PGA Championship 2013 Leaderboard: Complete Analysis of Day 1 Scores

Players went lower than many expected in the first round of the PGA Championship. The tight tree-lined Oakhill course was playing rather slowly for a major, and this had many players doing some serious pin hunting. 

Jim Furyk and Adam Scott went the lowest, with each posting a five-under 65.

It is hard to believe that one guy was able to put up this mark, let alone two. They were only one off the course record. 

Also, the last time the PGA Championship was held at Oakhill was in 2003. Shaun Micheel won that tournament at four under par. He was one of just three golfers to finish that tournament under par. 

The course figures to speed as the week progresses, but with 35 golfers currently under par, it seems an almost certainty that scores will be lower than in 2003. 

A weather delay in the afternoon stretched out the first round, but everyone was still able to finish. It also made the Oakhill pins even more vulnerable. 

Jason Day knows all about guys going low. He shot a three-under 67 to sit tied for fifth. 

It isn't like Scott and Furyk are running away with it. There are 19 players within three shots of them. After Scott and Furyk, there aren't many past major champions high on the leaderboard, but there are guys who are used to contending. 

This includes Lee Westwood at four under par and Matt Kuchar joining Day at three under par. There is also an impressive group of 11 golfers at two under par. This includes past major champions Martin Kaymer and Justin Rose. 

Kaymer, who has been rounding into form after a prolonged slump, holed an eagle on what has to be the shot of the day: 

All of this sets up for what should be a dynamic tournament. Below, I'll highlight a few of the day's best performers. 

 

Reports of Jim Furyk's Demise Have Been Greatly Exaggerated 

Jim Furyk has been having a terrible year. This led to some, which may or may not have included yours truly, to speculate that the best days for the 43-year-old were behind him.

Well, Furyk proved his doubters wrong on Thursday.

Furyk suffered just one bogey in a solid and sure round. That bogey came on his final hole of the day. That is a poor way to end a round, but Furyk still has to be pleased with his performance. 

This course sets up nicely for Furyk. He is an amazingly accurate ball-striker but lacks distance. This allowed him to place his ball in the fairways and attack pins.

Still, if Furyk is going to keep this up, he has to improve on his recent play.

This tweet by ESPN's Justin Ray helps highlight how poor Furyk has been:

Given his struggles this year, I'd be surprised if he can hold onto this groove for three more rounds. 

Scott Is In Great Position to Win Second Major

Midway through his front nine, Adam Scott caught fire. Beginning on hole No. 4, he embarked on a run of five straight birdies.

This putt on No. 8 capped off his impressive run:  

He wound up playing the back nine at even par, but his pedestrian finish didn't take away from his excitement over his round: 

After winning the Masters earlier this year, Scott slipped a bit from his high level of play. However, he's been stroking the ball nicely lately. He was third at the British Open and then 14th at the WGC-Bridgestone event last week. 

Scott is becoming a fixture near the top of major leaderboards, and I'd be surprised if he still wasn't in contention on Sunday. 

Tiger and Phil Stumble

The two favorites heading into this event, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, are both six strokes off the pace and are tied for 50th at one over.

There is still plenty of golf to be played, and these two legends are more than capable of making a run, but I can't imagine this is how they wanted to start.

Woods, who began the day on the back nine, was two under after six holes and was playing well enough to prompt this tweet:

However, he didn't card another birdie after No. 15, and after ending his round with a miserable double bogey on No. 9, he dropped way down the leaderboard.

Meanwhile, Mickelson was all over the place. He was three over after just three holes, and there were signs before he even teed off that he was not completely on his game. Here he is needing assistance to find the first tee: 

However, Mickelson caught fire midway through his round. He played holes No. 9-14 at four under to move to one under for his round. 

A double bogey on No. 18, however, undid most of his hard work. 

All season statistics via PGATour.com.