PGA Championship 2024: Schauffele breaks course record | No party for Block | Rahm fights back to shoot under par

Ben Kohles scores extremely well in his first round at the PGA Championship

The 106th PGA Championship at Valhalla is underway and we’re here to ensure you don’t miss a thing from the first-round action

Things you missed at the PGA Championship: Tuesday | Wednesday

With the first round underway, Valhalla looks to have presented us with a course that will certainly suit the strongest field in golf. With some low scores already on the board and 99 of the top 100 golfers in the world rankings here, the soft conditions will play ideal for some good scoring on day one of the PGA Championship in Louisville, Kentucky.

Here’s what you might have missed from Round One…

Course record beaten by Schauffele

The course record at Valhalla Golf Club has been beaten by Xander Schauffele who cards a 62 during his first round at the 2024 PGA Championship. The previous course record of 63 was set by Jose Maria Olazabal in 2000 while playing in the PGA Championship that year. When the Spaniard fired in his 63 in 2000, the course was played as a par 72. Whereas Valhalla Golf Club is being played as a par 71 for this years PGA Championship.

However, that won’t matter to Schauffele who now holds the record for the lowest round in the PGA Championship. The American has tied the lowest round scored in a Major Championship – Branden Grace was the first to shoot 62 in a Major, at the 2017 Open Championship, and Rickie Fowler and Schauffele both fired in 62s at last season’s US Open.

The World No.3 has now become the first golfer to score 62 or lower on multiple occasions at a Major Championship.

Toms on top in the afternoon wave

The best scoring on the opening day of the 106th PGA Championship was performed in the morning wave, most notably with Xander Schauffele breaking the course record and posting his second 62 in a Major tournament. In the afternoon wave, the scoring hasn’t been quite as low but there are three Toms at five-under par at the end of play on Thursday – well one Thomas and two Toms.

Tom Kim, Tom Hoge, and Thomas Detry all find themselves in a prominent position going into Friday and with early tee times they can kick on and post the score to beat heading into the weekend.

Tom Kim’s 66 made him the youngest golfer to post a 66 in the opening round of the PGA Championship since Sergio Garcia carded one in the 1999 PGA Championship. His 66 is the first under-par round he’s posted in the PGA Championship.

Rahm, Fitzpatrick, and Mickelson all recover from rough starts

Jon Rahm was well down the leaderboard sitting at four-over par through six holes. However, the Spaniard managed to turn things around and finish the day at one-under par. For a moment, it looked as though the worst round scored by the Spaniard in a Major Championship, 78, might have been surpassed, but the LIV golfer dug deep and managed to claw back those shots he lost early in his round.

The Legion XIII Captain’s worst round in the PGA Championship is a 76 which he recorded last year in the opening round at Oak Hill and the year before at Southern Hills. He’ll be thankful after his poor start that he didn’t add another 76 (or worse) to his resume.

Matt Fitzpatrick definitely wouldn’t have envisaged his PGA Championship starting the way it did. The Englishman was three-over par through his opening six holes, and so was his playing partner, two-time PGA Champion, Phil Mickelson. The pair of Major Champions began to find their game shortly with Fitzpatrick being under par and Mickelson being level from the sixth hole onwards. The 2022 US Open Champion posted a two-under par 69 despite having issues with losing the ball left off the tee.

HyFlyers GC Captain, Mickelson, is chasing a record this week at Valhalla Golf Club, he’s bidding to become the golfer with the most cuts made in the PGA Championship. The six-time Major Champion is right around the projected cutline after shooting three-over par 74 in round one. If Lefty makes the cut it will be his 28th cut made at the PGA Championship which is more than any other golfer has made in the history of the tournament.

Scheffler eagles first hole and shoots 67

Outstanding! I don’t think anyone would have been surprised to see Scottie start slow considering he’s been on daddy duties, but this is Scottie Scheffler, he’s an absolute machine.

Just two swings into his PGA Championship and he was two-under par. Scottie Scheffler ladies and gentlemen. Take a bow.

Fast forward to the 18th green and the World No.1 has pieced together an excellent round of 67 to sit albeit five shots off the early lead but in a very ominous position after just one round at the PGA Championship.

Watching Scottie’s round, you probably would think he was flirting around level par for the day with nothing really clicking, but he ended his round four-under par and 1st for strokes gained tee-to-green.

Morikawa on the charge

Through the first five holes, Collin Morikawa was two-over par and he didn’t really show any signs of turning things around. However, he must have had a good talking to himself on the walk from the fifth green to the sixth tee because he went on to birdie holes six, seven, and eight to make the turn one-under par.

The 2020 PGA Champion fired in a back-nine score of 32, giving him a final score of 66 for the round, tying the Toms in the afternoon wave and Rory and MacIntyre from the morning wave.

Wells leads the way for PGA Professionals

Jeremy Wells takes the spoils on day one for being the PGA Professional with the lowest score in the PGA Championship. The 33-year-old from Estero Florida is the Director of Player Development at Cypress Lake Golf Club. Wells is playing in his second and consecutive PGA Championship.

In last year’s PGA Championship, the American fired in an opening round of 74 and a second round of 78 to miss the cut at Oak Hill. This year his opening round of 69 could see him through to the weekend providing he delivers another solid performance tomorrow.

Rickie and the technicolor scorecard

Rickie Fowler couldn’t buy a par on the front nine – he only managed one par through his opening nine holes. Rickie opened up with a double bogey followed by his only par on the front nine, after that he made four birdies and four bogeys. More to come on the back nine?

No, after the turn, Fowler managed to card nine consecutive pars, pretty ridiculous considering his game through the opening nine holes.

61-year-old PGA Professional posts a 74

Every golfer dreams of teeing it up in a Major Championship alongside the best players on the planet, but perhaps no one imagines they’d be realizing that dream at the age of 61, however, that’s exactly the case for PGA Professional Tracy Phillips.

After taking a 20-year break from the game, the teaching pro out of Tulsa, Oklahoma fired in a three-over par, 74, in his first-ever round in a Major Championship. Hats off to you Tracy – an incredible achievement.

Hovland reunites with his old coach

Viktor Hovland enjoyed his lowest round of golf since competing at the Sentry at the beginning of 2024. The Norwegian shot a three-under par, 68, during his first round of the PGA Championship. It’s been no secret that Hovland has been enduring a poor run of form, however, his fortune could be turning as he has reunited with his former coach, Joe Mayo.

“He knows my swing really well. He’s really, really smart and just has a way of looking at my swing and knowing what it is right away. I got some really good answers, was able to apply some of the feels right away and saw improvement right away,” said Hovland on the reunion.

Is it time to park the cart for good?

John Daly is allowed to ride around in a golf cart while playing in the PGA Championship, but his golf clubs aren’t! His caddie carries the bag because he’s not allowed to ride with his clubs in the cart with him. The 1991 PGA Champion rides a cart because his arthritis limits his ability to walk the course.

Daly’s 82 (+11) sees him sitting second last on the leaderboard, and it seems incredibly likely that he won’t be sticking around for the weekend. The two-time Major Champion is on course to miss his 15th Major cut in a row – the last cut line he was on the right side of was at the 2012 PGA Championship. In the twelve years since that last made cut, the American has only scored in the red numbers on two occasions in 29 rounds, with a stroke average of 75.7 – I’d say it’s time to park the cart for good.

An extremely likable top of the leaderboard

I’m watching the coverage and I can’t help but smile every time my eyes drift to look at the leaderboard showing the current top 5. Sitting at the top of the pile, following his magnificent 62 is Xander Schauffele, who I think everyone is rooting for to win a Major Championship.

Three shots back at six-under par is the American pair of Tony Finau and Sahith Theegala – both of which I don’t think could ever have a bad word said about them.

In a tie for fourth place is the European pair of Rory McIlroy and Bob MacIntyre, they sit at five-under pair after both shooting 66 for their opening rounds. If the tournament were to end right now I’d be happy with this being the final leaderboard. Although, I’m sure Scottie Scheffler will come and spoil the party.

Bryson holes out for eagle

Bryson DeChambeau was moving along quietly before holing out for eagle on the 7th hole (his 16th of the day). The Crushers GC Captain followed up his chip-in eagle on seven with a birdie on eight – mirroring Brooks Koepka’s score through those holes.

It’s the second Major Championship in a row where the 2020 US Open Champion has holed out from the fairway. After chipping out from the trees with his second shot on the eighteenth hole in round 3 at the Masters, DeChambeau holed his third for birdie – I know not quite as good as an eagle!

Rory’s ring has gone

While wife Erica was spotted still wearing her wedding ring after a pilates class earlier on Thursday, Rory McIlroy has dispensed of his band at the PGA Championship. The Northern Irishman, who has filed for divorce from his wife of seven years, has played in his wedding ring ever since the couple’s nuptials, but the silver band is no longer on his left hand at Valhalla.

Looking to end a ten year wait for his fifth Major at the same course where he won his fourth, McIlroy put aside off-course distractions and showed more of the form that won him last week’s Wells Fargo Championship as he shot an opening five-under-par 65.

Tiger finishes at one-over par

Heading into the PGA Championship everyone was anticipating how Tiger Woods would perform having to walk such a long course. On the eighth tee (Tiger’s 17th) it seemed as though the 15-time Major Champion would be ending the day in the red, but back-to-back three putts moved Tiger to one-over par for the PGA Championship – not bad and definitely a lot of positives from his opening round of the 106th PGA Championship.

McIlroy making moves in the morning wave

Rory McIlroy is hoping to end his ten-year Major Championship drought at the site of his last Major Championship victory. The Northern Irishman posted an admirable one-under par through his opening nine holes, but after four birdies on his back nine – three in a row – the World No.2 is sitting pretty at five-under par after round one.

This was McIlroy’s ninth opening-round of 66 or better in a Major Championship – the most of all time.

Mixed results for LIV golfers in the opening round

LIV Golf was well represented in the opening round at Valhalla with 16 of the Saudi-backed Tour’s players in action having qualified via exemptions or special invitations.

Unlike The Masters (and presumably to the disappointment of the many fans waiting to shake his hand), Greg Norman was nowhere to be seen on site in Kentucky, but he had plenty to smile about watching from home.

LIV’s biggest signing, Jon Rahm, endured a disastrous start, bogeying four of his opening six holes, but he battled back to post a one-under 70.

Brooks Koepka leads the LIV charge as he continued his love affair with this tournament. The five-time Major winner is the defending champion and remains the only player to have won a Major since joining the controversial tour. An opening 67 (-4) ensures he’s in with a great chance of adding a fourth Wanamaker Trophy to his cabinet.

Cameron Smith, looking to add a second Major to the Claret Jug he won shortly before joining LIV in 2022, is a shot back from Koepka after mixing four birdies and a bogey. He’s joined at three-under by fellow Major champions Bryson DeChambeau and Martin Kaymer. Just as he did at The Masters, DeChambeau holed out from the fairway – this time for an eagle on the par-4 7th, while Kaymer, who won this tournament in 2010, rolled back to years, making seven birdies to sit T10 after the first day.

Phil Mickelson, who could set the record for the most cuts made at the PGA Championship (28) if he reaches the weekend, made a double bogey down the par-5 18th to leave his hopes in the balance at +3.

LIV Golf PGA Championship leaderboard

Brooks Koepka: -4 (67)

Bryson DeChambeau: -3 (68)

Martin Kaymer: -3 (68)

Cameron Smith: -3 (68)

Dean Burmester: -2 (69)

Lucas Herbert: -2 (69)

Jon Rahm: -1 (70)

Talor Gooch: E (71)

Tyrrell Hatton: E (71)

David Puig: +1 (72)

Patrick Reed: -2 (69)

Dustin Johnson: +2 (73)

Joaquin Niemann: +2 (73)

Andy Ogletree: +2 (73)

Adrian Meronk: +3 (74)

Phil Mickelson: +3 (74)

A debut to remember for Kohles

Ben Kohles might not be a household name but he could be after this week if his form continues. The American is playing in his first-ever PGA Championship and he’s currently four-under par after completing his first round. Kohles won the Player of the Year award on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2023 and he finished in 2nd place at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson just a couple of weeks ago – and he looks to have brought that form with him to Kentucky.

MacIntyre flying the flag for Europe with Rory

During the Myrtle Beach Classic last week, Bob MacIntyre admitted that he’s struggling living away from home. Being from a small town in the west of Scotland, tackling the US has been taking its toll on the Scot. However, it doesn’t look to have affected his golf game so far at the PGA Championship. MacIntyre is currently 5-under par having completed his opening 18 holes, making him the joint highest-positioned European in the field alongside fellow Ryder Cup teammate Rory McIlroy.

Here’s what MacIntyre had to see when asked why he’s recently found form, “It was spending some time back at home in Scotland. It’s no secret I’ve been living in America. It’s been tough. It’s not like Oban.

“When I can be around friends, family, people closest to me, people that actually care about me, they speak to me as Bob the human rather than Bob the golfer.

“I think that’s when I’m at my happiest, when I’m not talking about golf, golf, golf. Life is actually more important than what I’m doing out here.”

Spieth makes solid start to Career Grand Slam bid

Just like Rory McIlroy at The Masters, Jordan Spieth arrives at every PGA Championship knowing it’s the only Major he needs to complete the Career Grand Slam.

This is the Texan’s eighth attempt at getting the job done, his previous best try being a T3 back in 2019, and he’s made an impressive start, sitting two-under after his first round.

The former World No.1 is without a Major win since the 2017 Open at Royal Birkdale and has endured struggles with his form over the last couple of seasons, but based on Thursday morning, this could be a historic week for the 30-year-old.

Pinpoint accuracy from McIlroy

Rory McIlroy has made a great start to his PGA Championship. The Northern Irishman made the turn at -1 par thanks to a brilliant par save on 18 to prevent giving back another shot like he did on the 17th. McIlroy smashed one down the 1st hole (his 10th) into the right rough, and from there Rory hit one straight at the flagstick and obviously sunk the putt for birdie to move to -2 par.

Tony Finau with a hat-trick

Joining fellow countryman Xander Schauffele with some quick-fire birdies, Finau is fighting for the lead after three consecutive birdies at Valhalla. If this morning is anything to go by, there are shots to be made on the back nine as they’re currently tearing up the back nine at Valhalla today. After Finau’s three birdies, he has closed to within one of Xander Schauffele. His putter seems to be on fire today as he drained a 17-footer for his three on the 15th hole.

Xander Schauffele is setting the pace in round one

Closing out the front nine in 31, Xander Schauffele leads the way and is certainly looking like he is one of the ones to beat this week. After his runner-up finish at last week’s Wells Fargo Championship, he seems to have carried on his rich vain of form with a bogey-free five under par first nine at Valhalla. The Californian is looking to win his first major championship of his career this week and hoping to build on an already great start to 2024 with eight top 10s and two runner-up finishes.

Is the Block Party over already?

After finishing T15 at last year’s PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club with that standout final-round ace alongside Rory McIlroy everyone has eagerly anticipated his return to the world stage.

However, after a nightmare start with a bogey on the first and a rather unsavory quadruple bogey on the second. The 500-yard par four is a behemoth of a hole and he was just left of the green in two, but then zig-zagged back and forth across the green a couple of times, blazing it over the green, back again into a bunker, then back once more before eventually finding the short stuff and two-putting from 11 feet for a quadruple bogey.

Despite playing his first two holes five-over par, Block played his remaining 16 holes in level par to card a 76 for his first round at the PGA Championship.

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About the Author

Rob Jerram – Digital Editor

Rob specializes in the DP World Tour, PGA Tour, LIV Golf, and the Ryder Cup, spending large chunks of his days reading about, writing about, and watching the tours each month.

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