golf
PGA Championship: Kaymer surprises at the start in Kentucky
Golf professional Martin Kaymer was six strokes behind leader Xander Schauffele after the first day. photo
© Maximilian Haupt/dpa
Martin Kaymer has not played on the US tour for two years. In Kentucky, the LIV golfer is off to a strong start in the PGA Championship. A superstar is making history at Valhalla Golf Club.
Schauffele clearly leads the second major tournament of the year ahead of his compatriots Tony Finau, Sahith Theegala and Mark Hubbard (all 65 strokes). Northern Ireland’s golf star Rory McIlroy (66) is fifth. World number one and Masters champion Scottie Scheffler from the USA played a round of 67 and is in twelfth place. The second German participant, Stephan Jäger, finished the first day in 47th place with 70 strokes.
Things didn’t go so well for superstar Tiger Woods. The 15-time major champion from California only played a round of 72. The 48-year-old has to improve in the second round in order to qualify for the two decisive rounds this weekend. The long-standing world number one broke his right leg several times in a serious car accident in February 2021. Since then, Woods has only competed in a few select tournaments.
Kaymer won his first of two major titles at the PGA Championship in 2010, giving him a lifetime right to compete in the tournament. Four years later, the Rhinelander also won the US Open. In 2022 Kaymer then switched to the LIV tour.