The reigning PGA Championship winner Jason Dufner withdrew from the tournament after ten holes, plagued by a sore neck that he’s been dealing with for months. Dufner came in hoping to defend his title and up his ranking for Team USA in the Ryder Cup.
Dufner entered the tournament eighth out of ninth in the Ryder Cup standings and 52nd in FedEx Cup points standings according to Fox Sports.
Lee Westwood, Kevin Chappell and Ryan Palmer all shot six-under par for a share of the lead.
Tiger Woods sits nine shots off the lead after he managed one birdie and four bogeys with a 3-over par 74 according to ESPN.
The Open champion Rory McIlroy, Henrik Stenson, Jim Furyk, Edoardo Molinari and Chris Wood share second place after an opening round 66. Furyk finished second last year at the PGA Championship, losing by two strokes to Dufner.
The weather forecast for the rest of the tournament shows a 50 percent chance of rain, making the golf course much softer.