CASTLE ROCK, Colo. — The PGA Tour returned to the Rocky Mountains for the first time in more than a decade. Playing at an elevation of more than 6,300 feet and dealing with the altitude was a hot topic of conversation as players tried to figure out how to adjust to the thin air.
“I think the highlight (of the day) was hitting it 430 down the 10th,” said Adam Scott.
Castle Pines Golf Club had been a fixture on the Tour for 21 years before bowing out at the start of the FedEx Cup era in 2007. Jack Nicklaus re-designed the course for the pros latest visit, stretching it to 8,130 yards. Justin Thomas, speaking on Sirius/XM PGA Tour Radio described Castles Pines as “if Shadow Creek and Caves Valley had a baby.”
On Thursday, Keegan Bradley, the last man in the field at No. 50, shot to the top of the leaderboard with an opening-round 66 before play was suspended due to lightning in the area. It would be his 11th lead or co-lead after the first round, and he’s 0-for-10 in holding on to those previous leads, including at the 2022 BMW. Here are five things to know from the opening round of the BMW Championship.