NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. — Scottie Scheffler has consistently been recognized as the top golfer globally recently, and while his overall standing hasn’t been questioned much in recent months, there have been subtle whispers regarding whether the world No. 1 is maintaining that elite level of play.
Only the opening 18 holes of the 108th PGA Championship have concluded, but if this initial round serves as a preview for the upcoming three, the other 155 participants in the field ought to be concerned. Scheffler delivered an outstanding performance on Thursday at Aronimink Golf Club as evening descended over the Philadelphia suburbs.
On a blustery, chilly day that seemed to intensify as the round advanced, the Texan moved calmly through the terrain, seemingly unfazed by the conditions. In doing so, he positioned himself atop the leaderboard, securing a share of the first-round lead with a 3-under 67, which included five birdies, two bogeys, and thirteen pars.
In his twenty-seventh major championship appearance, Scheffler achieved a personal first by ending a round as a co-leader, an honor he shares with a varied group of competitors: Min Woo Lee, Aldrich Potgieter, Martin Kaymer, Alex Smalley, Stephan Jaeger, and Ryo Hisatsune.
“This is the strongest start I’ve had this year, perhaps with the exception of American Express,” Scheffler commented. “Especially heading into the weekend, considering events like the Masters, Hilton Head, and Cadillac, finishing second wasn’t entirely bad given my position at the start of those weekends. It’s definitely satisfying to get off to a better start this time.”
In four of the past nine PGA Championships, the eventual victor was ranked outside the top 30 after the first round. Indeed, only three of the last twenty winners were either leading or tied for the lead at the close of Round 1. Scheffler himself was tied for 20th in the 2025 PGA Championship, which he ultimately triumphed in by a margin of five strokes.
The individuals leading those previous championships were not Scheffler. The current holder of the Wanamaker Trophy reinforced a well-known fact on Thursday – this PGA Championship’s narrative will largely revolve around him.
While Scheffler has faced strong challenges from players like Rory McIlroy, Cameron Young, and Matt Fitzpatrick in his last three tournaments, an exceptional effort will be needed to dislodge him from an advantageous position he hasn’t held this early in an event since the outset of the 2026 season.
Having been compelled to push hard through weekends to overcome deficits of twelve strokes at the Masters and seven strokes at both the RBC Heritage and Cadillac Championship, Scheffler can now exercise his strengths from the leading position and control the pace of play.
There is still a significant distance to cover in this competition, with former major champions such as Jon Rahm, Xander Schauffele, and Fitzpatrick strongly in contention. Even Jordan Spieth is aiming for the career grand slam, positioned just two strokes behind the leaders. A new generation of intriguing talents could also add excitement to this tournament.
Nevertheless, the arduous journey of a major championship typically favors those with endurance, and at the 25% mark of the contest, the foremost contender is in front.
A Glimmer of Hope …
The sole instance where Spieth seemingly had a realistic chance to achieve the career grand slam on paper, he essentially had no shot at all. Brooks Koepka surged far ahead of everyone at Bethpage Black in 2019, while Spieth ended up a distant T3, largely propped up by one of his most extraordinary putting displays ever. Even by his own impressive standards.
It’s merely 18 holes, and major championships often don’t truly begin until Sunday’s back nine, but a player cannot have an outstanding week without at least a respectable Thursday. That’s precisely what Spieth delivered in Round 1 – he drove the ball effectively, placed numerous approach shots close to the pin, and (perhaps most crucially) exhibited assurance with his putter on attempts within ten feet.
Did every one of those putts drop? No, they seldom do. What they did provide, however, was both self-assurance and composure. Despite his often-nervous demeanor, Spieth’s mental process appears to slow down when putts delicately fall into the cup as he approaches it just ahead of time. This positive effect spreads throughout his entire game; his decisions become quicker, and his golf flows much more smoothly.
Even if it’s only 18 holes, Spieth recorded a 69, placing him two shots behind the leaders in the major championship he requires to complete the career grand slam. If you’re a golf enthusiast, you have every right to feel enthusiastic about this development.
It’s probably advisable to hold off on getting overly excited until Saturday, but if Spieth is scheduled for a late tee time over the weekend, the Philadelphia fans might very well swap their Thursday E-A-G-L-E-S chants for expressions of genuine support.
“This is one of those rounds where I believe my play was superior to my score, which is frustrating because you want to maximize your round,” Spieth stated. “However, it’s also a positive sign, indicating that things are in a good state. I’ll focus on refining a few aspects that strayed towards the end of the day and head out there [Friday] to try to sink a few more putts.”
Words Coming Back to Haunt
After having dismissed the driving strategy in the lead-up to the event as lacking, McIlroy was ultimately hindered by his driver during his initial round. After hitting three of his first four fairways and appearing to be in good rhythm, the two-time PGA Championship victor found only two more fairways for the remainder of the round, falling victim to a series of bogeys caused by significant misses to the right.
McIlroy accumulated four consecutive bogeys to conclude his round, finishing at 4 over, with all his misses on holes Nos. 6-9 veering to the right of the fairway. This is neither an unfamiliar error nor a new problem area for McIlroy. He struggled with his driver at the Masters on his way to victory, but unlike his successful defense at Augusta National, he paid a steep price on Thursday and will aim to recover his standing Friday afternoon as he contends to make the cut.
“My driving simply isn’t good enough. It has been a persistent issue for most of the year,” McIlroy remarked. “I miss it to the right, and then I try to compensate. Then I overcorrect and miss it to the left. It’s a bit of a back-and-forth situation. So, that’s quite frustrating, especially since I pride myself on strong driving. “I just need to resolve it. I honestly believed I had found a solution. Coming into this event, I drove it well on Sunday at Quail Hollow, and then again effectively at home on Monday. I had to reduce my practice round on Tuesday but hit it decently yesterday. It just seems that once I’m under pressure, it starts to go a bit awry on me.”
Signs of Emerging Talent
There are 31 players currently under par, and many of those closer to the leading score (3 under) are individuals widely recognized for their significant potential. Potgieter, Lee, and Hisatsune are prominent among the young international cohort tied for the lead, alongside players eager for a breakthrough like Ryan Gerard, Nicolai Højgaard, Joaquin Niemann, Sahith Theegala, and Garrick Higgo, all firmly part of this discussion and well-positioned to be central figures by Sunday.
“We’re all aiming for a strong start. Over the past few months, I haven’t managed to do that,” Lee explained. “It was simply a shift in mindset, ‘Go out there and play aggressively’ rather than – you know that saying about shooting yourself out of contention on a Thursday? I’ve almost taken that too far by playing too conservatively. I’m striking the ball really well, so why not attack some pins and sink some putts? “It’s excellent to begin strongly. We’re all striving for that. It’s challenging, but it felt like the right moment to step on the gas a bit and execute some shots that demanded more aggression.”
A Potentially Significant Consequence …
Typically, golf delays stem from course conditions or weather, but on Thursday morning, the holdup was Garrick Higgo. The young South African was approximately thirty seconds late for his morning tee time and consequently received a two-stroke penalty. Had he been delayed by more than five minutes, the left-handed golfer would have been disqualified, and the first alternate would have taken his place.
So… that’s a plus! The downside? Two strokes frequently carry substantial weight in major championships, whether in terms of making the cut or ultimately winning the whole thing. To Higgo’s credit, he immediately understood he would be penalized and fought admirably to achieve a score under par, posting a 69. “His post-round interview was somewhat perplexing as he appeared to oscillate between accepting responsibility and… not.””
- “He asserted that his tardiness would not have occurred had he been aware of it.”
- “He admitted it wasn’t unexpected, acknowledging he was indeed late and that his caddie had been urging him to the tee.”
- “He explained he sought proof, suggesting others would do the same, and then paradoxically claimed he was ‘on time’ despite understanding the rule that even one second late counts as late.”
Aronimink Proves Its Mettle
There was considerable skepticism directed at Aronimink earlier in the week. Not from the shade of trees, naturally. With some predicting that PGA Championship and major scoring records might be broken, the Donald Ross-designed course asserted its formidable presence on Thursday, even after 0.25 inches of rain fell between Wednesday night and Thursday morning.
The golf course played to an approximate average of 72.25 (+2.25), with the front nine proving one stroke easier than the back. This occurred even though seven of the holes played under par, illustrating the severity of the challenging sections and how, despite not an abundance of overt hazards, large numbers can accumulate rapidly.
The concluding stretch exemplifies this; four of the most difficult holes bracket the par-5 16th, which ranked as the second-easiest in Round 1.
“Have you actually been there? Have you observed the golf course?” Rahm countered. “I can see why one might assume it’s easier based solely on some statistics; some fairways are broad, and the greens aren’t exceptionally firm. However, many of those fairways are sloped in a way that makes them play very narrowly. Furthermore, the rough might not appear as lengthy as in many other majors, but it’s composed of such thick grass that, even when the lie seems acceptable, it grips the club severely. “Therefore, I understand how, at first glance, it might appear less challenging, but it isn’t. You need to perform exceptionally well to score lower than 3 under. Moreover, the pin placements today were strategically chosen. I mean, they are tucked away. They are not straightforward. Earlier in the week, there was talk of people expecting a winning score of 15- to 20-under. I suspect that caught the attention of someone at the PGA, and they took action. Because if the golf course maintains these conditions and continues to firm up, then yes, it certainly won’t be anything like those predictions.”
The Putter: A Source of Frustration
Koepka entered the week recognized as the top iron player on the PGA Tour, and he lived up to that reputation. Regrettably, the five-time major champion also performed like one of the least effective putters on the PGA Tour, which has been his pattern. “By my calculations, Koepka found 15 greens in regulation, creating 12 birdie opportunities from within 20 feet. This translated to over 3.50 strokes gained with his irons. Yet, with his putter alone, he forfeited two of those strokes.””
Koepka maintains that he possesses the putter he prefers in his bag and that the issue is merely about cultivating greater confidence and familiarity with it. As someone who personally favors blade putters, his former reliable club must be metaphorically screaming at him from the closet like the Green Goblin mask.
“I feel good. Each round consistently seems to be the worst score I’m capable of,” Koepka stated. “My putter is absolutely terrible. My ball striking, however, is absolutely exceptional. That has been the ongoing narrative for the entire year. Hopefully, we can discover a method to reverse this trend.”
Birdie opportunities from within 20 feet
|
No. 11 |
9 feet, 2 inches (even) |
|
No. 12 |
13 feet, 9 inches (one stroke under) |
|
No. 13 |
4 feet, 11 inches (level) |
|
No. 14 |
12 feet, 11 inches (one stroke under) |
|
No. 15 |
20 feet (even) |
|
No. 16 |
12 feet, 3 inches (level) |
|
No. 18 |
19 feet, 8 inches (even) |
| No. 2 | 10 feet, 5 inches (level) |
| No. 4 | 8 feet, 6 inches (even) |
| No. 5 | 3 feet, 5 inches (level) |
| No. 6 | 16 feet, 2 inches (even) |
| No. 9 | 7 feet, 5 inches (level) |
Let the Festivities Begin!
The thoroughfares are cordoned off, and coolers are stocked with ice and beverages. Let the community celebration commence! Michael Block has made a significant return. Paired with two-time major champion Dustin Johnson and rising talent Rasmus Højgaard in the opening round, Block emerged as the standout performer, surpassing both by a couple of strokes with his even-par effort on Thursday.
Perhaps the most commendable aspect of Block’s display was that he managed it despite an early major error in his round. He misfired one of his rare fairways on No. 12, slowly advanced the ball up the fairway, and recorded a double bogey. Have no fear, “Blockie” balanced out these missteps (and a couple of others) with four birdies.
“I was in the restroom on hole 12 or 13 today, and there was no mirror, so I wasn’t looking at myself,” Block recounted. “But I told myself, ‘You’ve got this.’ I thought, ‘You’re actually quite skilled, buddy.’ And I just kept pushing forward. “I’m playing alongside D.J., one of my heroes, someone I’ve admired my entire life, and Rasmus, who’s an incredible player, ranked around 63rd in the world. They both hit the ball 50 yards past me on every shot. I’m just thinking, ‘You’ve got this, pal. You can do it.’ It’s genuinely cool. It’s actually quite enjoyable, if I’m being honest.”
