PGA Championship LIVE – All the action from Valhalla

The shadows are setting. What an opening day it’s been. Xander Schauffele tied his own men’s major scoring record – becoming the first player to fire two 62s – and it’s given him a three shot lead at the PGA Championship as day one starts drawing to a close.

Rory McIlroy lives to fight another day. He’s right in the mix at 5-under, while Scottie Scheffler is just manoeuvring himself into position.

Tony Finau and Sahith Theegala have enjoyed monster days – both shooting 65 – and what about Bob MacIntyre? The pride of Scotland is just four back at -5.

And, in less than 12 hours, we’re going to do it all over again. Here are all the Round 2 tee times. Schauffele is due out at 6.18pm our time, and McIlroy 6.40pm.

But we may well see some weather tomorrow. Thunderstorms are forecast at around lunchtime and into the early evening and, if they come, we’re going to have some delays.

We’ll cross our fingers. We are off, though, to a cracking start.

If Jon Rahm can somehow get into the clubhouse at even par, he might just crack a smile. He’s not going to turn into the Cheshire Cat – he’s been chopping it out of all sorts today and he’s been teetering on being grumpy – but he was looking buried at four over after six.

Somehow, he’s got it back to one. He’s managed to birdie the monster par 3 14th and he’s got an outside chance at 15 too. Valhalla finishes with a par 5. There is still plenty to do, of course. And I think he’s going to have an extended spell on the range after all this is over. But it would be quite the recovery.

It’s as you were at the top. I’m not sure anyone’s getting near Xander Schauffele now. Tom Kim has a chance – he’s five-under through 13 holes of his round. Thomas Detry, though, has bogeyed the 5th and dropped back to minus 4. And I’ve barely put the picture in this post and Kim follows him into Dropsville.

Will it be Morikawa? He’s doing his best. Five under for his last eight holes (-3 overall), he’s got another chance at 14 after a trademark long iron.

But if Scottie Scheffler can grab onto the coat-tails of this group, we’re still going to have quite the line-up going into the second day.

Leaderboard: Schauffele -9; Finau, Theegala – 6; McIlroy, MacIntyre, Kim – 5; Kohles, Moore, Detry -4.

I’m not saying it’s got dull. I would never say that. But the eyelids are getting a bit droopy and – Thomas Detry aside – there’s not much catching fire at Valhalla as the afternoon wave wears on.

Scheffler’s just missed a putt you’d expect him to make, but he’s just doing Scottie things. Of course, it’s easy when major records are threatening to tumble all around you. But it all feels like it’s gone slightly off the boil in comparison, and we need a spark.

Perhaps I haven’t been paying too much attention. It has been 10 hours and counting since we went live. But I don’t recall seeing too much of Thomas Detry on the box this evening – and he’s produced an excellent nine holes.

The Belgian is the best of the afternoon starters and, playing the back nine first, is four under. He’s birdied the 10th, 13th, 17th and 18th to surge up the leaderboard.

Speak of the devil and he appears. First with a great up and down on the 1st and then hitting a dart into the 2nd green. Are we about to see another birdie? Yes, we are. Now he’s 5-under!

Andrew Coltart has just revealed on Sky Sports Golf that 63 players are in red numbers at the moment. That is absolutely bonkers.

That’s a tram-liner from Collin Morikawa for birdie on the eighth and, suddenly, the former PGA champion has come alive. That’s three in a row for the American and he’s recovered from two over to one-under-par as he gets to the turn.

It turns out Scottie Scheffler, though, is human after all. His first bogey comes at the 5th. He’s at two under but, with some mud under the ball, has it a beautiful shot into the 7th. That shot should be coming right back.

Alex Noren is flying too. He’s just made four in a row and gone to two under.

He’s not here this week but Graeme McDowell knows all about Valhalla – it was where he came of age.

“It was my first time playing on the biggest stage probably in the golfing world,” he told my colleague Matt Chivers of playing at the 2008 Ryder Cup at the venue.

“I’m conducting myself and playing the way that I did, even though Europe lost the Ryder Cup. I won two and a half points from four.

“So I actually ended with an okay Ryder Cup. I felt like I gained so much confidence from it that I could perform on the biggest stage in the golfing world and you know, that would lead to two years later winning a major championship, and I look at 2008 as a massive part of why I was able to win a US Open, because I gained so much belief from that weekend.”

You can read the rest of Matt’s interview with McDowell here.

Speaking of unravelling, that is another bogey for Jon Rahm and a horrible start. He’s four-over-par through his first six holes. In fact, that’s three dropped shots in a row. The Spaniard needs to sort this pretty quickly.

If scrappy for Rory McIlroy is 5-under, he’ll take it. He’s watched major dreams die playing far better.

This wasn’t vintage by any means on PGA Championship opening day. He didn’t drive the ball particularly well and, for a couple of holes in and around the turn, it looked like it might unravel. A familiar story was waiting to be told.

But that the 2014 champ at Valhalla was able to fashion a score, one that has put him right in the picture and four shots behind leader Xander Schauffele, can only be a massive positive as he bids to break that oft-talked about 10-year major drought.

“I don’t really feel like I left many out there,” he said, reflecting on that opening 66. “I thought I got a lot out of my game today. Some good up-and-downs, the chip-in on 6. I had a little bit of a scrappy part around the turn there. Not really happy with how I played but at least happy with the score.”

Starting on the back nine, McIlroy was two-under early but then bogeyed 17 and found the water off the tee at 18. He made par and conceded it was a huge moment. He struck the flag with his approach on the 1st, made birdie, and then picked up three more shots – including chipping in, as he said, from the back of the 6th – on the way home.

“I could have easily bogeyed 18 and been back to even par, and then again, that ball on 1 could have hit the flagstick and went anywhere,” he said.

“I could have made bogey from that. Potentially being 1-over par through 10, I’m 2-under. So it’s a three-shot difference. It’s a big swing.”

Particularly key for McIlroy was a razor sharp wedge game – a feature that’s often been described as a weakness in recent years. He’s currently 53rd strokes gained approaching the green, and 76th around the green, on this year’s PGA Tour stats board.

But the 35-year-old has been working with Butch Harmon, who dialled in Dustin Johnson with the shorter clubs as he became a two-time major winner and World No. 1.

Asked if there was anything he was going to that was helping him, McIlroy said: “I think just the same feelings I’ve been having with my golf swing, feeling strength in the club face on the way back, and then trying to keep that strength so that it forces me to really get out of the way on the down swing. That’s the thought with the wedges and with the irons.”

Three back of the surging Schauffele after the first round last week at Wells Fargo, Rory has another shot to find this time. But we all know what happened in Charlotte. And in a major career that’s seen fires extinguished far too early, it feels – on the scoreboard at least – he’s right where he wants to be.

Here’s what Xander Schauffele had to say about his record-tying 62. “It’s a great start to a big tournament. One I’m obviously always going to take. It’s just Thursday.”

Asked if he felt like he was playing the best golf of his career: “Probably, yeah. I feel there’s spurts, moments in time where you feel like you can control the ball really well; you’re seeing the greens really well; you’re chipping really well. But over a prolonged period, it’s tough to upkeep high performance. Yeah, I’d say it’s very close to it if not it.”

Could he have shot better than 62?: “I don’t really operate that way. In terms of wanting to go practice right now, there’s always shots you can kind of pick apart or chips that you can pick apart that you felt like you could have hit better, but I’m very content with how I played.”

It’s a ‘boring’ four for Scottie Scheffler at the 2nd and there’s just a brief period of calm setting in after the drama of the last couple of hours.

Scottie aside, this afternoon’s other big guns aren’t faring too well in the early stages. Matt Fitzpatrick is +2. Mickelson is already three over. Shane Lowry is +2 through five and Jon Rahm, Wyndham Clark and Brian Harman have all dropped a shot in the early stages.

Are we going to get a post 62 hangover?

Did you see that? Ewen Murray sums it up perfectly. ‘Good grief’. Is there anything Scottie Scheffler can’t do?

169-yards from the middle of the 1st fairway and the Masters champ cans his approach for an eagle. One pop and straight in. It doesn’t touch the sides. Unbelievable! Two shots. Two under par.

HELLO SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER 🤩

Scottie Scheffler holes out for EAGLE in his first hole of the PGA Championship. pic.twitter.com/GECBT2CZbt

— Sky Sports Golf (@SkySportsGolf) May 16, 2024

While we wait for Schauffele, McIlroy, and co to do their pressers, the action continues apace at Valhalla. Dame Laura Davies makes a good point on Sky Sports Golf. How daunting it is for those afternoon players knowing they’re already starting nine behind?

Collin Morikawa’s going to get under way with a par. Phil Mickelson, though, is already on the back foot with a bogey. What will their target be? Andrew Coltart says patience will be the key. He’s not wrong.

That’s Rory back in the hutch. A 5-under 66 is a very good start, especially after that mid-round wobble. Bob MacIntyre looks very much like he’s going to be his equal today.

But as one wave finishes, another is in full flow and the afternoon crew are taking centre stage. We’re awaiting the World No. 1, new dad Scottie Scheffler, who is about 30 minutes away.

So let’s have a look at what’s in store for us as the evening wears on…

6.51pm: Collin Morikawa, Phil Mickelson, Matt Fitzpatrick

7.02pm: Rickie Fowler, Jon Rahm, Cameron Young

7.13pm: Wyndham Clark, Brian Harman, Scottie Scheffler

7.24pm: Patrick Cantlay, Camilo Villegas, Will Zalatoris

7.35pm: Patrick Reed, Sam Burns, Padraig Harrington

• Remember tee times are running around 10 minutes late following this morning’s short fog delay…

And while you’re waiting for Scottie, check out this piece from my colleague Matt Chivers, who has taken a closer look at the two-time Masters champion.

• NOW READ: Scottie Scheffler: Child-like and innocent nature will grow his bond with the fans

We got a bit caught up there, didn’t we? I make no apologies for it. 62s might come along like buses now for Xander Schauffele in majors but they’re still pretty thrilling. And they deserve due diligence.

• NOW READ: What’s in Xander Schauffele’s bag?

But there’s 150-odd others playing this PGA Championship and there has been plenty going on during Xander’s heroics.

Tony Finau might still have a chance of writing himself into the records. He’s six-under with four holes still to go.

Who was wondering whether it was going to be the same old story for Rory Mcllroy going round the turn? But he’s birdied 5, 6 and 7 to catapult himself right into the fray. Get into the clubhouse at -5 or better and what an opening day it’s been.

What would Oban do if Bob MacIntyre won the PGA? He’s also -5 with a couple of holes to go and has a par 5 to finish.

And check out Ben Kohles. The 34-year-old is making is PGA Championship debut and produced a super 67 to hit the top 5 as the morning wave comes to an end.

It’s petered out, though for Tiger Woods. He briefly got under par but back-to-back bogeys sees him finish at +1.

• NOW READ: How many shirts will Tiger go through this week?

Leaderboard: Schauffele -9; Finau -6; McIlroy, MacIntyre -5; Kohles -4; Smith -3, Theegala -3.

So here we go. At 411 yards, the 9th is a pretty short par 4 for this lot. Schauffele goes with 3-wood to get position. He avoids the trap on the left and leaves himself a short iron in.

But he doesn’t like the approach and I’m not surprised. It’s on the green, but it’s safe. Very safe. He’s going to have to drop one in from distance to break the record.

30-feet for 61. Two putts for 62 and to tie his own effort at LACC last year.

He gets a good look at the line as Justin Thomas goes first. It’s going to need hitting.

It’s on its way. It’s a big swing. But it’s always going right and slips three feet by. He pops in the follow up and it sets the seal on an incredible round of golf.

It’s a PGA Championship record. It’s Schauffele tying his own record. 62 has been struck four times in men’s major golf – and Xander has done it twice.

COURSE RECORD ✅
TIES MAJOR RECORD ✅

Xander gets his PGA Championship off to an incredible start

His opening round was bogey free and featured nine birdies. It’s going to take a lot to catch him! pic.twitter.com/deay95UKcC

— National Club Golfer (@NCG_com) May 16, 2024

I’m famished. There’s a tomato pasta that’s going to get vacuumed in a minute but I dare not leave my TV screen.

Schauffele errs off the 8th tee. It feels like the first time he’s missed. He over-clubs his iron, air-mails the green, and the ball collects into a drainage grate.

Free relief is forthcoming, of course, and he has managed, at least, to give himself plenty of green to work with. Four practice swings, and then another couple, before he sends it on a perfect line.

It creeps ever closer to the cup. It couldn’t, could it? The ball pulls up about 18 inches short. It’s all going to come down to the final hole.

It’s all going off for Rory too. He chips in on the 6th and it’s back-to-back birdies. He’s up to 4-under-par!

Xander takes the tighter route down the left hand side of the 7th from the tee and his driving continues to be immaculate. From about 250 in the fairway, he stripes it into the heart of the green. His ball striking today has just been magnificent.

It’s the most outside of eagles chances from 55 feet but Schauffele’s pace on the greens has been superb. He leaves himself a couple of feet – and the birdie is formality.

As it stands, he is tying his own record for the lowest round in a men’s major. But that 62 was on a par 70. This is a 71.

A birdie and a par in the next two holes and he will make history.

It’s on, isn’t it? Schauffele pours another one in and he’s 8 under through 14. Par home for 63. Birdie another for 62 and get two in the last four to break the all-time men’s major scoring record.

Are we about to see history at Valhalla?

Three men have shot 62 and there’s a familiar face in there.

– Branden Grace (2017 Open Championship, Royal Birkdale)
– Rickie Fowler (2023 US Open, LACC)
– Xander Schauffele (2023 US Open, LACC)

I actually followed Grace through his last eight holes at Birkdale. That was a hell of a day. Wouldn’t it be incredible if Schauffele, who matched Grace when he and Rickie Fowler shot 62 on the same day at LACC last year, could break out of his own tie?

He pars the 6th, considered by many to be the toughest hole on the golf course. It’s now two from three.

And look who’s just crept into to the top 3…

Bob MacIntyre’s been flawless so far and goes to -4 after a cracking birdie at the 11th.A lovely tee shot followed by a smooth putt from about 10 feet right into the heart of the hole.

He’s already picked up shots at the 2nd, 4th and 7th and he’s now going through a back 9 that many of the leaders have already torn up this morning.

This could be quite the opening day for the Scot. A certain tracker on X is getting a bit excited. And quite right too.

Just as we thought the train might be in danger of derailing from Rory’s tracks, he hits a stunning approach on the 1st that cannons off the flag.

HOW DID THIS NOT GO IN!? 😱

Rory McIlroy is pin hunting! #PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/At8fOqxTFS

— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 16, 2024

He drops in the birdie putt and everything’s all right with the world again.

Rory’s par putt hits the edge of the cup on 17 and stays out. It’s a bogey for the Northern Irishman. Yep, it’s a tough hole. But dropped shots aren’t what the doctor ordered with so many birdies about.

It gets worse on the 18th. He overcuts his drive and it’s heading towards the little waterfalls that dominate the right hand side of the hole. Is it in the drink? It is, you know.

He gets out of it with a par. He’s been a bit raggedy for the last couple of holes. But he’s still under par.

Let’s check in with Tiger. He’s been hanging on a bit through his opening nine. Starting on the 10th, he heads to the 1st at +1.

If he carries on at this pace, heaven help the rest of this field. Xander Schauffele reaches the turn at -5 following an opening side 31. He started on the back 9 and it’s been an absolute clinic.

Birdies at the 11th, 13th, 15th, 16th and 18th. Valhalla’s a par 71. When do we get on 62 watch? Could we even start thinking about a 61?

But behind him, Tony Finau’s storming too. He’s four under through his first six.

The lowest score at a PGA Championship is -20. Jason Day did that nine years ago at Whistling Straits. I’m going to make a prediction right now. If we don’t get the bad weather that might roll in tomorrow, that record is probably going to fall.

I’m clearly going to have to up the level here. With Jordan Spieth on the charge, I posed the question: Who has won the modern career grand slam?

It was obviously too easy. As Spam proved on X.

Sarazan, Hogan, Player, Nicklaus and Woods.

— Spam (@austinjames71) May 16, 2024

That’s right: Gene Sarazen (in 1935), Ben Hogan (in 1953), Gary Player (in 1965), Jack Nicklaus (three times), and Tiger Woods (also three times)

Gold star for you. A follow up reveals only Spieth, McIlroy and Mickelson are active players with three of the four.

Right, I’m off to delve into the stats book…

At 7,506 yards, Valhalla is no pitch and putt. But some of this lot are making it look like one at the moment.

Xander Schauffele has started as he began at Wells Fargo last week. He’ll be hoping he can see it through this time. And though we haven’t seen too much of Jordan Spieth on the upper tier of leaderboards for a while, he’s off to an excellent start.

Remember, he could become just the sixth player in history to win the career grand slam if he can pull this off this week. Care to have a go at the others?

As I write, 28 players are under par. Only the 14th is giving these guys any trouble. Though, as Tiger has shown at a couple of points, if you miss these relatively wide fairways, you can find yourself in some very sticky rough.

Leaderboard: Schauffele -4; Ghim, Spieth -3; Donald, Herbert, Hisatune, McIlroy, Matsuyama, Hovland, MacIntyre, Malnati, Kitayama, Finau, Hatton, Moore, Burmester -2.

We’ve got a new leader. Viktor Hovland breaks out of the pack at two under with a birdie at the 13th. That’s his third in four holes and he’s on his own at -3.

But he’s not alone at the top for long. Xander Schauffele follows him in at 15 and he’s three-under too.

And here comes Jordan Spieth…

There are birdies going in all over the shop at Valhalla. In these early conditions, it looks like someone might go very low today. What’s the lowest score in a men’s major again?

• NOW READ: Lowest rounds in golf majors

Sahitha Theegala’s ascent up the world rankings – rightly described as “meteoric” (copyright Ewen Murray) – has been quite the watch. And the American gives us an insight why he’s up to No. 12 with a brilliant chip in from off the green at the par 3 11th.

What a start! Sahith Theegala holes out to tie for the lead.#PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/fwcGlWSbMK

— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 16, 2024

Not too many have been talking about him in the run-up. But after a birdie-birdie start to the day, he’s tied for the lead.

Let’s have a breather and take stock. Tiger had to chip sideways at 12 but produced an impressive up and down to save par. And, as I write that, he cans a lovely birdie putt at 13 to get back to level par.

McIlroy performed his own, albeit slightly less spectacular rescue act, from the par 3 11th and remains at one under.

Xander Schauffele hit the top of the pile after a birdie at the 13th, where he’s tied with Doug Ghim at -2. Martin Kaymer and Viktor Hovland are also among a raft of players just in the red numbers.

Latest: Ghim -2, Schauffele -2; Donald -1, Wallace -1, Hadwin -1, Kaymer -1, McIlroy -1, Smith -1, Hovland -1, Spieth -1.

“It’s a beautiful hole,” says Dame Laura Davies on Sky Sports Golf of the 13th. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I suppose.

It’s certainly an oddity – a wide fairway leading to a green that looks a bit like a Tunnock’s Teacake splattered in the middle of a moat.

It’s not doing it for me. But am I out of line?

Again, apologies for the terrible pun. But get used to it. I’m here all week. Rory McIlroy’s had a lot to deal with over the last few days. But let’s keep the personal stuff out of it.

He’s a winner here. The last time he won a major was at Valhalla 10 years ago, in fact. I’ve written about what’s happened in between and whether he can end the drought this week.

• NOW READ: Can Rory scratch his 10-year major itch?

So let’s have a little poll. How is McIlroy going to get on today – as he gets his opening round under way at the 10th?

What does Rory shoot today?

Check out our live blog and get involved: https://t.co/MlV2IvfrZB

— Steve Carroll (@SteveCarroll77) May 16, 2024

Be honest. Who waited until he birdied the opening hole? Very early days, of course, but he looks the business, doesn’t he?

Tiger Woods is limbering up right now on the 10th tee. And that’s a gorgeous fade that finds the fairway.

But here’s some of the tee times you’ll want to know about as we move through the morning wave…

1.25pm: Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, Justin Rose

1.36pm: Cameron Smith, Hideki Matsuyama, Viktor Hovland

1.47pm: Brooks Koepka, Max Homa, Jordan Spieth

2.09pm: Akshay Bhatia, Bryson DeChambeau, Tommy Fleetwood

Check out all the tee times here.

The fog didn’t stop the players for long but a technical issue halted us for about half an hour. Apologies for that. Be assured we’ve wound up the clock and are kicking on.

What happened in the meantime? Michael Block got us started. And it wasn’t a block, you’ll be pleased to know. But he was unable to salvage par.

It’s a horror show at the second, though. A quad. Two holes in and a snowman on the card.

Michael Block, PGA had the honor of the first tee shot of the 106th @PGAChampionship.

Who's ready for some Major Championship golf? pic.twitter.com/kBrRvlOifO

— PGA of America (@PGA) May 16, 2024

But Luke Donald birdies the opener! Yes, the Ryder Cup captain leads the PGA Championship.

We’ve got a short delay. And given that Sky Sports Golf’s coverage doesn’t actually start until 1pm, this is something I welcome…

UPDATE

AM starting times for the first round of the PGA Championship are delayed 10 minutes due to fog.#PGAChamp

— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 16, 2024

Now Matt Coles doesn’t like to brag. But the man’s been on a bit of a roll lately. Three of the top 5 at The Players. First and second at the Masters.

And he pulled Hyo-Joo Kim out of the bag at the Aramco Series Korea. So does he think it’s Rory’s time? Is Scottie going to win again?

Check out his PGA Championship betting tips. Please, as always, remember to gamble responsibly.

• NOW READ: PGA Championship betting tips

They normally wheel out some old tour grandee to hit the opening shot at a major. So it’s a measure of Michael Block’s pull with the crowds that he’s going to hit the first ball at Valhalla.

Great for lazy journos like me, who get to do cheap headline puns loosely based around early noughties rock bands.

Block gets us off the mark in just under half an hour.

If you’ve somehow managed to miss all the fuss around the 47-year-old – just YouTube the shot he played on the 15th in the final round at Oak Hill last year – allow me to shamelessly plug my colleague Matt Chivers’ excellent profile of arguably one the club game’s biggest stars.

• NOW READ: Who is Michael Block?