The Athletic provides live coverage of the PGA Championship second round
On Thursday, the Aronimink Golf Club proved to be more challenging than expected, resulting in a tightly clustered leaderboard at the PGA Championship.
1. A Crowded Leaderboard
Seven players are tied for the lead, marking the highest number after any round of a men’s major since the 1977 U.S. Open at Southern Hills. An impressive 48 players are within three strokes of the lead, the largest such group in the modern era of major golf tournaments.
2. Aronimink’s Toughness
Contrary to expectations that Aronimink would be easy for this caliber of players, it held its own with a leading score of just 3 under par. This represents the highest score to par leading after Round 1 of a PGA Championship in 18 years, surpassing the previous record of 2 under from the 2008 event at Oakland Hills.
3. Scottie Scheffler’s Strong Performance
The reigning champion and world No. 1, Scottie Scheffler, is among the leading group. He is now the third defending champion to share the Round 1 lead. Scheffler rolled in over 120 feet of putts, gaining more than three strokes on the field with his strong performance on the greens. His off-the-tee accuracy also contributed, as he found the fairway consistently.
4. Veteran Presence
Former world No. 1 Martin Kaymer is also in the mix at 3 under, achieving his best major round in over two years. At 41, he is the oldest player to share the first-round lead in a PGA Championship since Jim Furyk in 2013. A total of twelve major champions are within two strokes of the lead after Round 1, setting a new record for the category.
5. Emerging Talents
Among the five players at 3 under—Aldrich Potgieter, Stephan Jaeger, Min Woo Lee, Ryo Hisatsune, and Alex Smalley—none have previously led after any major round. Potgieter, just 21, stands out as the youngest to do so since Sergio Garcia in 1999.
6. More Players in Contention
Adding to the excitement, seven more players are just one shot behind after starting with 68s, including major champions Shane Lowry, Xander Schauffele, and Patrick Reed. Reed notably logged the only bogey-free round of the day, showcasing strong skills throughout the course.
7. Challenges for Top Players
Despite being under par, Jon Rahm faced difficulties, making no putts from 6 feet or longer. Rory McIlroy, on the other hand, struggled with a 74 after commenting on the course’s simplicity earlier. Likewise, Bryson DeChambeau had a rough start, finishing with a 76 and facing challenges with his short game.
8. Historical Context
Historically, 45 out of the last 50 major winners have been within five strokes of the lead after Round 1. As it stands, an unprecedented 92 players fit this criterion entering Round 2, offering a wide-ranging field of competitors vying for the championship.
