American golf player Woodland leads the opening round of the 100th PGA Championship

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During the Thursday's opening round of 100th PGA Championship, America's 34-year-old golf player Gary Woodland topped the leaderboard with a six-under 64 for a one-shot lead over 29-years-old Rickie Fowler.

"This week is as close to home as I've been," the Kansas-bred Woodland said about the Bellerive Country Club, Missouri, where he played. "I snuck over here about a month ago and played the golf course. I really enjoyed the layout. The turf is very familiar to me. It's so hot here during the summer, so the greens are soft and slow. You can be more aggressive, which suits my game."

Rickie Fowler plays a shot during the first round of the 2018 PGA Championship at Bellerive Country Club on August 9, 2018 in Missouri, the US. /VCG Photo

Rickie Fowler, who was runner-up at the Masters in April, had a five-under par 64.

Fowler has already been regarded as among the best without a major because he was the no.1 ranked amateur golfer in the world for 37 weeks in 2007-2008. He turned into a professional in 2009 and reached a career high fourth in the Official World Golf Ranking in 2016.

"It's not something I necessarily worry about. Keep putting ourselves in position, get in contention ... we have had plenty of runner-ups. Jack (Nicklaus) had a lot of runner-ups. We'll just keep beating down that door." Fowler wanted to look up to Jack Nicklaus, who was a retired American professional golfer with many regarding him as the greatest golfer of all time.

Tiger Woods plays a shot from a bunker on the fourth hole during the first round of the 2018 PGA Championship at Bellerive Country Club on August 9, 2018 in Missouri, the US. /VCG Photo

Tiger Woods salvaged his hopes with an important turnaround. His tee shot on the 11th landed in the left-side rough and later the ball hit the hill top and bounced back into water, resulting that Woods scratched out a 70 with a solid play the rest of the way.

"A lot of things could happen. Not a lot them were positive," Woods said. "The main thing about major championships is making sure you have enough energy. These are marathons. Four long days, slow rounds. They’re not quick, certainly not under these conditions."

Brandon Stone plays his shot from the second tee during the first round of the 2018 PGA Championship at Bellerive Country Club on August 9, 2018 in Missouri, the US. /VCG Photo

South African Brandon Stone, winner of last month's Scottish Open on the European Tour, fired a four-under 66 to stand third in the clubhouse.

Meanwhile, Stone's compatriot Louis Oosthuizen withdrew from the championship with an undisclosed injury, announcing his decision just prior to his opening round tee time on Thursday. Even though the injury details were not revealed, Oosthuizen, who finished second to Justin Thomas at last year's PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, had a history of back problems and was still receiving treatment on Wednesday.

(With input from agencies)