Aug10 USPGA storm

Graham Storm hit the first ball this morning, at precisely 7.30 a.m. It soared straight, veered a touch right, and finished in the right fringe. What was even more remarkable was that, playing in his first ever USPGA Championship, he led the field by two.

By doing so, he completed a unique hat-trick, whereby an Englishman has led the first round of all three American majors this year; Justin Rose at the Masters, Nick Dougherty at the US Open and him here. That can’t have ever happened before.
Storm made a solid par down the 1st, before hitting his drive into the thick rough, right of the fairway on the 2nd. From there he was always struggling, and he narrowly missed his 10-foot par putt. At the 3rd, I’m afraid he dropped another shot, when this time his drive went into the left rough, and he again missed his par putt from about 12 feet.

Less strong willed men might have panicked at this stage, but the man from Hartlepool fought back well with a great pitch to 4 feet at the 4th, which resulted in a birdie. A double-bogey at the par-3 8th (when he fluffed a chip from the long stuff) meant he reached the turn in 2-over-par 37.

“We had to eat in the clubhouse last night,” said his wife Sarah, who was walking around outside the ropes, watching his every move. “By the time he had finished all his press conferences, there was no time to find a restaurant. We were in bed by 10.30, and he was asleep by 10.31. I was still buzzing a bit with all the excitement. We are both very tired though, and can’t wait to go on holiday to Las Vegas next week.”

A back nine of 39 meant Storm finished with a 76 to be a very creditable 1-over-par for the tournament.

Now, he can sit back, put his feet up, grab a cold one in front of the tv, and wait for the late starters today to fry in the sun and come back to him.