EDDIE Pepperell endured a disappointing opening round on the Bethpage Black Course at the US PGA Championship.
The Abingdon golfer carded a six-over-par 76 in the second major of the year, finding himself in a share of 123rd.
Starting at the tenth, Pepperell dropped a shot at his third, but only reached the turn in a one-over-par 36.
However, he struggled on the front nine, with a triple bogey and two bogeys seeing the Frilford Heath member slip down the leaderboard.
Pepperell found the rough from the tee at his third hole – the 12th – and was left with a 33ft putt to save par, but went on to drop his first shot of the afternoon.
Seven straight pars followed, before a torrid seven at the par-four second.
The World No 33 was forced to play a penalty shot after finding the trees off the tee and then three-putted, including missing a five-footer for bogey.
Pepperell went on to drop shots at the fifth and ninth as he completed the back nine in a five-over-par 40.
It leaves the 28-year-old with plenty of ground to make up when he begins his second round at 12.07pm (BST) today.
American Brooks Koepka leads the way after shooting an impressive seven-under-par 63.
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