Aussie duo grab first-round lead at Australian PGA Championship

Two local lads rule the roost after Thursday’s first round of the Australian PGA Championship on the Gold Coast.
Jake McLeod and Matt Jager both shot six-under-par 66s at RACV Royal Pines Resort in Queensland to grab a share of the lead Down Under.
As things stand at the #AusPGA:
🇦🇺 -6 McLeod
🇦🇺 -6 Jager
🇰🇷 -5 Eom
🇦🇺 -5 Papadatoshttps://t.co/Gfz3PNjuhi pic.twitter.com/YNJWD0D5Gi— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) November 29, 2018
For McLeod, the round was a particularly important one, as it moved him a step closer to earning his playing privileges on the European Tour.
It continues an excellent run of form for the home favourite, who claimed his first professional win at the NSW Open before earning a place at The Open Championship with a top-three finish at the Australian Open.
That run has put him at the top of the Order of Merit on the PGA Tour of Australasia, and if he can hold on to that position come Sunday, he will secure his card for the rest of the season.
“I’ve been playing well,” said McLeod, who made six birdies in a bogey-free round on Thursday. “I’ve just got to keep on doing what I’ve been doing. Anything can happen. If one of the other guys wins, obviously they win. So I’ll just go do what I can do and see what happens at the end of it.
“The whole game’s been pretty good and I’ve seen a new psychologist six months to a year ago now and the things we’ve been working on have been really good, so I think that’s definitely helped a lot.”
Two eagles on one nine?
Just a normal day at the office for Matt Jager. He and Jake McLeod are in the clubhouse at six under par. #AusPGA pic.twitter.com/juekGlj7mp
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) November 29, 2018
Co-leader Jager, meanwhile, was two under through his first nine but then picked up no less than two eagles after the turn at the par-5 12th and 15h holes to rocket into a share of the lead.
“The eagles were a bonus,” he said. “But in saying that, I just made some really nice swings. I put us in a position and just rolled a couple of putts in. You obviously don’t expect to do that but that was a bonus.”
The players celebrated the life of Jarrod Lyle by wearing yellow today 💛#YellowForLyle #AusPGA pic.twitter.com/hEQQ7j7AVt
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) November 29, 2018
McLeod and Jager lie one shot clear of another Australian in Dimitrios Papadatos and South Korea’s Jaewoong Eom, while four more Australians – including Marc Leishman, the highest-ranked player in the field – share fifth place a further shot back alongside Spaniard Adrian Otaegui.
Latest
-
News
My last win feels a long time ago – Rory McIlroy aiming to start year on a high
McIlroy has not tasted victory since November 2019.
-
News
Rory McIlroy insists Justin Thomas will ‘try to be better’ after homophobic slur
World number three Thomas was heard using a derogatory word towards himself after missing a par putt in Hawaii.
-
News
Rory McIlroy sad to miss Conor McGregor fight
Rory McIlroy has been to UFC star Conor Mcgregor’s last three fights but will miss Saturday’s clash due to European Tour commitments.
-
News
Rory McIlroy backs Tiger Woods to make quick recovery from latest back surgery
McIlroy expects the American to be fit for the Masters in April.
-
News
Tiger Woods focusing on return to PGA Tour after undergoing fifth back operation
The 45-year-old will miss the Farmers Insurance Open and the Genesis Invitational.
-
News
Lee Westwood resumes bid for record-equalling 11th Ryder Cup appearance
The 47-year-old occupied one of the automatic places in the team before the golf was stopped due to Covid-19.
-
News
Solheim Cup captain Catriona Matthew turns to Golfer’s CBD in pursuit of further success
Solheim Cup captain Catriona Matthew believes Golfer’s CBD could play a vital role in her future success.
-
News
Sponsor Ralph Lauren drops Justin Thomas following homophobic slur in Hawaii
The world number three uttered the derogatory word towards himself after missing a putt at Kapalua last weekend.
-
News
Bryson DeChambeau keeping brain relaxed to avoid repeat of Masters misery
DeChambeau said his brain went into overdrive at Augusta National.
-
News
European Tour preparing for business as planned in the Middle East
Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship is due to start next week.