Bryson DeChambeau calls US PGA venue Kiawah Island "DIABOLICAL"
DeChambeau off to level-par start on day one at the US PGA Championship
Bryson DeChambeau opened with a steady level-par 72 on day one of the US PGA Championship and then labelled Kiawah Island as being "diabolical".
Having started on the 10th, DeChambeau began his day brightly with birdies at the 11th and 12th but then ran into trouble with four consecutive bogeys from the 13th to go out in 38 shots.
But the reigning US Open champion responded well coming home in 34 strokes to finish his round with a level-par 72.
"Getting to 4-over is really nothing out here either. It’s diabolical," said DeChambeau "You’ve got to be on point every single hole."
DeChambeau also admitted that Kiawah Island was by far the toughest golf course he has ever played on the PGA Tour.
"This golf course takes it out of you," said DeChambeau.
"This is the most difficult golf course that I’ve played on Tour, and that is a straight-up fact for me. That requires a lot of energy."
DeChambeau found eight of 14 fairways and 11 greens on day one, but his biggest fallback was on the greens with a -1.260 strokes-gained putting - ranking him 120th in the field.
Corey Conners leads the field on day one following a superb round of 5-under par.
A host of players find themselves in second place with Viktor Hovland, Keegan Bradley, Brooks Koepka, Aaron Wise, Cameron Davis and Sam Horsfield on 3-under par.
Defending US PGA champion Collin Morikawa lurks a further shot back on 2-under par.
