Course record equalled

SPORTS Thomas and Kokrak have rounds of 65 to lead field

J US T I N T hom a s a nd Jason Kokrak equalled the course record with seven-under 65s to top the leader board after the first round of the BMW Championship at Medinah Country Club, Illinois.

Tiger Woods had a poor day, though, and finished six off the pace.

Thomas said he had a terrible warm-up before the first round.

“I probably would say I had the worst warm-up I’ve ever had in my life this morning,” he said.

“I didn’t know what it was going to do.

“I didn’t know how I was going to hit it. My dad and caddie, Jimmy Johnson, and I just kind of said we were going to have to guess out there and just try to find something.”

He ended the day with seven birdies, a joint course record and joint lead.

As well as Thomas and Kokrak, three other players have shot 65 at Medinah, Skip Kendall at the 1999 PGA Championship and Mike Weir and winner Tiger Woods at the 2006 PGA.

Woods, who got two of his 15 Major championship wins at Medinah, started extremely well with three birdies in the first five holes.

He got one more birdie before the day was out but also three bogeys.

“Didn’t chip it, didn’t make that many putts and consequently I’m one under,” Woods commented.

“It’s just not sharp, I’m trying to make changes in my swing and it’s just not quite there yet.

“I didn’t feel any tightness, I didn’t feel any pull and so that was a positive. I just need to clean up my rounds and get going.”

Justin Rose finished the day on four under, with Rory McIlroy one further back on three-under 69.

Roger Federer returns during his defeat against Andrey Rublev.

Justin Thomas chips out of a bunker on his way to a 65.