PGA Championship: Scottie Scheffler’s Strong Start
NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. — Another day, another solid performance from Scottie Scheffler.
It’s a bit surprising, perhaps, but there was a chance you might have overlooked him during Thursday’s opening round at Aronimink Golf Club.
How could you? He’s been ranked No. 1 in the world for the past three years and has maintained that spot through 12 majors.
It seems almost absurd, doesn’t it?
However, Scheffler teed off in the third-to-last group at 2:05 p.m.
Before he even hit his first shot, numerous players were already showcasing impressive plays and climbing the leaderboard.
Interestingly, the top spots for much of the day were occupied by names that may not ring a bell for many.
Aldrich Potgieter, a 21-year-old from South Africa, led the pack with a 3-under 67.
Stefan Jaeger, a 36-year-old from Germany who likely blends into the Munich crowd, joined him at that same score.
Then there was Ryo Hisatsune, just 23, who has yet to win on the PGA Tour, ending the day at 3 under, alongside Minu Lee, a 27-year-old Australian with one PGA win to his name.
As the day progressed, Alex Smalley and 41-year-old Martin Kaymer became part of the mix; Kaymer has yet to crack the top 10 in his last 23 majors over the last decade.
This leaderboard could be mistaken for one from an alternate event rather than a major championship.
And there he was, just after 5 p.m.—Scheffler.
By the end of the day, he found himself tied for first with six others.
He really came through.
Getting off to a great start, Scheffler hit his first 12 fairways, marking the longest stretch of his career in major tournaments.
But that’s not the whole story.
Historically, the opening round has been a challenge for him this year. He entered the tournament ranked 77th in first-round scoring average (70.33), often needing to catch up after Thursday.
He attributes his struggles in past championships to the timing of his rounds, noting late starts during the Masters (70), RBC Heritage (68), and Doral (71), where he tied for third in Phoenix after an initial score of 73, and finished fourth at Pebble Beach after a 72.
It seems like he’s found a solution, especially since he’s trying to defend his title from the previous year.
With his usual composure, he quietly made his move on Thursday. But it’s certain other players were keeping a close eye on him, despite the subdued atmosphere.
This marks Scheffler’s 27th appearance in a major, and notably, it’s the first time he’s shared or held the lead after the opening round of a major. He mentioned after the round that he wasn’t initially aware of this milestone.
He added jokingly, “If you’re tied with six or seven other people, is that really a lead? I think it’s more of a co-lead, with the ‘co’ being pretty important.”
Scheffler became only the third defending PGA Champion to lead or co-lead after 18 holes, following in the footsteps of Tiger Woods and Brooks Koepka, both of whom went on to win.
While there are some lesser-known names on the leaderboard, quite a few can pack a punch.
Former PGA Champion Xander Schauffele sits at 2 under, along with Patrick Reed, who is trying to reintegrate into the PGA after departing for LIV Golf.
Jordan Spieth and Jon Rahm are both at 1 under, as they vie for their 10th career Grand Slam. Meanwhile, Koepka, Justin Thomas, and fellow former PGA champion Collin Morikawa are lurking close behind.
Notable champions like Matthew Fitzpatrick, Justin Rose, J.J. Spaun, Rickie Fowler, Patrick Cantlay, and Hideki Matsuyama are all just three strokes off the lead. Even club pro Michael Brock is holding steady at par.
There are 12 past major champions within two strokes of the lead, and a total of 48 players lying within three strokes.
Despite the competition, all eyes are on Scheffler.
And rightly so.
