World No. 1 Scheffler Shoots 3-Under... "Loving the Major Course"

Tied for the Lead After PGA Championship Round 1
Min Woo Lee, Smalley, Kaymer Join Top of the Leaderboard
Rahm in 15th, Kim Siwoo 49th, McIlroy 105th

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler (USA) has laid the foundation for back-to-back major titles.

The defending champion Scheffler carded five birdies and two bogeys in the first round of the season’s second major, the PGA Championship, held on May 14 (local time) at Aronimink Golf Club (par-70, 7,394 yards) in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, USA. With a 3-under-par 67, Scheffler finished the day tied for the lead alongside Min Woo Lee (Australia), Alex Smalley (USA), and Martin Kaymer (Germany).

Scotty Scheffler is teeing off at the 2nd hole during the first round of the PGA Championship. Newtown Square = EPA Yonhap News

Scheffler had a shaky start with a bogey on the 4th hole (par 4), but quickly turned things around with back-to-back birdies on the 6th and 7th holes. He added another two birdies on the 10th and 11th holes to stay near the top of the leaderboard. Despite a second bogey on the 14th hole (par 3), he recovered the lost stroke with a birdie on the 16th hole (par 5).

Scheffler powered his round with accurate tee shots, achieving a driving accuracy rate of 92.86%. Sharing the lead by one stroke, he now has a chance to claim his second victory of the season since The American Express in January, which would also be his 21st career win.

Xander Schauffele is in 8th place with a 2-under-par 68, while Brooks Koepka (USA) and Jon Rahm (Spain) are tied for 15th at 1-under-par 69. Matt Fitzpatrick and Justin Rose (both of England) are eyeing a move up the leaderboard from a tie for 34th at even-par 70.

Kim Siwoo is tied for 49th at 1-over-par 71, while 2009 champion Yang Yong-eun is tied for 67th at 2-over-par 72, and Im Sungjae is tied for 93rd at 3-over-par 73. World No. 2 Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland), who is nursing a toe injury, struggled and is tied for 105th at 4-over-par 74.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.