CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The opening round of the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club on Thursday saw an unexpected leaderboard emerge, with lesser-known players finding success while many of golf`s biggest names struggled.
Adding to the surprising turn of events, Jhonattan Vegas, who hadn`t made a major cut since the 2021 U.S. Open (T57), birdied five of his final six holes to shoot a remarkable 7-under 64. This performance secured him a two-stroke lead and marked him as the first Venezuelan golfer to lead or co-lead a major after the first round.
“It feels amazing,” Vegas commented on his round. “It`s what we dream of.”
Ryan Gerard and Cam Davis finished the day tied for second place at 5 under par. European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald was part of a group of five players knotted at 4 under.
Could things get even more unpredictable on Friday? Here`s a look at key storylines heading into the second round.
Analyzing the Performance of Rory, Scottie, and Xander Heading into Round 2
Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele could have been much closer to the lead if not for challenging mud balls on the par-4 16th. Neither played their absolute best game in the opening round. Scheffler managed to finish at 2-under 69, while Schauffele was 1 over after 18 holes.
Scheffler expressed frustration with the conditions, particularly after a mud ball contributed to a double-bogey 6 on the 16th hole. Schauffele faced a similar issue on the same hole, as did Rory McIlroy.
“Overall, I did a good job battling and keeping a level head out there during a day [in] which there [were] definitely some challenging aspects to the course,” Scheffler said. “I did a good job posting a number on a day where I didn`t have my best stuff.”
McIlroy, a strong favorite given his four Wells Fargo Championship wins at Quail Hollow, struggled significantly, especially off the tee, hitting only four fairways. His putting game also cost him strokes relative to the field.
Despite a challenging start, it`s premature to dismiss McIlroy. Recall his comeback at the Masters, where he overcame an opening 72 (seven strokes behind the leader) with consecutive 66s to take the lead into Sunday, eventually winning in a playoff.
Which Unexpected Name Near the Top Could Remain in Contention?
My pick is New Zealand`s Ryan Fox, one of the last players to qualify after winning the Oneflight Myrtle Beach Classic last week. That victory was his first on the PGA Tour, adding to his four DP World Tour titles.
Fox shot a 4-under 67 on Thursday with minimal preparation time at Quail Hollow this week. He attributed his success to confidence. “Just pick my targets, hit my shots and trust that I`m playing well,” Fox commented. “It`s amazing what finding a bit of confidence can do.”
His mental fortitude is also notable, perhaps inherited from his father, Grant, who played for the All Blacks rugby team that won the 1987 Rugby World Cup.
If we define “unlikely” broadly, I`d point to Stephan Jaeger. Jaeger is a PGA Tour winner who has become a top-50 player partly through significant distance gains. Interestingly, his driving wasn`t strong in Round 1, yet he remained in the top 10 for strokes gained: tee to green, thanks to an excellent approach game (gaining 1.4 shots) and short game (gaining over two strokes).
Jaeger highlighted the course`s difficulty and length. “This golf course is hard, it`s long and plays even longer this week because it`s wet,” Jaeger said. “You have to be able to hit it in the fairways and decently long in the fairways so you can hold the greens with mid-irons rather than long irons.”
He hit 12 greens and recovered well on the misses. Jaeger`s combination of a strong approach and short game suggests he has the tools to stay near the top of the leaderboard over the weekend.
Who Is the Favorite to Win After Round 1?
It`s difficult to look past Scottie Scheffler, the world No. 1. He dominated his last tournament, winning by eight strokes. While I respect the players at the top, they don`t have his resume, including two Masters titles.
On Thursday, Scheffler`s driving was solid, his chipping was world-class, and his iron play was adequate. He lost a bit on the greens, but if his putting improves, he will be extremely hard to beat.
Despite a tough break on No. 16, Scheffler managed his score well and is in a dangerous lurking position on the leaderboard.
While agreeing that Scheffler is the obvious pick given his 2-under score with his `C` game, outside of him, I`d lean towards Bryson DeChambeau. The two-time major champion struggled with his approach play (ranking 116th in strokes gained) but still pieced together an under-par round. He needs to improve his approaches to win, but his powerful driving remains a significant advantage.
Another major name potentially flying under the radar is Jon Rahm. While he hasn`t contended much in recent majors, his opening 1-under 70 this week is a better start than usual. Rahm continues to perform well on the LIV tour and seems due for a strong major performance, especially as his lack of contention since winning the 2023 Masters becomes a storyline.
Big Names Facing the Cut on Friday
To make the weekend, players need to be within the top 70 scores and ties after 36 holes. Several prominent players, including past major champions, have work to do:
Players at 2 over: Sepp Straka, Rickie Fowler, Shane Lowry, Jason Day, Max Homa, and Justin Thomas.
Players at 3 over: Rory McIlroy, Patrick Cantlay, Min Woo Lee, and Gary Woodland. Also at 3 over is Joaquín Niemann from the LIV Golf League.
Players at 4 over: Brooks Koepka and Sergio Garcia (both LIV Golf).
Players at 5 over: Justin Rose and Jordan Spieth.
Players at 7 over: Cameron Smith and Dustin Johnson (both LIV Golf).
Players at 8 over: Phil Mickelson (LIV Golf).
Ryder Cup Captains Showcase in Round 1
Fittingly, the PGA of America`s major features both Ryder Cup captains high up on the leaderboard after Round 1. Keegan Bradley finished at 3 under, and Luke Donald is at 4 under. Both arrived with different expectations but find themselves in the top 10.
“Someone just told me it was the lowest first round in a major I`ve had since 2004 or something. So you know, obviously I`ve been trending with all the missed cuts coming into this week,” Donald quipped. “But no, it was a pleasant surprise. I got off to a really nice, steady start.”
Donald, 47, isn`t playing a full schedule and received an invitation as a captain. He has missed three cuts this year but has been working on his game. “I was pumped to see Luke up there,” Bradley said. “I know how hard he`s been working back home. Luke is an all-time great player. Doesn`t surprise me.”
Bradley, a top-20 player, has had a solid season with six top-20s. He is capable of competing at this level. This performance highlights why Bradley has a realistic chance of being a playing captain in September, unlike Donald.
“Keegan is top 20 in the world. He can have one good week out here, win, which he`s very capable of, and he`s absolutely in the conversation of being a playing captain,” Donald stated. “I don`t think that`s quite in my future.”
Course Conditions: Mud Balls and the Days Ahead
The biggest talking point after Round 1 was the mud balls. Significant rain before the tournament left the course wet, leading to unpredictable lies even in the fairway. Players described it as their least favorite kind of shot.
“It`s one of those deals where it`s frustrating to hit the ball in the middle of the fairway and get mud on it and have no idea where it`s going to go,” Scottie Scheffler said, emphasizing the lack of control.
The PGA of America decided not to implement preferred lies (lift, clean, and place) despite the conditions. This decision surprised several players, who felt cleaning the ball in the fairway wouldn`t provide an unfair advantage given the overall course setup.
“I wouldn`t want to go in the locker room because I`m sure a lot of guys aren`t super happy with the sort of conditions there,” Xander Schauffele commented. He felt the fairways were in good condition otherwise.
Scheffler was particularly frustrated by the mud ball on the 16th that sent his approach into the water, leading to a double bogey. Schauffele faced the same issue.
Schauffele also warned that the mud balls could worsen as the course dries, entering a “perfect cake zone” where mud adheres more firmly. Hitting lower off the tee might reduce mud, but it sacrifices distance, making it a “bit of a crapshoot.”
While frustrating for players, this unpredictability could make the tournament more exciting for viewers. “Normally, I feel like the PGA does a really good job with setup. It`s always fair. If they have the right golf courses, it`s fair and hard,” Stephan Jaeger noted.
He added that the SubAir system and expected warmer weather would make the greens firmer and faster throughout the week. “So it`s going to be baked out by Sunday for sure.”
Bryson DeChambeau is attempting to embrace the uncertainty. “You just have to manage your ball a little bit better,” he said. “Everybody has to deal with it.”
