Aussie star jumps to PGA Championship lead in major return

The Aussies made huge strides in the first major in more than a year after Jason Day joined American Brendon Todd atop of the PGA Championship leaderboard.

After more than a year without a major, having the coronavirus pandemic prompt the Masters and US Open to be postponed and the British Open to be cancelled, golf came back in a big way.

'MUST WATCH TV’: Golf hulk snaps driver after epic shot

'UNBELIEVABLE': Golf world erupts over youngster's 'miracle' win

And it was a younger and healthier version of Day that grabbed the first-round clubhouse lead at the PGA Championship.

The former PGA Championship winner and former World No.1, stood atop the leaderboard on Thursday with a bogey-free 5-under 65 and was joined by Brendon Todd.

The 32-year-old Australian, who finished in a share of sixth place at last week’s World Golf Championships event in Memphis, said his back felt fine in Thursday’s opening round.

A 12-times winner on the PGA Tour, Day began his day on the back nine and got to work early as he made a nice up-and-down from 46 feet at the par-five 10th for an opening birdie.

“Today I drove it really nicely, and when I was out of position, I left myself on the right side of the fairways to be able to at least get somewhere around the greens, and if I did miss the greens I left it in the right spot,” said Day.

“Pretty sound the whole way around.”

Adam Scott joins Tiger Woods in chasing pack

Scott started strongly, having not played a Tour event in 150 days, and finished on two-under 68.

Woods followed the same path and after a strong start finished two-under 68.

Martin Kaymer, Xander Schauffele, Justin Rose, Bud Cauley, Scottie Scheffler, Mike Lorenzo-Vera, Brendan Steele, and Zach Johnson are all chasing Day at the top of the leaderboard.

With them is Brooks Koepka who is chasing history to become the first three-peat champion in almost a century.

With Retuers