Luke Donald admitted to surprising himself as both he and fellow Ryder Cup Captain Keegan Bradley made impressive starts to the US PGA Championship.
Given the honour of hitting the opening tee shot on Thursday, European skipper Donald defied even his own best expectations to turn back the clock and card a bogey-free 67 in the first round at Quail Hollow.
It is the Englishman's best opening round at a Major in more than two decades - tying his score at the 2004 US PGA Championship.
With preparations for this year's Ryder Cup at Bethpage his ongoing priority, Donald has made just five appearances so far this year, missing the cut on each occasion.
"Obviously, I've been trending with all the missed cuts coming into this week," joked Donald, who is an invite of the PGA of America for the year's second Major due to his role as European skipper.
"But no, it was a pleasant surprise. I got off to a really nice, steady start. I hit a bunch of fairways on the front nine which always makes me feel good about my game.
Bogey-free for Captain Luke ⭐️#PGAChamp | @RyderCupEurope pic.twitter.com/nTrbRh8sUW
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) May 15, 2025
"I didn't hit a ton of greens today but my putter was really good. The greens were infinitely quicker this morning first group out than they were the last few days.
"But I adjusted very well to them, and I made a lot of good, solid putts out there."
His United States adversary Bradley, who won the US PGA Championship in 2011 for his only Major Championship title to date, dropped his only shot of the day at the ninth - his final hole - to finish at three under par.
Bradley, who is ranked inside the world's top 20, has four top 20s so far this year on the PGA TOUR so his performance comes as less of a shock.
However, Donald and Bradley are just the sixth and seventh sitting Captains to open with a round in the 60s at the US PGA Championship in a Ryder Cup year.
“It’s unique," Bradley said of both Ryder Cup Captains being in the top ten on the leaderboard in Charlotte, North Carolina.
"You know, one of the interesting things about becoming captain, only other captains can understand what you’re going through, and the day-to-day process and the pressure and everything that comes with that.
“So for him to go out there and shoot that round, it’s impressive. It makes me happy.”
American Ryan Gerard, who is making his debut in this event this week, holds the early clubhouse lead despite a bogey-bogey finish seeing him settle for a 66.
