Joel Dahmen says what he has always ‘struggled’ with despite breaking the course record at the Corales Puntacana Championship

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Joel Dahmen has made a record-breaking start to the Corales Puntacana Championship, where he sits top of the leaderboard after round one.

Justin Thomas just tied the Harbour Town course record at the RBC Heritage, with Dahmen going one better at the Corales Puntacana Championship.

Dahmen started his round eight shots back, but proceeded to shoot a 10-under 62 to set the course record in the Dominican Republic.

The American clinched his only PGA Tour win at the tournament in 2021, and now leads a trio of players by two shots.

Keith Mitchell, Garrick Higgo and Matt Wallace are all close behind on eight-under, with just over half of the 132-player field shooting in the 60s.

Joel Dahmen admits afternoon tee-time struggles despite Corales Puntacana Championship record

Dahmen also posted a career-best 10 birdies at Corales Golf Course, which included three in his last four holes.

Speaking after his round, the 37-year-old said: “Certainly take note of it. I’ve historically struggled teeing off in the afternoon when people go low.

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“I feel like I’m teeing off eight back of the lead and I’ve struggled in the past of feeling like I’m playing catch-up already when I haven’t even teed off yet.

“Geno [Bonnalie] actually joked that Keith has had a bunch of first-round leads recently, a good buddy of mine, and he’s like we can get that, we can get that today.

“So when I made the one on, I guess when I got to nine [birdies], I was like, yeah, I got you, Keith, so that was nice.”

Joel Dahmen 2025 PGA Tour results after Corales Puntacana Championship record

The PGA Tour has rapidly moved on from The Masters, with Rory McIlroy having won at Augusta National on Sunday.

McIlroy is taking a break from the action this week, but the likes of Thomas, Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele are all involved.

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They are taking on the RBC Heritage in South Carolina, with Dahmen meanwhile impressing in the Dominican Republic.

He has, however, endured a roller-coaster and ultimately frustrating start to his 2025 PGA Tour season, but is now in with a great chance of a second career success this week.