Scottie Scheffler surges into a seven-way tie for the first-round lead at the PGA Championship with a flawless 67 at Aronimink Golf Club. The world No. 1 matches scores from Aldrich Potgieter, Stephan Jaeger, Min Woo Lee, Ryo Hisatsune, Alex Smalley, and Martin Kaymer, all at three under par.
Scheffler’s Dominant Display
Scheffler breaks from his pattern of slow starts in recent tournaments, missing just one fairway and excelling on the greens. A lucky free drop on the par-three 17th after his ball nestled near a sprinkler head preserved his par. This performance signals sharpening form after three consecutive runner-up finishes, including the Masters.
His only blemish, a missed three-footer for bogey on the 14th, drew a laugh from the four-time major winner. With firmer conditions ahead, Scheffler’s precision positions him as a formidable threat.
McIlroy’s Frustrating Finish
Rory McIlroy stumbles to a 74, calling it ‘s***’ after bogeys on his final four holes, three from missed par putts inside eight feet. Driving woes plague him, hitting only four fairways with a persistent two-way miss.
‘I’m just not driving the ball well enough,’ McIlroy states. ‘It’s been a problem all year. I miss it right, then correct left. That’s frustrating, especially since I pride myself on driving.’
He extends a range session over an hour post-round. While his short game saved him at the Masters, Aronimink’s dense rough offers less margin for error.
Kaymer’s Surprising Resurgence
Martin Kaymer, 41 and returning after 12 years of injuries and swing overhauls, posts a 67 with four birdies and one bogey despite afternoon winds. He shares a lighthearted anecdote from the champions’ dinner: a PGA of America official asked if he was playing this week.
‘I said, “Yeah, that’s why I’m here. I’m not flying from Europe for a New York strip,”‘ Kaymer recounts. ‘That really motivated me.’
Tough Course and Star-Studded Chase
Aronimink’s 174 bunkers, turtleback greens, and sloping fairways challenge the field on a breezy day. Firmer weather looms, potentially making the 11th hole unplayable, as Bryson DeChambeau discovers with a putt that rolls 50 feet past.
DeChambeau cards a 76 amid errant drives threatening spectators. Ten major winners lurk within two shots: Xander Schauffele, Patrick Reed, and Shane Lowry at two under; Jordan Spieth, Jon Rahm, Cameron Smith, and Brooks Koepka at one under.
England’s Dan Brown sits at two under, while Justin Rose, Aaron Rai, and Matt Fitzpatrick stand at even par.
