Richard Green continued his run of exceptional play on the Champions Tour with a seven-under 64 in the first round of the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship. The Australian, who posted four consecutive top-20 finishes before this week, got off to a hot start, going four under through his first five holes. He carded only one bogey to be near the top of the leaderboard during the morning wave Thursday at Harbor Shores Golf Club.
"It was an exceptionally good day," Green said. "You know, it's a very challenging golf course, and one that can really bite you at times."
Green's momentum-building hole came on the 582-yard par-5 fifth when the 53-year-old had about 250 yards into the green. He hit a perfect hybrid that tracked the flag, narrowly missing the cup and settling seven feet past the cup before making his eagle putt.
"That was obviously one of those exceptional holes at the right time and get the round going really well," Green said.
Green capitalized on the longer holes Thursday, going four under on the four par 5s at Harbor Shores. He carded a clean three-under back nine to end up a stroke shy of his career-best round on the Champions Tour when he shot a 63 at the 2023 Principal Charity Classic.
His four straight top 20 finishes began in late April with a T-12 at the Invited Celebrity Classic. His last round before today, a six-under 66 at the Regions Tradition, led him to a T-14 finish at the Regions Tradition two weeks ago. Green credits his consistency to sticking with what has worked for him this season.
"I feel everything that I'm using in the golf bag is what I've been using for most of this year and I'm feeling good with it, so it's nice," Green said.
That consistency led to Green improving his first round score by eight shots from his only other trip to Harbor Shores for the KitchenAid Senior PGA in 2022, when he shot a 72-74 to miss the cut. Green still holds a healthy respect for the difficult test the course presents.
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"By no means found it easy out there," Green said. "It was quite challenging and difficult to hit the ball in the right spot. It's a big test off the tee. This golf course you've got to hit the driver really well. You've obviously got to putt and read the greens well. They're very slopey."
Green's opening 18 puts him in contention for his first Champions Tour victory; the closest he came was a one-hole playoff loss to Harrison Frazar at the Dominion Energy Charity Classic. He will focus on his game instead of imagining what the field could do to catch him.
"Everybody that's come here, I'm sure they're working their game up to top form," Green said. "Just got to keep doing your best."
