SPRINGFIELD, N.J. (AP) — The final major of the year began Thursday when New York club pro Mark Brown hit the opening tee shot in the PGA Championship.

The PGA of America has a tradition of letting one of its 20 club pros in the field hit the first shot. The 49-year-old Brown is the head pro at Tam O'Shanter Golf Club in Brookville. He was a runner-up at the PGA Professional Championship in June.

The sun was baking Baltusrol in the morning, and it was expected to be steamy in the afternoon when the other traditional group of major champions teed off. Masters champion Danny Willett, U.S. Open champion Dustin Johnson and British Open champion Henrik Stenson tee off at 1:45 p.m.

Defending champion Jason Day played in the morning.