Scottie Scheffler ties for lead at PGA

Scottie Scheffler opened his PGA Championship title defense with a 3-under 67 on Thursday, May 14, and finished the day in a seven-way tie for the lead at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania. The world No. 1 was joined at the top by Aldrich Potgieter, Min Woo Lee, Martin Kaymer, Stephan Jaeger, Ryo Hisatsune and Alex Smalley after a first round that produced low scoring only in short bursts. Aronimink, hosting the PGA Championship for the first time since 1962, played firm and fast in wind, and the lead never moved beyond 3 under. Scheffler told ESPN after the round that a lead shared with six other players hardly felt like one. ### Who was tied with Scheffler after 18 holes? Scottie Scheffler’s 67 left him level with six players by the end of Thursday’s play. Golfweek’s live leaderboard recap listed Potgieter, Lee, Kaymer, Jaeger, Hisatsune and Smalley alongside Scheffler at 3 under after the opening round. The official championship site lists Aronimink as the host venue for the May 11-17 tournament in Newtown Square. (6abc.com) Martin Kaymer’s presence near the top stood out because the former PGA champion has not been a regular factor in recent major leaderboards. Alex Smalley and Ryo Hisatsune also put themselves in early contention on a day when a large group remained packed within a few shots of the lead. (golfweek.usatoday.com) ### How unusual was that seven-way tie? The seven-player tie for first was the largest after any round of a major championship since 1969, according to an Associated Press report carried by 6abc and Newsday. That report said nine players shared the lead in the 1969 PGA Championship at NCR Country Club in Dayton, Ohio. (6abc.com) The same report said the opening-round score of 3 under was unusually high for a PGA Championship leader. Not since the 2008 tournament at Oakland Hills had the first-round lead at the PGA Championship been worse than 3 under, it said. (6abc.com) ### What did Scheffler say about his round? Scheffler told ESPN after the round, “Is it really a lead when you’re tied with like six guys?” according to the AP report. He also said, “At this moment, it’s anybody’s tournament,” with 48 players within three shots of the lead after Thursday. (6abc.com) The AP report said Scheffler’s round included two long birdie putts and a favorable break on the 17th hole. It also said the 67 was his lowest opening round in a tournament since January. ### What happened to the other big names? (6abc.com) Rory McIlroy opened with a 74 after bogeying his final four holes, according to the AP report. The same report said McIlroy went to the practice range for much of the afternoon after his round. (6abc.com) Jon Rahm showed visible frustration during the round, and Garrick Higgo was assessed a two-shot penalty for arriving 10 seconds late to the tee, the AP report said. Higgo still posted a 69 despite the penalty. ### When did Scheffler play, and when was he due back Friday? (6abc.com) The PGA Championship’s official tee-times page showed Scheffler in a marquee Thursday group with Matt Fitzpatrick and Justin Rose, starting at 2:05 p.m. from the first tee. Friday’s second-round pairings flipped the draw, and Golf Channel’s tee sheet listed Scheffler, Fitzpatrick and Rose at 8:40 a.m. ET from the 10th tee. (6abc.com) Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth and Jon Rahm were scheduled for a 2:05 p.m. ET Friday start from the first tee, according to Golf Channel’s second-round listing. The second round began Friday, May 15, with Michael Block, Rasmus Hojgaard and Dustin Johnson first out at 6:45 a.m. ET. (pgachampionship.com) ### What comes next at Aronimink? Friday, May 15, brought the second round of the 108th PGA Championship at Aronimink, with the field of 156 continuing play in Newtown Square. The official tournament site lists the championship running through May 17, and the live leaderboard remains available there as play continues. (golfchannel.com)