Jordan Spieth opened the PGA Championship with a 1-under 69, staying in the mix as Justin Thomas also battled late trouble at Aronimink.
Jordan Spieth’s PGA Championship pursuit of the career Grand Slam didn’t exactly explode out of the gate Thursday, but it absolutely stayed alive.
Spieth, trying for the 10th time to add the PGA Championship to his major resume, opened with a 1-under 69 at Aronimink Golf Club.
That score left him within reach after a first round that had flashes of vintage Spieth, a few missed chances and a frustrating finish.
The three-time major champion was 1 under at the turn, then made a push on his second nine with three birdies in six holes.
At 3 under, Spieth briefly climbed into the early lead conversation before bogeys on Nos. 7 and 8 knocked him back.
Still, Spieth sounded encouraged afterward. He said he drove the ball well and felt his overall game was in a good place, even if the final number could’ve been better.
For a player who hasn’t won a major since the 2017 Open Championship, that matters.
Aronimink wasn’t giving much away early, with cool temperatures and wind making scoring difficult. Spieth warmed up as the round went on, rolling in key birdie putts from 15 feet, 10 feet and inside 7 feet during his best stretch.
Justin Thomas also stayed relevant in his chase for a third PGA Championship title. The 2017 and 2022 winner reached 3 under before trouble hit late.
His biggest escape came at No. 14, where he buried a 53-foot bogey putt after a messy sequence near the green.
Thomas dropped another shot at the par-5 16th and finished at 1 under, matching Spieth.
Neither star got everything he wanted Thursday. But with 54 holes left, both Spieth and Thomas are very much in the PGA Championship fight.
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