First senior major of the season, two Spaniards in contention and both have placed themselves near the top of the leaderboard at the first opportunity. Sensational first round from Miguel Ángel Jiménez (-6) and José María Olazábal (-4) at the Senior PGA Championship. The Málaga native has provisionally moved into first place, tied with Steve Allan (-6) and Bernhard Langer (-6). The German’s performance is something else. His ID says he’s 68, if anyone believes that, and he opened with a 66. On another planet. We say provisionally because the afternoon wave of players is still to finish. In any case, whatever happens, the Spaniards will be up there.
José María Olazábal (-4) carded a 68 and is temporarily in fifth place, just one shot behind Retief Goosen (-5). The Hondarribia native had a blistering start, similar to his showing at the Masters de Augusta last week, where he was leader for more than two hours. At the Senior PGA Championship he did the same, with a run of four under across the first seven holes and five under after ten. Spectacular. Five birdies with no bogeys to open his account in the season’s first senior major.
Shortly after that start, curiously as at the Masters, a couple of slips came at holes 4 and 6 (having started on the 10th), although rather than folding, he responded marvellously with a fine birdie at the 7th to finish with a good taste and very close to the lead. Olazábal has equalled his best ever round in a senior major. He had two rounds of 68 at THE PLAYERS in 2018 and 2020 on his record. He could count on one hand his rounds under 70. Great start and a huge thorn removed. Yes, Olazábal is managing to be highly competitive again.
And it’s not just today’s 68, he has now posted five consecutive rounds under 70 in his senior tournaments. He had never done that in his whole career. And, more importantly, he has done it on three different courses, including a major.
The Senior PGA Championship is being played at the Concession Golf Club in Bradenton, Florida. A magnificent course that has not been host to many big tournaments. The only major professional event it has staged was the WGC Workday Championship, won by Collin Morikawa in 2021. It was played without spectators because we were still under pandemic restrictions.
Jiménez, for his part, has produced his best golf when it matters most. He had not started the year too well. In fact, he had yet to record a top 10 on the Champions, however, in the first major he has left his mark. Sensational. He has also had a spectacular start. He recorded a 5-under across his first ten holes, starting on the 1st. His first birdie came at the 4th, although the key was a sensational four-under sequence between holes 7 and 9, with two birdies and an eagle. On the back nine he made a bogey and two further birdies to put himself, for the moment, in the lead
