Corey Conners of Canada used back-to-back birdies late in the first round to grab a two-shot lead at the 103rd PGA Championship on Thursday at the Ocean Course in Kiawah Island, S.C.
Conners had birdies on the 15th and 16th holes to finish the opening day at 5-under 67. He sat two strokes ahead of six others, including two-time PGA winner Brooks Koepka.
The 29-year-old Conners has one career win on the PGA Tour, which came in 2019 at the Valero Texas Open. He has had four top-10 finishes in his past eight tournaments entering this year’s PGA Championship.
Conners is competing in his third straight PGA Championship. He missed the cut last year at TPC Harding Park and finished 64th in 2019.
Koepka got off to a strong start in his quest for a third PGA Championship title. He shrugged off a double bogey on his first hole to finish at 3-under 69. He carded six birdies and a bogey on hole No. 15 in his opening round.
Reigning champion Collin Morikawa and Phil Mickelson were among the eight-man group tied for eighth at 2-under par after the first day.