Stewart Cink faced challenging weather conditions at the start of the Senior PGA Championship at Congressional Country Club, reminiscent of the British Open rather than a typical spring day. Despite the less-than-ideal atmosphere, Cink’s experience shone through as he navigated his front nine skillfully, drawing on memories from his 2009 major win at Turnberry where he triumphed over Tom Watson.
Cink finished the round with a score of 2-under-par 70, placing him three shots behind the leader Cameron Percy. Although he had a strong start, which included an eagle at the 12th hole, his performance on the final holes left him dissatisfied. Cink reflected, “I thought it was kind of sloppy… I just felt like I threw away shots in the last hour of the round.”
Surrounding the turn, Cink reached a low of 4 under thanks to a string of birdies, culminating in his eagle on the 409-yard par-4 12th. With optimal conditions on the greens, which had softened due to recent rainfall, his precise shot positioned him near the hole for an easy tap-in. He described the moment as a dream scenario in professional golf, noting, “It was just sitting there like a perfect target.”
Cink was not alone in capitalizing on the softer greens. Vijay Singh and Keith Horne, among others, also found success with eagles throughout the round, indicating a competitive atmosphere as the tournament progressed. Horne, in particular, commented on the favorable change in course conditions compared to his practice round earlier in the week.
Notable performances continued with Ernie Els, who played a bogey-free round, finishing with a score of 3-under 69. The legendary golfer expressed his appreciation for Congressional, a site where he previously claimed victory in the 1997 U.S. Open. Els is looking to add another major title to his legacy on the senior circuit, having won his first last year.
Overall, while Cink showed moments of brilliance during his round, the slight mishaps towards the end reflected the unpredictable nature of golf, especially under challenging weather. There remains optimism for further rounds as players adapt to the conditions and showcase their talents.