Rob McClellan

SHEBOYGAN, Wisc. — Rob McClellan has waited a lifetime to play in a PGA event, so what's a few more hours?

Thanks to a thick fog that encompassed the area, the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits was delayed three hours, 10 minutes, pushing the Butler Country Club professional's tee time to 5:25 p.m. CST.

McClellan's group, which included Jimmy Walker and Simon Khan, were able to squeeze in seven holes and were scheduled to complete the round starting at 7 a.m. CST Friday, then quickly follow with the second round.

More early-morning fog delayed the resumption of play Friday, however.

McClellan was 1-over-par through the first seven holes, including a birdie on the final hole of Thursday.

As play was suspended Thursday, Bubba Watson and Francesco Molinari were atop the leaderboard at 4-under par.

Matt Kuchar ((13), Ernie Els (14) and Nick Watney) also were at 4-under but had not completed their first rounds.

"We knew they were going to blow (the whistle), we just didn't know when," said McClellan, 30. "I was coming off a birdie and that gives me something to build on (Friday)."

The fog disrupted the day, but as it turned out, it didn't affect McClellan very much.

"We hung around the (rented) house a lot," said McClellan. "I've never played in one before and I did not have a strategy for the round.

"I went down to the course a little early and chipped and putted a little longer," McClellan added.

Of course, the preparation leading to Thursday's round took on more significance than the practice rounds.

"It was a lot different. It was a lot more serious than the practice rounds," said McClellan.

"I opened with a good tee shot (on No. 10) and had a pretty good chip and pretty good putt. I got par and I settled down," he added.

McClellan, however, would pick up bogeys on the next two holes — including two-putting on No. 11 that he admits cost him a stroke — before carding three consecutive pars.

"I was two down after No. 12, but on 13, I left a shot two inches short. On 14, I had a good drive and an OK second shot, but I two-putted for par.

"No. 15 was probably the toughest hole. It's 520 yards ... I had a good drive into the rough, then with a 6 iron had a chip shot and got a nice par there," McClellan added.

Then came the birdie in the setting sun to end the day.

"I hit my drive way right," said McClellan. "I got a little break and I hit a sand wedge 98 yards to four feet from the hole."

Thursday's weather was a little different from the days leading up to the tournament as wind played a minor factor.

"The weather was pretty good ... It was windy (Thursday)," McClellan noted.

"There was a lot of wind and it came in a different direction. It was a little stronger. It kept the shots down and it played a lot different."