Dustin Johnson surges to early PGA Championship lead

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Hideki Matsuyama of Japan watches his second shot on the 11th hole during the first round of the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits on August 13, 2015 in Sheboygan, Wisconsin (AFP Photo/Richard Heathcote)

Kohler (United States) (AFP) - Japan's Hideki Matsuyama seized the initiative at the PGA Championship on Thursday, moving atop the leaderboard at four-under par as the earliest starters made the turn in the first round.

Matsuyama, playing in the second group off the 10th tee at Whistling Straits, birdied the par-five 11th, the par-four 14th, the par-five 16th and the par-four 18th to make the turn four-under, with Denmark's Thomas Bjorn, England's Tyrrell Hatton and American Harris English all at three-under.