SHEBOYGAN, Wis. — Rory McIlroy had the right leg of his pants rolled up as he hit out of the water. Jordan Spieth couldn’t make a putt.
The familiarity of the final major of the year came from Dustin Johnson. He was in the lead Thursday after the opening round of the PGA Championship, a spot he already has occupied after five rounds this year in the majors — just not when the trophy is handed out.
Johnson breezed his way to a 6-under 66 in the morning to build a one-shot lead over David Lingmerth of Sweden.
The main event was McIlroy and Spieth in the same group in the afternoon, No. 1 and No. 2 in the world.
Call it a draw.
McIlroy handled all of the par 5s, including the fifth hole when he pulled his third shot into the water. He turned what could have been a double bogey into par when he rolled up his pant leg — but not the left, which features the bum ankle — and splashed out to 7 feet to save par.
A bogey on the final hole sent McIlroy to a 71, a reasonable score for a guy competing for the first time in 53 days.
Spieth had one birdie chance after another on the front nine and missed them all. When he started to press, he missed an easy opportunity on the 10th and then three-putted from about 15 feet on the par-5 11th to make bogey.
Right when the round was getting away from him, Spieth chipped in for birdie and wound up with a 71.
Thumbnail photo via Gary C. Klein/Sheboygan Press Media via USA TODAY Sports Images
