US PGA Championship - Day one digest

Jhonattan Vegas got on a hot streak, Sepp Straka kept it in the family and the Ryder Cup Captains started strongly in the 2025 US PGA Championship.

Here is everything you need to know from day one at Quail Hollow.

Vegas hits the jackpot

Jhonattan Vegas surged to the summit with five birdies in his final six holes to lead by two from long-time pace-setters Ryan Gerard and Cam Smith. The Venezuelan, who had started on the tenth hole, picked up shots at the fourth, fifth, seventh, eighth and ninth to complete a seven-under-par 64. He said: "Incredible, obviously. Any chance you get to shoot 64 at a major championship is always great, right? It was one of those rounds that kept building, and it came all together at the end."

Aces high for Cole

American Eric Cole provided one of the highlights of the day with a hole in one at the 186-yard fourth hole. He said: "It was kind of a hard seven iron for me so I tried to hook it with the wind, I wasn't sure I was going to get it all the way there but it took a good bounce and I was very happy to see it go in. (The bar bill) shouldn't be too bad, we're up early in the morning! I put my caddie in charge of getting some beers for the caddies and maybe some of you media guys, you never know..."

Captains' example

European Ryder Cup Captain Luke Donald proved class is permanent with a four-under-par 67, his best opening round in a Major Championship since the 2004 US PGA Championship, to share fourth place just a shot behind Gerard and Smith. Donald described the round as "a pleasant surprise" after missing the cut in the five previous events he has played this season and added: "I didn't hit a ton of greens today but my putter was really good."

And his opposite number for this year's contest at Bethpage, Keegan Bradley, was almost as impressive with a 68, starting with three birdies in four holes and adding another before a closing bogey. That left him one stroke behind Donald and he said of the Englishman: "I'm excited to shoot him a text when we're done here. I was pumped to see Luke up there. I know how hard he's been working back home. Luke is an all-time great player. Doesn't surprise me."

Brotherly love for Straka

With regular caddie Duane "Dewey" Bock absent due to a back problem, Sepp Straka turned to his twin brother and fellow pro Sam as he carded an opening 73. "Dewey's hurt so he couldn't go last week, still not ready to go and my brother was nice enough to fill in this week," Sepp, the younger by two minutes, said after his round. "He's caddied for me a few times and it's always great to have him on the bag, he's done it at the biggest stage and it's obviously always special to have him next to me."