MEDINAH, Ill. – It became apparent during Thursday's first round that the best way to prepare for the PGA Championship was to be unprepared.

Scouting trips to Medinah? Waste of time.

Arriving early with an entourage of swing gurus, mental coaches and Pilates instructors? Not necessary.

Playing well before arriving? Don't bother.

To post your name on the big scoreboards at this classic major venue, it was vital to look like you didn't belong. Chris Riley and Lucas Glover shared the first-round lead at 6-under 66.

Leave the serious practice sessions and prep work to the guys with high world rankings and expectations.

While Phil Mickelson was stressing over how many umbrellas he'd carry if the Earth got too close to the sun, Billy Andrade was debating the virtues of You, Me and Dupree with his wife after a matinee showing Tuesday.

That's when the seventh alternate learned he had made the field. So there he was on Wednesday night, eating alone at Maggiano's.

"It's such a waste of food," he said. "I want a little pasta, the guy gives me a big old bowl for a family."

On Thursday, Andrade feasted on the longest layout in the major championship history. It took him only five holes to make three birdies. He finished at 5-under 67.

"I took one practice round, which you know, for some, it's not enough," he said. "For me, I guess it was perfect. You know, you can do all the preparation you want. You still have to go out and hit good golf shots."

Billy Mayfair got to 6 under with a birdie on 11. He wasn't upset after dropping three strokes down the stretch because his round was remarkable regardless of his score.

Two weeks ago, he had surgery to remove his cancerous right testicle. A week later, he got the call saying the cancer was gone.

He prepared by playing one practice round and counting his blessings.

"I'm thrilled to be here and almost had tears in my eyes," Mayfair said. "My biggest thought of the day was I was just so happy to be on the first tee. The sun was out and it was just a beautiful sight, and I know where I was two weeks ago."

On Monday, as the hotshots were measuring sand density in Medinah's bunkers, Dallas' Harrison Frazar was on family vacation, fly-fishing. The only thinking he did about the PGA was thinking twice about playing after getting a call Monday night saying a spot had opened.

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Lucas Glover tees off at the first hole.

He arrived at Medinah about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday and walked the course with a wedge and his putter. Despite only one practice round, he tied Tiger Woods, Mickelson and eight others with his 69.

"A lot of guys fall into the trap of showing up at a major early Monday and banging their heads against the wall trying to find the perfect swing," Frazar said. "I've done that myself."

Riley has been in golf prison for almost two years. He didn't qualify for the first three majors and got into the PGA by virtue of playing in the 2004 Ryder Cup.

But his struggles seemed a distant memory Thursday. He birdied three of his final five holes.

Having played so poorly for so long, Riley feels no pressure. One advantage he has over Woods and Mickelson is that it will be much easier for him to exceed expectations.

"I looked over and I saw two people following me," Riley said, comparing his gallery to the one watching Woods, Mickelson and Geoff Ogilvy. "They probably had 200,000 people following them. I'm striving to play in those groups."

E-mail brnichols@dallasnews.com