KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship: Round 1 recap

Richard Green posted his lowest score of the season, a 7-under 64, in his bid for a first PGA TOUR Champions victory. Defending champion Steve Stricker opened with a 5-under 66 in an effort to claim his first win of the season and sixth top-10 finish in his seventh start of 2024. Here's everything you need to know.

Richard Green, 32-32—64 (-7)

• Making his third start in the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship, offset one bogey with six birdies and an eagle (par-5 fifth) to open with a 7-under 64.
• The 64 marks his lowest score on PGA TOUR Champions this season (26 rounds) and comes in his first round since closing the Regions Tradition with a 6-under 66 (T14).
• Hit all 13 fairways and 17-of-18 greens in regulation en route to the 64.
• Prior to a T37 last year, missed the cut in his first start of 2022 at Harbor Shores following rounds of 72-74 (+4).
• On the only other occasion to hold an 18-hole lead/co-lead on PGA TOUR Champions, finished T41 at the 2023 PURE Insurance Championship; best 18-hole positions in Champions Tour majors: T5, 2023 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship (finished T37) and T5, 2023 U.S. Senior Open (finished T27).
• Best finish in 38 PGA TOUR Champions starts: P2/2023 Dominion Energy Charity Classic.
• Two top-10 finishes in nine starts this season, both T9s, came in his first two starts of the season (Chubb Classic, Trophy Hassan II).

Richard Bland, 30-34—64 (-7)

• Making his first start on PGA TOUR Champions, the 51-year-old Englishman used five birdies and an eagle (par-5 15th) to sign for a bogey-free 7-under 64.
• In lone PGA Championship start, missed the cut in 2022
• With his win at the 2021 Betfred British Masters, at the age of 48, became the oldest first-time winner on the DP World Tour.

Steve Stricker, 32-34—66 (-5)

• The defending champion’s only blemish, a double bogey on the par-4 16th, was offset by seven birdies, good for a 5-under 66.
• In 342 holes this season, the 16th hole in today’s round one becomes only his second single-hole score worse than a bogey (R3/Cologuard Classic/14th hole/double bogey).
• Seeks an 18th PGA TOUR Champions win – and first of the 2024 season – in his 70th PGA TOUR Champions start this week.
• Has finished inside the top 10 on five of six occasions this season (T32, Cologuard Classic)
• Dating to the end of last season, has made seven consecutive starts without a victory, matching his longest winless streak on PGA TOUR Champions (two other occasions).
• Is making his fourth start in the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship (1st/2023, T11/2021, T41/2019)
• Angling to join Hale Irwin (1996-1998) and Colin Montgomerie (2014-2015) as players who have successfully defended a KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship title since 1975.

Other Notes

• Presidents Cup International Team Captain Mike Weir mixed six birdies with one bogey to open his fourth KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship in 5-under 66 (T4); best of the first three: T4 in 2022 at Harbor Shores.
• After an even-par 36 on his outgoing nine holes, K.J. Choi birdied Nos. 10-12 and 14-16 before ending his round with a bogey, resulting in a 5-under 66 (T4).
• After last year’s third-place finish in the event, Stewart Cink used two eagles and two birdies against two bogeys to sign for a 4-under 67 (T8).
• Coming off a T8 last year, 61-year-old World Golf Hall of Fame Member Vijay Singh opened his sixth KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship in 4-under 67 (T8); a win this week would come 20 years after capturing his second of two PGA Championship titles (1998, 2004).
• Making his 14th start in the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship and still on the mend from a torn Achilles, 2017 winner Bernhard Langer was 1-under through 15 holes before a double bogey-bogey-bogey finish resulted in a 3-over 74.
• John Daly withdrew before his first round due to a thumb injury and was replaced in the field by PGA professional Mike Stone; Michael Campbell withdrew before his first round; Mark Calcavecchia withdrew during Round 1.