Scottie Scheffler showed why he remains golf’s dominant force by sharing the first-round lead at the US PGA Championship, while Rory McIlroy endured a frustrating day at Aronimink Golf Club.
The difficult Pennsylvania course proved far tougher than many players expected, with only a small group managing to finish under par after round one.
Scheffler Stays Calm Under Pressure
Defending champion Scheffler carded an impressive three-under-par 67 to sit alongside six other players at the top of the leaderboard.
The American handled Aronimink’s thick rough and tricky greens with remarkable control and patience throughout the round.
McIlroy’s Driver Problems Return
McIlroy’s round quickly unravelled after a promising start as inaccurate driving repeatedly left him in trouble.
The Masters champion finished four over par after closing with four straight bogeys, ending the day seven shots behind the leaders.
The Northern Irish star admitted missing fairways proved costly on a course where rough and difficult angles punished aggressive play.
Aronimink Bites Back
Many players expected low scores before the tournament began, but Aronimink’s firm greens and punishing rough completely changed the story.
Only 32 players in the 156-man field finished below par after Thursday’s opening round.
Surprise Names Join The Leaders
Scheffler shares the lead with several unexpected contenders, including Martin Kaymer, Stephan Jaeger and Min Woo Lee.
Former major champion Kaymer produced one of the most emotional stories of the day after revealing he had recently been asked whether he was still playing professional golf.
Tempers Also Under Spotlight
Player behaviour became another talking point after incidents involving Jon Rahm and Justin Thomas during their rounds.
Tournament officials have recently introduced stricter conduct guidelines following several emotional outbursts at major events.
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