CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The opening round of the PGA Championship on Thursday at Quail Hollow Club saw a mix of unfamiliar names near the top of the leaderboard, contrasting with struggles faced by many of golf`s top stars.
Adding to the surprises, Jhonattan Vegas, whose last major cut came in 2021, finished his round with birdies on five of the final six holes, carding a 7-under 64 to secure a two-stroke lead. Playing alongside Australia`s Elvis Smylie, Vegas made history as the first Venezuelan golfer to hold or share the first-round lead in a major.
“It feels amazing,” Vegas remarked. “It`s what we dream of.”
Ryan Gerard and Cam Davis were tied for second at 5 under. European Ryder Cup team captain Luke Donald was among five players finishing the day at 4 under.
Can Quail Hollow deliver more unexpected turns on Friday? Here`s a look at what to anticipate in the second round.
Thoughts on Rory, Scottie, and Xander heading into Round 2?
Mark Schlabach: Had it not been for unlucky mud balls on the par-4 16th hole on Thursday, Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele could have been much closer to the lead. Neither played their absolute best, but Scheffler managed a 2-under 69, while Schauffele finished 1 over.
Scheffler wasn`t pleased with the course conditions, particularly how a mud ball contributed to his double-bogey on the 16th. Schauffele and Rory McIlroy also encountered difficulties on that hole.
“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 commented. “I did a good job posting a number on a day where I didn`t have my best stuff.”
McIlroy was a popular choice to win his third Wanamaker Trophy, especially given his success at Quail Hollow, where he has won the Wells Fargo Championship four times. His game was erratic on Thursday, struggling off the tee (hitting only four fairways) and losing strokes putting. Despite the rough start, it`s too early to count out McIlroy, who has a history of strong comebacks, including his Masters victory where he overcame a poor opening round.
What unlikely name near the top do you think could stay contenders over the weekend?
Schlabach: My pick is Ryan Fox from New Zealand, one of the last players to qualify after winning the Oneflight Myrtle Beach Classic last week in a playoff. Fox posted a 4-under 67 on Thursday despite minimal preparation time this week, crediting confidence from his recent victory. His mental resilience may be partly inherited; his father, Grant, was on the victorious 1987 All Blacks Rugby World Cup team.
Paolo Uggetti: It depends on your definition of unlikely, but I`ll choose Stephan Jaeger.
Jaeger, a PGA Tour winner who has significantly improved his driving distance and is now a top-50 player, didn`t drive his best on Thursday but still ranked highly in strokes gained: tee to green, showing a strong approach game (gaining 1.4 shots). This suggests he has the consistency to remain in contention.
“This golf course is hard, it`s long and plays even longer this week because it`s wet,” Jaeger stated. “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.”
Jaeger hit 12 greens and used an excellent short game to compensate for misses, gaining over two strokes on the field around the greens. Uggetti believes Jaeger possesses the sustainability among the current leaders to stick around through the weekend.
Who do you think is now the favorite to win after Round 1?
Schlabach: Scottie Scheffler`s status as world No. 1 and his recent dominant win speak for themselves. Unlike many currently ahead of him, he has multiple major titles (two Masters). On Thursday, even with his iron play and putting not at their best and facing a tough break, his strong driving and chipping kept him within striking distance. He`s lurking and will be hard to beat if his putting improves.
Uggetti: While it`s difficult to argue against Scheffler, who shot 2-under with arguably his “C” game, Bryson DeChambeau is another strong contender. Despite struggling with approach shots (ranking 116th in strokes gained: approach), he managed an under-par round thanks to his powerful driving. Improving his approach game slightly could put him squarely in the mix. Jon Rahm is another big name flying under the radar. His 1-under 70 is a better start than in recent majors, and he remains consistent on the LIV tour. He seems poised for a major contention run after winning the 2023 Masters.
Biggest names with work to do Friday?
Schlabach: Many significant players and past major champions are currently around or outside the projected cut line (top 70 scores and ties) and need a strong Friday to make the weekend. This group includes Sepp Straka, Rickie Fowler, Shane Lowry, Jason Day, Max Homa, and Justin Thomas (all 2 over); Rory McIlroy, Patrick Cantlay, Min Woo Lee, and Gary Woodland (all 3 over); and Justin Rose and Jordan Spieth (both 5 over). Several LIV Golf stars are also in danger: Joaquín Niemann (3 over), Brooks Koepka (4 over), Sergio Garcia (4 over), Cameron Smith (7 over), Dustin Johnson (7 over), and Phil Mickelson (8 over).
A Ryder Cup Captain Showcase in Round 1
Uggetti: Appropriately, the first round of the PGA Championship featured both Ryder Cup captains, Keegan Bradley (3 under) and Luke Donald (4 under), high up on the leaderboard. Both arrived with different priorities, but now find themselves within the top 10.
“Someone just told me it was the lowest first round in a major I`ve had since 2004 or something,” Donald quipped. “So you know, obviously I`ve been trending with all the missed cuts coming into this week. But no, it was a pleasant surprise. I got off to a really nice, steady start. I hit a bunch of fairways on the front nine which always makes me feel good about my game.”
Donald, 47, is playing a limited schedule and received an invitation from the PGA of America. Despite his focus on the captaincy and missing three cuts this year, he has been working on his game, which showed in his bogey-free round.
“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 has had several top-20 finishes this season and is capable of competing at this level. Donald noted Bradley`s potential as a playing captain due to his ranking and capability, contrasting it with his own situation, while praising Bradley`s dedication.
Thoughts on how the course played and how it might set up for the next three days?
Uggetti: The primary talking point after Round 1 was the issue of mud balls. Significant rain prior to the tournament meant the course hasn`t fully dried, leading players to face unpredictable shots when mud sticks to the ball – something they train hard to avoid.
“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,” Scheffler lamented. “I understand it`s part of the game, but there`s nothing more frustrating for a player. You spend your whole life trying to learn how to control a golf ball, and due to a rules decision all of a sudden you have absolutely no control over where that golf ball goes.”
The PGA of America`s decision not to implement preferred lies despite the wet conditions surprised some players. This meant hitting the ball as it lay, making the outcome uncertain – mud on one side might cause a wild hook, or it might fly off cleanly, making every shot a gamble.
Several players felt that given the challenging setup of the course, allowing preferred lies wouldn`t have provided an undue advantage. Scheffler specifically cited the mud ball on the 16th fairway that cost him a double bogey, a fate also shared by Schauffele.
Schauffele predicted that the mud ball issue would potentially worsen as the course dries, entering a “cake zone” where mud adheres stubbornly, making shots even more of “a bit of a crapshoot.” He noted that hitting lower tee shots to mitigate this sacrifices crucial distance.
While players find the unpredictability frustrating, from a spectator`s standpoint, these uncertain conditions could inject drama and make the major more compelling.
“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,” Jaeger observed. He added that with the SubAir system running and favorable weather, the greens would likely get firmer and faster by Sunday, adding another layer of difficulty.
Bryson DeChambeau is attempting to embrace the uncertainty, stating that players simply “have to manage your ball a little bit better. It`s not easy… everybody has to deal with it.”
Jasper Hawthorne