There had been heavy rainfall within the days main as much as the event however, in drier circumstances on Thursday morning in North Carolina, Donald was considered one of a number of stunning names to be discovered close to the highest of the leaderboard.
The 47-year-old, who hit the primary shot of the event at 07:00 native time, had instructed BBC golf correspondent Iain Carter earlier than the occasion that success would merely be making the weekend.
Birdies on the fourth, eighth, tenth and 14th holes made gentle of his pre-tournament expectations.
Donald, whose finest US PGA end was a tie for third spot in 2006, mentioned afterwards: “I am right here solely as a result of I am captain of the European Ryder Cup Staff. I would not be on this discipline in any other case.
“Bogey-free in a serious championship on a course that you simply would not have thought can be superb for me is all the time enjoyable.”
New Zealand’s Ryan Fox, who solely secured his place by profitable the Myrtle Seashore Basic on Sunday, completed alongside Donald on 4 underneath.
Additionally posting a first-round 67 was American Alex Smalley, who was a late addition to the sphere after world quantity 31 Sahith Theegala pulled out due to damage on the eve of the event.
Elsewhere, England’s Tommy Fleetwood was unable to capitalise on a quick begin however ended one underneath, as did Spaniard Jon Rahm.
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