Big Surprises in PGA Championship as Top Golfers Struggle

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In a surprising twist at the PGA Championship on Thursday, several of golf’s biggest stars struggled during the opening round at Quail Hollow Club. Leading the charge was Venezuela’s Jhonattan Vegas, who ended the day with a remarkable 7-under 64, taking a two-stroke lead.

In stark contrast, world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, defending champion Xander Schauffele, and Rory McIlroy faced difficulties, each making key mistakes on the challenging course. Both Scheffler and Schauffele made double bogeys on the par-4 16th hole, illustrating the course’s hazards.

“I did a good job battling and keeping a level head out there,” said Scheffler after finishing with a 2-under 69. “There were definitely some challenging aspects to the course.”

McIlroy, who recently completed a career Grand Slam and had won the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow four times, found himself in a precarious position. He tied for 85th place at 3-over and failed to secure a birdie over his last 12 holes. He expressed disappointment in his performance that included hitting only four fairways and losing strokes on the green.

In a day filled with surprises, the leaderboard saw Vegas joined by Matt Fitzpatrick and Sam Burns, both at 5-under 66, while five players, including Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald, were at 4-under.

Vegas, who celebrated his best major score in 45 rounds, expressed his excitement saying, “It feels amazing. It’s what we dream of.”

The conditions on the course were a point of contention. Players dealt with challenging lies due to recent rain, contributing to unpredictable shots. Scheffler remarked on the frustrations of dealing with mud balls that affected their precision on the course.

“You spend your whole life trying to learn how to control a golf ball, and due to a rules decision all of a sudden, you have absolutely no control over where that golf ball goes,” said Scheffler.

As the tournament progresses into the second round, there are questions about whether the top players can regain their footing and mount a comeback against the field of underdogs.