The winner will take home the biggest ever cheque for victory at the tournament, at $ 1.89million (£1.45million), while the total prize fund is more than $ 10m (£7.7m).
Hideki Matsuyama of Japan, the highest ever ranked Asian golfer at No3 in the world, started as one of the favourites after winning the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in Ohio last week with a sensational 61 in the final round.
World No1 Dustin Johnson should also be among the front runners while Rory McIlroy will lead the European charge.
PGA Championship 2017 latest updates
5pm: Dustin Johnson is battling hard to stay in the group of 10 players at even par and is through 10 holes with two birdies and two bogeys, scrambling well a number of times to save par.
The good thing for him is that because he started at No10, he is through the so-called “Green Mile”, which is what many call the final three holes at Quail Hollow.
The distances of 15, 16, 17 and 18 actually add up to more than a mile but after the par five 15th, the last three are a brutal set of holes the last of which is supposed to be the hardest on tour. (Johnson escaped with a par).
Jim Herman has joined Woodland in the lead at three under – the 39-year-old from Ohio has just one career PGA Tour win and only three weekend appearances at a major so this is pretty unchartered territory.
4pm: To the pessimistic Lee Westwood fans, the Englishman’s familiar “briefly threaten in a major before falling away because he can’t putt” act is underway.
To those more optimistic souls, Westy is on the move! He’s one under through six holes.
Woodland retains the lead, having made it to the turn in a bogey-free 32 shots.
3pm: Lots of people getting themselves under par but not many pulling away from the pack. It’s like a peloton in a big road race at the moment with no single rider able to break away cleanly.
Gary Woodland is doing his turn at the front, three shots under par after seven holes. The 33-year-old has missed the cut in his last two appearances at the PGA but has made a much more tidy start to his campaign this time around.
2pm: Right. We’re rolling in North Carolina for the last major of the year, which will soon be the second when it moves to May in 2019.
But for the moment, it remains hot and humid in Charlotte for the tournament, with temperatures today expected to get up towards 30 degrees Celsius. Sweltering.
The first few starters are out with those going off on the 10th – it’s a two-tee start – making the best of the running.
England’s Chris Wood has flown out of the blocks by birdie-ing 10 and 11 to take an early lead at -2.
