Golf: Kevin Chappell grabs on to surprise lead

Unheralded American Kevin Chappell charged to the lead of the 96th PGA Championship at Valhalla yesterday with Italy's Edoardo Molinari in hot pursuit at the year's final major tournament

Loussville: Unheralded American Kevin Chappell charged to the lead of the 96th PGA Championship at Valhalla yesterday with Italy's Edoardo Molinari in hot pursuit at the year's final major tournament.


Kevin Chappell. Pics/AFP 

Chappell, who has not placed in the top nine in 24 US PGA starts this season and still seeks his first PGA title, started off the 10th tee and made three birdies on the back nine.

Chappell then holed out a 76-foot bunker shot for a birdie at the par-5 10th and sank a 17-foot birdie putt at 13 to seize the lead at five-under.

Molinari opened on the 10th hole with a birdie and closed the back nine with three birdies in a row to stand one stroke off the pace at four-under.


Tiger Woods lines up his putt on the second green in the first round 

Struggle for Woods
American Rickie Fowler, a runner-up at the US and British Opens, was in a pack on three-under that included countryman Brendon Todd, Sweden's Freddie Jacobson, England's Ian Poulter and Australian Marc Leishman.

Tiger Woods, who began on the back nine, took a bogey at the first and second, soaring to three-over. Each time he pulled his tee shot left, the second time slamming his club to the ground and cursing in frustration.

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!