Henley starts strong at PGA

Macon’s Russell Henley got off to a strong start in the PGA Championship on Thursday at Baltusrol Golf Club in New Jersey.

Henley is tied for ninth after the tournament’s first round, shooting a 2-under-par 68. Jimmy Walker has the lead at 5 under. Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo, England’s Ross Fisher and Germany’s Martin Kaymer are tied for second at 4 under.

Henley’s former Georgia teammate Harris English is one of four players at 3 under. The others are James Hahn, England’s Andy Sullivan and Sweden’s Henrik Stenson. Stenson won the British Open earlier this month.

Henley, a former Stratford standout, had 16 pars in his round, including a nice save on the fourth hole with a chip from off the green to set up a short par putt. He birdied the 16th and 17th holes.

Henley is playing the first two rounds with Denmark’s Thorbjorn Olesen and Argentina’s Fabian Gomez. They tee off at 7:30 a.m. on Friday in the second round.

Henley finished tied for 12th at last year’s PGA Championship, his best finish in a major.

This story was originally published July 28, 2016 at 7:27 PM with the headline "Henley starts strong at PGA."