The first round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club was a wild ride. With tough conditions and a packed leaderboard, players struggled to find their rhythm.
A Historic Start
Seven players are tied for the lead, the most after any round in a major since 1977. There’s a staggering 48 players within three shots of the lead, a rare occurrence in modern golf. The day’s best score was 3 under par, the highest to lead after Round 1 of a PGA Championship in 18 years. The course proved challenging, especially compared to the easier experience during the 2018 BMW Championship, where only five holes played over par. On Thursday, eleven holes were tough to tackle.
Course Challenge
Players faced significant penalties for hitting into the rough. Those approaching from the rough ended up about 13 feet farther from the hole than when they found the fairway. This is much tougher than the season average of around 9 feet. Around the greens, players struggled too, averaging 11 feet on short shots, which was noticeably worse than the Tour average.
Top Contenders
Defending champion Scottie Scheffler joined the chase after posting a strong round. He’s only the third player to share the first-round lead as a defending champion in the PGA Championship’s history. He rolled in over 120 feet in putts and positioned himself well off the tee, hitting the first 12 fairways of the round.
In another exciting plot, Martin Kaymer made headlines by shooting his lowest round in over two years. Now 41, he’s among 12 major champions within two strokes of the lead. This marks a record for most major winners close to the lead after Round 1.
Among the other leaders, Aldrich Potgieter, just 21 years old, and reigning PGA Tour Rookie of the Year, quickly captured attention. He’s the youngest to be tied for the lead after any round since Sergio Garcia in 1999.
Notable Performances and Struggles
Several prominent players like Shane Lowry and Xander Schauffele also posted solid starts. Lowry’s eagle at the ninth suggested his potential, while Schauffele’s consistent performance showed why he’s a strong competitor.
On the flip side, Rory McIlroy faced a tough day, shooting 74 after a tough finish. He admitted he underestimated the course. Bryson DeChambeau continued his struggles with a 76, making just one birdie. His recent trend of poor starts in majors raised eyebrows.
Overall, this championship is shaping up to be exciting, with many big names still in the hunt. The leaderboard is crowded, and as history shows, a strong first round often predicts success; 45 of the last 50 major winners were within five shots of the lead after Round 1.
For more on tournament insights and player performances, check out resources from the PGA Championship here.
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