The last time the PGA championship was played here at Quail Hollow, Ryan Gerard was busy moving into his dormitory a few hours at the University of North Carolina.
A week after this tournament in 2017, the Tar Heels golf team left Chapel Hill to go to Charlotte for a round on the route that had just been honored by the best golf.
Eight years later, Gerard is now one of the early pretenders, if they are surprising, to win this tournament and the first major title of his career after a round of shock opening which made him compete with the game elite.
The five sous 66 of Gerard were the best first round of the players of the morning wave who was titled by the star group of Rory McILroy, Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele.
Its round consisted of six birdies and an eagle with three bogeys which probably left it by feeling as if it could have capitalized more.
The 25-year-old was born three hours northeast in Raleigh and stayed nearby to play the university golf course for the UNC. He has not won his PGA Tour card this year and so far, he has been solid if not spectacular.
Ryan Gerard was a first surprising leader in the PGA championship Thursday afternoon
Gerard was born in North Carolina and played college golf for the Tar Theels of the UNC
Gerard only made two professional victories in his name – nor on the PGA Tour – and two major league departures. He missed the Cup at US Open 2022 and finished the T-56 at the same tournament a year later.
So, although his first round could have shocked for everyone, Gerard was not surprised to have delivered where he feels most comfortable.
“I feel very comfortable here,” he said after his tour. “There are a lot of people here that I know and I had the chance to play this golf course a few times. And all this is fantastic, and it is definitely helped in the preparation.
“I love being here. It is a fantastic place. North Carolina in general, they show themselves for their guys in light blue. I heard so many “Go heels” today and I appreciate everyone supporting.
But the surprise among the fans did not stop there because Gerard was not the only local favorite to impress so that Alex Smalley took advantage of his last minute entry into the tournament by organizing a beautiful opening lap.
Unlike Gerard, Smalley was not born in North Carolina. He played to Bitter College Rivals Duke and has since made Greensboro, about two hours north of Charlotte, his house.
His opening round was made even more remarkable by the fact that he had only 15 hours of notice that he was on the ground after the late withdrawal of Sahith Theegala due to a neck injury.
Smalley seized this opportunity and posted one per 67 sous which left it in a part for second place.
Gerard revealed that his college coach would not let the team leave the 18 until they all have been done
“I prepared myself as I could any other tournament,” said Smalley after his round.
“I went home after the tournament last week in Myrtle Beach. Back home Sunday evening. I think it liked almost all day here on Monday, and I hunted on Monday evening.
‘Played the first nine Tuesday after the time and a half hours that we had, and I played the nine rear yesterday morning.
“I really prepared myself like any other week. Obviously, it is interesting to be the first alternative. I lost hope after each passing hour. And you know, you hear about everyone as the first alternative.
“I was ready to be here all day today if I did not entered yesterday afternoon or last night. As I mentioned earlier, I obviously feel for Sahith, but it was nice to know before the morning that I was going to play so that I could somehow prepare for that.
Gerard admitted after his round that he and Smalley knew each other very well and they often played together as a junior while showing a light disdain for his education Duke.
Speaking of education, it was Gerard’s coach of the UNC who gave him what could prove to be the most important lesson in his life in the next three days.
Alex Smalley, who played for Duke and now lives in North Carolina, also impressed in the first round
Smalley only received 15 hours of notice he played after the withdrawal of Sahith Theegala
He recalled how six months after this PGA championship here at Quail Hollow in 2017, the coach made the six Golfers of the UNC work in the 18th TEE and told them that they could not leave until they all had a peer at the same time.
“We were there for a while. I learned a lot about the 18th hole that day and I hope it will continue this week, “he said on Thursday.
“I mean it took four or five times. As if we were going, we all played six as a group group, three guys would be Bogey, would return to the tee, we play the six, two guys would be bogey. And then you just didn’t want to be this guy who had on the 10 -foot for the peer that missed him so that everyone came back.
“It probably took an hour about an hour, but it was fun and we finally did it. We were not going to leave unless we did this.
Gerard actually stuck on 18 Thursday, but this time, he was allowed to return to the locker room without a peer and a dream of what could have come on Sunday.