Scheffler shares lead in historic seven-way tie at PGA Championship

Scottie Scheffler carded a 3-under 67 to share the first-round lead at the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania. He is part of a seven-way tie for the lead, the largest logjam in 57 years following the opening round of a major championship. Joining Scheffler at 67 are Aldrich Potgieter, Stephan Jaeger, Min Woo Lee, Ryo Hisatsune, Alex Smalley, and former champion Martin Kaymer.

The seven-way tie is the largest after the opening round of a major since nine players shared the lead in the 1969 PGA Championship. This marks the first time Scheffler has shared the lead after the opening round of a major; he has led or shared the lead after round one in 13 major rounds previously. Scheffler joins Tiger Woods (2000) and Brooks Koepka (2019) as the only reigning PGA champions to share the lead after the first round.

Garrick Higgo received a two-shot penalty for being 10 seconds late to the tee, which would have otherwise resulted in an eight-way tie. Higgo finished on a 69, while Masters champion Rory McIlroy shot a 74, bogeying his last four holes. Patrick Reed was the only player to finish without a bogey, shooting a 68.

Martin Kaymer, currently ranked No. 1,160 in the world, attributed his performance to motivation from a perceived slight at the Champions Dinner, where he was asked if he still played golf. Jon Rahm holed out for an eagle on the 11th and chipped in for a birdie on the 8th to shoot a 69. Jordan Spieth, Jon Rahm, Justin Thomas, and Brooks Koepka are tied at 69.

Bryson DeChambeau shot a 76, his highest score in the PGA Championship. The conditions at Aronimink, featuring severely sloped greens and wind, proved difficult for many competitors, with the low score to par after the first round being worse than 3 under for the first time since 2008.