DAY 1 AT SOUTHERN HILLS
Keep that card: Matt Kuchar. The 43-year-old hasn't made a cut at a major since the 2019 British Open and last month missed out on qualifying for the Masters for the first time since 2009. Thursday made up for some of it, with an opening round 67
Toss that card: Brooks Koepka. He hasn't played since the Masters, and it shows. The two-time PGA Champion wasn't on his game Thursday, shooting a 40 on the front nine and not making a birdie until No. 15. He finished with a 75.
Hoge on a roll
Two-time Minnesota state amateur champion Tom Hoge shot 4-under 66 and is tied for second with Will Zalatoris, one shot behind Rory McIlroy.
"Pars are good out there," Hoge said. "Just try to keep grinding away and checking off hole by hole as we go. If you get to Sunday and you're kind of in the mix then score becomes a little more important obviously, and we'll figure that out at that point."
Spring Lake Park graduate Troy Merritt and Stillwater native Alex Beach finished 3 over and former Gophers men's golfer Erik van Rooyen finished 5 over.
What a start!
No matter how Jesse Mueller finishes this week, no one had a better start. One of 20 club professionals in the field, Mueller began on No. 10 and put his tee shot about 100 yards away from the pin. The 39-year-old drew a wedge and holed out for an eagle which, at the time, rocketed him to a top five spot on the leaderboard. Mueller wound up 2 over for the day.
Daly declines
John Daly was the first player to tee off Thursday and made it look like a blast from the past with two quick birdies. His name was on the leaderboard all morning. And then he ran out of gas at the end. Daly finished with four bogeys over his last five holes. He three-putted the 18th and finished with a 74. It still beats the rounds of 85-86 he shot last year at Kiawah Island. Whether Daly agreed is uncertain. He declined requests for an interview.
