Robert Karlsson and Jeev Milkha Singh were confirmed as first round co-leaders of the US PGA Championship on Friday as the rain-delayed opening day’s play was finally completed at Oakland Hills Country Club.
Play had been suspended for 85 minutes on Thursday evening leaving 18 players out on the course by the time darkness prevented further play.
Karlsson and Singh had posted early two under par rounds of 68 before the weather interruptions but Argentina’s Andres Romero was out on the course at two under with two holes to play when play was called to a halt.
Romero returned on Friday morning but bogeyed the par four 18th - the toughest hole on the course in the first round - to post a 69, one shot back of the leaders in a group of five also containing Spain’s Sergio Garcia and the Americans Ken Duke, Billy Mayfair and Sean O’Hair.
Eight players were starting their second rounds at level par, including World Number Two Phil Mickelson, the 2005 Champion of this event, 2007 US Open champion Angel Cabrera and Anthony Kim, the young American with two US PGA Tour wins to his name this year.
Open Champion Padraig Harrington did complete his opening round on Thursday, coming home with a one over par 71 that kept him in touch with the leaders. He was an early starter on Friday, opening with a birdie at the tenth before bogeying the 11th to remain at one over after four holes.
Elsewhere, Cabrera improved to one under through four holes - one under overall - while South Korea’s Charlie Wi is also a shot off the lead after claiming a stroke from his first seven holes.
