Keegan Bradley walks to the 14th green Thursday during the first round of the BMW Championship in Castle Rock, Colo. Matt York/Associated Press

CASTLE ROCK, Colo. — Keegan Bradley went from a bundle of nerves last Sunday waiting to see if he would advance in the PGA Tour postseason to a blissful day of birdies in mile-high air Thursday that led to a 6-under 66 and the lead in the BMW Championship.

Bradley, the newly appointed U.S. Ryder Cup captain, was the last man to get into the 50-man field at Castle Pines. He was in his hotel room watching the end of the St. Jude Championship, with the FedEx Cup standings on another screen and his phone buzzing.

“One of the toughest afternoons of my PGA Tour career,” Bradley said. “It was really brutal. It’s such a relief to be here. I just felt a lot calmer today. But I played really, really well.”

It showed on a course that could dole out punishment without a moment’s notice. Bradley missed only two fairways and two greens, took advantage of the par 5s, and made it look relatively easy on the 8,130-yard course – the longest in PGA Tour history.

The opening round was halted for just over three hours because of thunderstorms, a common occurrence in the late afternoon when The International was held at Castle Pines during its two decades on the PGA Tour schedule.

Hideki Matsuyama, the winner in the playoff opener last week, was at 5 under when play was stopped. He returned to hit his approach on the 18th to 2 feet, but missed the birdie putt and had to settle for a 67.

Rory McIlroy was just settling over a 20-foot par putt on the 18th when he heard the horn to stop play. Three hours and two putts later, he had a 70.

Adam Scott made a long par-saving putt on the 18th for a 68 and was joined in a tie for third by Sungjae Im, Alex Noren and Corey Conners.

Double major winner Xander Schauffele opened with a 69 while playing alongside Scottie Scheffler, who worked through some mild soreness in his back for a 71. Scheffler is assured of being the No. 1 seed at the Tour Championship next week unless Schauffele wins this tournament.

England’s Charley Hull watches a drive Thursday during the first round of the Women’s British Open in St Andrews, Scotland. Scott Heppell/Associated Press

WOMEN’S BRITISH OPEN: Golf balls wobbled on the tees and greens. Players wore big earmuffs and neck warmers and donned oven-style mitts between shots. American star Rose Zhang said she lost balance simply standing up.

Gusts of up to 40 mph played havoc with the best female golfers in the world at St. Andrews.

Charley Hull dealt with it the best.

The No. 10-ranked English player rolled in a 6-foot putt on No. 18 for the last of her six birdies at the home of golf to shoot 5-under 67 and take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the year’s fifth and final LPGA major.

Hull, seeking her first major title, has plenty of high-profile company at the top of the leaderboard.

Not least was her playing partner, top-ranked Nelly Korda, who birdied No. 17 – the famous Road Hole – and also the 18th to join fellow major champion Ruoning Yin of China at 4 under.

Among those a further shot back was defending champion Lilia Vu, who produced two monster birdie putts on the front nine of the Old Course – hosting the Women’s British Open for the third time – in her round of 69.

Some were just glad to get through the round.

“Definitely some of the toughest conditions I’ve ever played in, for sure,” said England’s Georgia Hall, the 2018 champion who eagled her last hole – No. 9 – for a 71.

Hall is the last British player to win her home major. Now her close friend is looking to do the same.

By the time Hull walked down the ninth fairway, the wind had dropped and she was looking cool in her sunglasses as she waved to the spectators lining the fairway. She would be a popular winner, not least because of her approach and attitude.

Not forgetting the aggressive way she plays golf, either.

Hull was regularly the longest driver in the marquee group containing Korda and Vu, with one tee shot – on the 14th – going 336 yards.

Even par after a bogey on No. 8, she made five birdies on her last 10 holes. There was a 12-footer on No. 12, an 8-footer at No. 15 to join Yin in a share of the lead, and then the glorious hole back into town – perfectly driving to the front of the green, hitting her approach to 6 feet, and making no mistake with the putt.

Hull was slightly concerned watching the early starters on TV in the worst of the windy weather.

“I said to my coach, it feels like they could call it at any minute because I don’t know how the balls are staying on the green,” said Hull, who was second by six shots to Vu last year.

“You know what it’s going to be like before the beginning of the round, so you kind of just mentally prepare for that before.”

That was half the battle on a tough day.

Korda, who won the Chevron Championship for a second major amid a dominant season, wound up enjoying the grind.

“There’s something fun about playing in these conditions,” she said, adding: “Not that I would do it every single time.”

Yin, ranked No. 6 and the winner of the Women’s PGA Championship last year, took it all in her stride.

“The conditions were tough, but it’s the same for everyone,” she said. “You’ve just got to try to make the wind your friend.”

Vu was in a six-way tie for fourth place with Jenny Shin and Mi Hyang Lee of South Korea, Andrea Lee of the United States, Patty Tavatanakit of Thailand and Mao Saigo of Japan.