Defending champion Scottie Scheffler grabbed a share of the early lead at the PGA Championship, as Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau made nightmare starts at Aronimink Golf Club
Scheffler, runner-up in his last three worldwide starts and chasing a fifth major victory in as many seasons, posted four birdies in a six-hole stretch around the turn on his way to an opening-round 67.
The world No 1 sits in a seven-way tie at the top of a congested leaderboard, with Aldrich Potgieter, Stephan Jaeger, Min Woo Lee, Ryo Hisatsune, Alex Smalley and former champion Martin Kaymer also on three under.
Scheffler mixed five birdies with two bogeys during his opening round
A further seven players sit a shot back, including 2024 champion Xander Schauffele, Patrick Reed, Shane Lowry and England’s Daniel Brown, while Jordan Spieth is just two adrift as he searches for the elusive major required to complete the career Grand Slam.
Jon Rahm is alongside Spieth on one under and one of 33 players within two of the lead, as McIlroy’s bid for back-to-back major title was derailed with a four-bogey finish to his opening-round 74 and DeChambeau struggled to a six-over 76.
Scheffler makes ominous start to title defence
Scheffler was among the later starters on the opening day, 12 months on from his five-shot victory at the Quail Hollow Club, with the 29-year-old making a slow start when he followed a three-par start with a bogey at the fourth.
He responded with a birdie at the sixth and nailed a 40-footer at the next, before scrambling a par at the eighth and starting his back nine with successive birdies to join the logjam on three under.
Scheffler cancelled out a long-range three-putt bogey at the 14th by taking advantage of the par-five 16th, with his impressive display off the tee – missing just one fairway – and strong putting guiding him to the first opening-round co-lead of his major career.
More to follow…
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