Kelly Tan carded a first round three-under-par 67 to jointly top the leaderboard at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, while Gavin Green is in T4 position at the BMW PGA Championship after opening with a five-under-par 67 at Wentworth Golf Club.
Starting on the 10th tee at the par-70 Aronimink Golf Club in Pennsylvania, Kelly nailed four birdies on her first nine holes for a superb outward 31, before dropping two shots early on her inward nine. Another birdie at her 16th hole (Hole 7) ensured that the Malaysian ladies No 1 ended the day tied for top place with American Brittany Lincicome, one shot ahead of six players including former World No 1 Lydia Ko of New Zealand and American star Danielle Kang.
“My ball-striking has been really good and I think that’s been key and it’s been giving me a lot of confidence. I just like being where I’m at,” said Kelly, who becomes the first Malaysian to hold the lead in a Major tournament.
Gavin meanwhile recorded five birdies in a flawless round at Wentworth to lie just one shot off the lead, jointly held by Englishman Tyrell Hatton, Spain’s Adri Arnaus and South Africa’s Justin Harding. The Malaysian men’s No 1 shares fourth position with 2019 Open champion Shane Lowry of Ireland and two Englishmen, Eddie Pepperell and Matthew Fitzpatrick.
