Xander Schauffele produces historic round to lead the way at the 2024 PGA Championship

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Xander Schauffele produced a stunning round to lead the field at the 2024 PGA Championship after the first day of play.

Schauffele, who is looking to land his first major, was simply magnificent as he powered to the top of the leaderboard with a -9 score.

Ending the day leading by three, Schauffele’s nearest challengers are Tony Finau, Sahith Theegala and Mark Hubbard who will all tee off at -6.

It was also a good day for two of Europe’s victorious Ryder Cup team with Rory McIlroy and Robert MacIntyre ending their rounds four strokes back on -5.

Despite Schauffele’s strong position, the weather is set to cause a challenge for those teeing off in the afternoon and the current leader will need to play well if he is to keep his dreams of winning a first major title on track.

Schauffele makes the most of brilliant conditions, other big names are lurking 

With much of Kentucky being battered by rainfall, the usually brutal Valhalla was able to show its softer side on Thursday as the soft fairways and greens allowed for heavy low scoring.

Out in one of the first groups of the day, Xander Schauffele was keen to make the most of the kind conditions.

Starting on the tenth hole, Schauffele was able to rattle home birdies on the 11th, 13th, 15th, 16th and 18th holes making the turn in -5.

Schauffele makes the most of brilliant conditions


Despite the front nine playing tougher, Schauffele showed no signs of letting up, going onto post four more birdies on the 2nd, 4th, 5th and 7th holes. Tying the record score for a major, the world number three couldn’t get the putts to drop on his final two holes to create history and end the day with the lowest score ever posted at a major. 

In complete control of his game and swing, Schauffele barely put a foot wrong all day. However, bigger tests are to come.

Finding himself in a similar position at last week’s Wells Fargo Championship, Schauffele was unable to back up his first round lead and would go on to lose by five strokes to Rory McIlroy. He has often been accused of lacking a killer edge and he will need to show that he has the composure to kick on again over the next few rounds. 

Starting as Schauffele’s nearest competitors are the big hitting duo of Tony Finau and Sahith Theegala.

Finau is one of the PGA Tour’s most popular players but he has struggled for form this year. Coming into this Championship under the radar, Finau lit up the back nine with five birdies. Able to keep the mistakes at bay, his closing nine holes were a lot more sedate, but he was able to come home one under par and is very much a part of this championship.

Theegala is arguably one of the most talented players on Tour. Magnificent around the greens, his round would ignite on the tricky par 3 eleventh, when he would produce a sublime chip to score an unlikely birdie. From there he wouldn’t look back and would go on to post six further birdies for the loss of just one stroke. 

Heading into the tournament, Rory McIlroy was seen as one of the leading contenders. The winner of the tournament the last time that Valhalla hosted this tournament ten years ago, McIlroy battled superbly to end the day four off the pace. 

Starting well, his round almost unravelled when posting a bogey on the 17th, he would then find the water on the 18th. Showing superb composure to scramble for a par, the four time major winner used scare as a catalyst and came alive on the front nine posting four birdies in a stretch of six holes. 

What usually costs McIlroy are slow starts, but this time around he finds himself bang in contention and he will be looking to make a major move today. 

other big names are lurking


Whilst a major can’t be won on the first day it can certainly be lost and there will be several players who will be happy with how their week has started.

Also sitting on -5 are two of the best young players in the game, Tom Kim and Collin Morikawa. It’s easy to forget that Morikawa already has two major wins and he has been in good form of late. Showing great signs of confidence, he knows what is needed to win tournaments like this and his chances can’t be dismissed. 

Scottie Scheffler started the week as the overwhelming favourite and he ominously lurks in twelfth place, just five strokes off the lead. 

Scheffler started his week with a bang, posting an eagle on his opening hole and as has been his way, he was able to reach four under without looking under any sort of stress.

Ideally positioned ahead of the next three rounds, expect another big move to come. 

Brooks Koepka has won this championship on three different occasions and he is also well placed on -4.

Struggling for much of his round, Koepka ended his first round in spectacular style, picking up three shots in his final two holes. Koepka comes alive at the majors and he is another who will expect to kick on today. 

Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas both had solid starts, with both ending the day on -2. Thomas, who is playing in front of a home crowd will want to make a serious move as he tries to win this tournament for a third time. 

How did Tiger Woods fare?

It has been great to see Tiger Woods in action but the fifteen time major winner had an up and down opening round. 

Battling hard throughout most of the day, Woods was in the red numbers heading onto his seventeenth hole. However, with tiredness creeping in he would bogey his last two holes to end the day +1. Needing to shift his score into the minus numbers, he has a task on his hands to make the cut.