By Xander Schauffele has made a remarkable start to the PGA Championship, leading by three shots after a historic opening round at Valhalla Golf Club. Schauffele’s bogey-free round included nine birdies, resulting in a 62—the lowest round in PGA Championship history and only the fourth 62 ever recorded in a men’s major.
Schauffele, who was runner-up at the Wells Fargo Championship last week, set a daunting clubhouse target of nine under par. His impressive performance was unmatched on a low-scoring Thursday, with Tony Finau and Sahith Theegala tying for second place at six under par, followed by a group of players one stroke further back, including Rory McIlroy.
Rory McIlroy’s Strong Start
McIlroy, aiming for his third consecutive victory and a fifth major title, began his campaign with a five-under 66. This mirrors his start when he won the PGA Championship at Valhalla in 2014. McIlroy is just four shots behind Schauffele.
Scottie Scheffler in Contention
Scottie Scheffler, the world No. 1, also had a solid start, posting a four-under 67. Scheffler, fresh from the birth of his son last week, is within five shots of the lead and is chasing his fifth victory in six starts.
Brooks Koepka and Jon Rahm’s Performances
Defending champion Brooks Koepka opened with a four-under 67, joining Scheffler on the leaderboard. Jon Rahm, after a shaky start, birdied four of his last six holes to finish with an even-par 70.
Tiger Woods Struggles
Tiger Woods, a former winner at Valhalla in 2000, finished 10 shots off the pace after concluding his round with back-to-back bogeys.
Schauffele’s Historic Round
Starting on the back nine, Schauffele made early birdies at the 11th and 13th holes and continued to gain momentum with three more birdies in a four-hole stretch. He turned in 31 and added another birdie at the par-four second. Back-to-back birdies from the fourth hole and another at the par-five seventh saw him reach nine under. Schauffele’s round could have been a historic 61, but he finished with successive pars.
This is the second time in two years Schauffele has opened a major with a 62, previously achieving the feat at the US Open. He joins Rickie Fowler and Branden Grace in the exclusive club of players who have managed a 62 in a major.
Other Contenders
Tony Finau and Sahith Theegala share second place with six-under rounds, both making bogey-free starts. Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre, two-time major champion Collin Morikawa, Tom Kim, and Thomas Detry are among those tied at five under.
Scheffler’s Round Analysis
Scheffler’s round included an eagle at the par-four first hole. Despite mixing four birdies with two bogeys, he remains a strong contender. He emphasized focusing on hitting good shots rather than chasing Schauffele’s score.
Schauffele’s historic performance sets the stage for an exciting PGA Championship, with several top players in close pursuit as the tournament progresses.
