bogeys to be languishing in a tie for 117th spot in the 156-player field.

Scott avoided the early-morning freeze and, with three monster drives of 365 yards each, took full advantage of the more comfortable conditions until his last-hole mishap.

Playing in his 87th consecutive major, tying Tom Watson in second place behind only the great Jack Nicklaus’ 146, Scott charged to a share of the lead with five birdies and just one bogey in his first 14 holes.

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But he lost momentum with a missed short putt on 16, then had to save par from almost six feet on 17 before finding the greenside trap on 18 and making a meal of the hole.

Cam Davis is the next-best Australian after starting with a 71 but will also be irritated after recording a double on the 17th having been under par for most of the day.

Smith mixed three birdies with five bogeys in his round of 72, while Min Woo Lee posted a 73 and Lucas Herbert shot 75.

Making his major championship, David Micheluzzi was seven over par through 15 holes before the stoppage.

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Original URL: https://www.watoday.com.au/sport/golf/day-disappoints-at-pga-championship-scheffler-dechambeau-set-pace-20230519-p5d9m5.html