Ernie ELS, on-site 1997. US Open Win, Two Olava at the older PGA Championship

Bethesda, Ph.D. – Ernie Els seems ready to oppose the different kind of great championship at the congress.

Return to the course in which the US opened in 1997. year, on Thursday was filming 3-man 69 to complete the two runstation moves after the first round of the Senior PGA championship. ELS is one of the trio of South Africans near the top, along with Keith Horne and Darren Fichardt.

Cameron Percy of Australia was filming 67 to drain the only possession of the lead, one move in front of Hornea. Fichardt and Els were tied to the third, along with Simon Khan and Mario Tisian.

This is the second main main for seniors after the victory Angel Cabrera on Monday in the tradition of postponed regions.

“This one feels more like Major,” Els said. “Last week, they called him a major, but it’s just a beautiful tourist tourist tour. But this one has more of that feeling. He has a golf course with history, and there are some prestige here.”

Players were engaged in wet conditions on the rainy day, but Percy was in one of the last completion group, and until then the sun shone from one direction and the debt was formed in another. Percy said that the rain previously prevented the week from playing the full circle.

51-year-old Percy also recently injured his back.

“We’re all old, so it’s pretty stiff,” he said. “There was so wet on Sunday and I slipped on Rock and made a mess of yourself. I was in a physician monday, Tuesday for a good watch, an hour and a half, and then another hour.” I’m pretty right now. “

Percy started on his back nine and took the lead thanks to the eagle on a couple-5 sixth and bird, two holes later.

53-year-old horne has nine winning in the sunny tour of South Africa, plus victory last year in Legends Tour’s Champions. He opened a wedge from 109 meters for the eagle on a couple-4 eighth.

“I played training on Monday and I was very scared to play a golf course,” Horne said. “Green were heavy and fast and to go out there today and that there were a little softer and slower, it was a big help.”

Percy deserved his playing partner, Soren Kjeldsen, to set up a high standard – made an eagle and two birds in the first four holes of the group. Kjeldsen, barely eligible for this event after he converted 50 last weekend, made double Bogee on number 8 and ended up 70.

“He looked really easy, so I just tried to keep going with him to be honest with you. He started fantastic,” Percy said. “Then he missed several times. We were in the last group. The green would not be perfect.”

Champ Richard Bland Defense was in a group in 2 below, along with Vijay Singh, who withdrew PGA championship last week for injury. Cabrera Shot 72.