PGA Championship Round 1 at Aronimink

The PGA Championship’s first round began Thursday at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, with the PGA of America posting full starting times for the 108th edition of the men’s major. The field of 156 players opened in split waves from the first and 10th tees, with the earliest groups scheduled for 6:45 a.m. Eastern. Aronimink is hosting the championship for the first time since 1962, according to PGA Tour coverage. Scottie Scheffler arrived as defending champion, while Rory McIlroy came in as the reigning Masters winner. ### Which groups drew the most attention on Thursday morning? Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth and Jon Rahm were listed together for an 8:40 a.m. ET start from the 10th tee, one of the marquee groups in the opening wave. CBS Sports called it the biggest group of the morning, noting that McIlroy was chasing a third Wanamaker Trophy and Spieth was trying to complete the career Grand Slam. (pgachampionship.com) Bryson DeChambeau, Ludvig Åberg and Rickie Fowler were scheduled for 8:18 a.m. ET, also from the 10th tee. Xander Schauffele, Brooks Koepka and Tyrrell Hatton followed at 8:29 a.m. ET, giving the morning draw two more high-profile trios before the late-afternoon wave began. (cbssports.com) ### When did Scheffler and the late-wave contenders go off? Scottie Scheffler was grouped with Matt Fitzpatrick and Justin Rose for a 2:05 p.m. ET start from the first tee. The PGA Tour said Scheffler entered the week as world No. 1 and the defending champion. (pgatour.com) Viktor Hovland, Collin Morikawa and Shane Lowry were scheduled for 1:32 p.m. ET from the first tee. Cameron Young, Keegan Bradley and Justin Thomas were set for 1:54 p.m. ET, followed shortly by Scheffler’s group as the afternoon side of the draw got underway. (pgachampionship.com) ### What is the course setup at Aronimink this week? Aronimink Golf Club is listed by the championship as the host site in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, just outside Philadelphia. PGA Championship materials and tournament listings identify the event as running from May 14 through May 17. The course is being played as a par-70 layout at 7,394 yards for the championship, according to event coverage published ahead of the opening round. (pgachampionship.com) PGA Tour reporting said the venue returned to the PGA Championship rotation for the first time in more than six decades. (pgachampionship.com) ### How was Thursday’s play being shown? The PGA Championship said live coverage for the week would run across ESPN, CBS, ESPN+, CBS Sports HQ and Golf Channel. The official “How to Watch” page published before the opening round said the event would have full-week television and streaming coverage from Aronimink. (sports.yahoo.com) PGA Tour and PGA Championship platforms also carried the full first- and second-round starting times, allowing viewers to track both the early and late waves. CBS Sports and other outlets published featured groups and Thursday pairings as play began. (pgachampionship.com) ### What comes next after the opening round? Friday’s second round is already set on the published draw, with the same featured groups returning in the opposite wave. McIlroy, Spieth and Rahm are listed for a 2:05 p.m. ET Friday start, while Scheffler, Fitzpatrick and Rose are scheduled to go at 8:40 a.m. ET. (pgatour.com) The PGA Championship’s official starting-times page and the PGA Tour tournament page continue to carry the full draw and live scoring as the championship moves toward the 36-hole cut on Friday at Aronimink. (pgachampionship.com 1) (pgachampionship.com 2)