Eric Cole leads PGA Championship chased by pack of major winners

Eric Cole, still chasing a first career win, charged to the top of the US PGA Championship first round leaderboard ahead of a pack of major winners on Thursday before play was halted due to darkness, bringing the curtain down on a wild day at Oak Hill.

Starting on the back nine, the PGA Tour rookie mixed six birdies with a bogey to reach five-under par with four holes to play. Former US Open winner Bryson DeChambeau holds the overnight clubhouse lead after carding a four-under 66.

Lurking a shot further back on three-under are a pair of Masters winners in world number two Scottie Scheffler and LIV Golf hope Dustin Johnson, along with Canadian Corey Conners.

"It was a good day, five-under through the holes that I played was good," said Cole.

"I played solid for the most part and got a couple of good breaks when I needed them, so it was a good day."

From scores to temperatures it was a day of highs and lows as a treacherous East Course bared its teeth with only 19 in the 156 player field getting under par.

Leaderboard after Thursday @PGAChampionship