Day, Hend, Senden off to solid starts at US PGA Championsip: video highlights

Just a cold-putter held Jason Day back on day one of the 2016 US PGA Championship at Baltusrol.

American (and astrophotography genius) Jimmy Walker leads the field through round one of the 2016 US PGA Championship at Baltusrol after posting a 5-under 65. Three shots back sit a trio of Aussies who got off to a solid start at the last major championship of the year.

Jason Day battled putting woes to grind out a decent 2-under par 68 in sweltering conditions in New Jersey.

“I’m very excited about how I hit it today. I hit a lot of good quality shots. Hasn’t been like that lately,” Day said. “To be able to go out there and hit it exactly where I’m going and see the shot and what I need to do and actually execute it was exciting for me. Really positive stuff going into the next three rounds.”

After a medical emergency with his wife on Tuesday and only seeing Baltusrol for the first time on Wednesday, Day preparation has been far from ideal but it was just a cold-putter that left him a few shots out of the lead.

“I’m glad I took Monday, Tuesday off, even though I’m a little bit under the weather. It was kind of a blessing really to come out yesterday, play 18 holes real quick and then get out of here.”

John Senden got off to a great start and was 3-under the card at the turn (including this remarkable putt) after playing the slightly easier back nine. Senden dropped a couple of shots coming in but sits in a good position in his only start in a major in 2016.

“I scrambled well today. Plus I hit a lot of good iron shots. I think that the golf course is really winning at the moment,” Senden said after his round. “It’s bouncy, it’s tough. I think, in the beginning of the week, there was going to be lower scoring, they found out tough Baltusrol can be. I’m happy to be the position I’m in.”

Scott Hend made three consecutive birdies through holes 13 to 15 to be placed nicely in his first-ever US PGA Championship.

Adam Scott and Aaron Baddeley carded even par rounds to keep them in the tournament while Marc Leishman and Marcus Fraser are a shot back at 1-over par.