Scheffler shares PGA Championship lead as McIlroy struggles with driving accuracy

Defending champion Scottie Scheffler seized a share of the opening-round lead at the PGA Championship on Thursday, carding a three-under-par 69 at Aronimink Golf Club. The top-ranked player secured his position with birdies at the seventh, 10th, and 11th holes, including a 38-foot putt at the seventh that set the tone for his round. He was joined on the early leaderboard by an unlikely quartet of Aldrich Potgieter, Min Woo Lee, Ryo Hisatsune, and Stephan Jaeger, who all matched his score of 69.

The group of co-leaders represents a diverse field, with Potgieter making his PGA Championship debut and Hisatsune appearing in only his fifth major. Potgieter, a 21-year-old from South Africa, made six birdies in his sixth major start, while Hisatsune, who made seven birdies, described his performance as comfortable due to his ability to bounce back from bogeys. Lee, a back-nine starter, briefly held the sole lead before a bogey at the eighth hole, citing solid driving and a lack of trouble throughout his round.

In stark contrast to the leaders, second-ranked player and current Masters champion Rory McIlroy endured a difficult opening round, finishing with a four-over-par 74. McIlroy missed nine of 14 fairways and bogeyed his final four holes, a struggle he attributed to his driving accuracy rather than his physical condition. Despite having no issues with his blistered right foot, the Northern Irishman admitted frustration with his swing, stating, "I'm just not driving the ball well enough."

McIlroy’s driving woes have been a persistent issue throughout the season, with the player ranking 91st in driving accuracy through six events despite leading the PGA Tour in strokes gained off the tee. His round at Aronimink included five bogeys in his last six holes, a performance he described succinctly as frustrating given his pride in driving the ball well. "I honestly thought I had figured it out," McIlroy said, noting that his drives became wayward under tournament pressure.

Other notable scores included Daniel Brown, Sahith Theegala, Max Greyserman, and Xander Schauffele at one-under-par (68), while Jordan Spieth, Brooks Koepka, Jon Rahm, and Garrick Higgo shot even-par (70). Bryson DeChambeau struggled significantly with a five-over-par 76, and Higgo received a two-stroke penalty for being late to the first tee. The opening round at Aronimink in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, highlighted the sharp divide between those who mastered the undulating greens and those who struggled with basic accuracy.