Kelly Mitchum will not forget his opening round in the 94th PGA Championship for quite some time.

The Pinehurst Resort club professional had the distinction of teeing up first in the season’s final Major at 7.20am on the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island.

Mitchum had been awake since 5am and admitted he was running late in not arriving at the course to 6.30am, and leaving the 43-year old less than an hour to prepare for his fourth PGA Championship but a first since 2007 at Southern Hills.

Kelly Mitchum chats with media after his round of 76. (Photo - www.golfbytourmiss.com)

The Montana-born Mitchum had qualified for the PGA in finishing joint second in the 2012 PGA Professional National Championship.

“This is the PGA Championship and I’m not in it every day, so yeah, it wouldn’t matter what time I was off,” he said.

“It was awesome getting out there. I joked with people earlier in the week, I feel fortunate to get the ball in the air first shot. At least I hope I’ll get it in the air anyway.

“I got it in the air, and yeah, that was pretty neat.

“I’m just glad it worked out. I don’t know how I got that tee time, but I’m glad it worked out.”

Mitchum, who had been a member of the 1993 Walker Cup team, walked from the course around four-and-a-half hours later carding a four over par 76.

“I felt like I played better than I shot but there’s not much forgiveness out there on that golf course,” he said.

“We played it condition wise probably about as easy as it’s going to play. Very little wind until the last few holes.

“I would have liked to have gotten a little bit more out of my round today, but overall I’m glad to be done.”