Gary Woodland has never finished in the top ten of a Major before, but he leads the US PGA after round one on minus six ©Getty Images

The United States’ Gary Woodland leads the US Professional Golfers Association (PGA) Championship, the final major of year on six under par, after an opening day at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis which saw many players wear yellow ribbons in tribute to Australian golfer Jarrod Lyle, who died of cancer this week aged 36.

Woodland, ranked 44th in the world, made five birdies on the back nine to leap into the lead by one shot with a round of 64.

He has never finished inside the top ten at a major before.

Another player from the US, Rickie Fowler, is alone in second on minus five, having played earlier in the day.

He is one ahead of South Africa’s Brandon Stone and Zach Johnson, another US player, who are tied for third on minus four.

The defending champion Justin Thomas, meanwhile, finished on one under par, while his playing partners Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy both finished level.

In all, 47 players in the field of 156 finished under par.


The 34-year-old Woodland started his round with a bogey but was one under after nine thanks to birdies on the eighth and ninth holes.  

A surge of five further birdies, culminating with one on the 17th, then ensured he entered the clubhouse as the overnight leader.

"I hit bad shots on one and two, feeling the pressure early," he said.

"But I really settled in and played great outside of that.

"It was nice to get the jitters off early and get rolling. I saw some putts go in."

Fowler  has come close to winning all four majors twice and is widely regarded as one of the best players on tour without a major to his name.