The PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club opened with chaos, controversy, and a crowded leaderboard. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler fought through penalties and pressure to post a 3‑under 67, joining six others in a seven‑way tie for the lead after Round 1. Yankee Scores reports.
Scheffler Steadies Himself
Scheffler rolled in two long birdie putts and caught a break on the 17th hole when he was granted relief near a sprinkler cap. Despite missing a short putt early, he laughed off the mistake and kept his composure. “Is it really a lead when you’re tied with like six guys?” Scheffler joked afterward, acknowledging the logjam.
Drama Across the Field
The opening day was filled with unusual moments. Jon Rahm struck a volunteer with a divot after an angry swing, Garrick Higgo was penalized two shots for arriving 10 seconds late to the tee, and Rory McIlroy bogeyed his final four holes to finish with a disappointing 74. Bryson DeChambeau struggled to a 76, while Jordan Spieth, chasing the career Grand Slam, settled for a 69 after late bogeys.
Historic Logjam
Scheffler’s 67 tied him with Martin Kaymer, Aldrich Potgieter, Stephan Jaeger, Min Woo Lee, Ryo Hisatsune, and Alex Smalley. It marked the largest tie for the lead at a major since nine players shared the top spot in the 1969 PGA Championship. With 48 players within three shots, the championship is wide open heading into Friday.
Course Proves Brutal
Aronimink’s sloped greens, firm fairways, and swirling winds made scoring difficult. Not since 2008 has the low score to par after Round 1 been worse than 3 under. Scheffler, who has struggled with opening rounds this year, called it “definitely the best start I’ve gotten off to this year.”
