LIVE: PGA CHAMPIONSHIP SECOND ROUND LEADERBOARD UPDATES
Rory McIlroy endured an opening round to forget at the 2025 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte.
Despite teeing it up at one of his favourite venues in the world, reigning Masters champion McIlroy endured a miserable start to his week.
McIlroy, who is looking to become the first player since Jordan Spieth in 2015 to win the first two majors of the season, had a rare bad day with the driver and it all led to a dismal first round of 3-over 74.
The Northern Irishman now has an awful lot of work to do on Friday to not just get back in the mix for a third career PGA Championship, but to just make the weekend.
World No.1 and tournament favourite Scottie Scheffler also did not have his best stuff out there in the opening round, but the two-time Masters champion recovered well coming home with two birdies on the final three holes to post a solid 2-under 69.
The third member of the marquee group Xander Schauffele also experienced a tough day in Charlotte, and the defending champion went round in a 1-over 72.
After the round, Scheffler fumed at the PGA of America's decision to not play preferred lies despite three days of heavy rain in the lead up to the PGA Championship.
Scheffler - and the rest of the field for that matter - noticed a number of 'mud balls' during the first round.
The man they all have to catch after the first 18 holes is Jhonattan Vegas, who birdied five of his last six holes to fire a 7-under 64.
Vegas, who is seeking a first major title, finds himself two shots clear of Ryan Gerard and Cameron Davis.
Luke Donald is also in the mix for a first major title at 4-under par alongside Stephan Jaeger, Aaron Rai, last week's winner Ryan Fox and Alex Smalley, who made it into the field at the last moment when Sahith Theegala withdrew through injury.
European Ryder Cup captain Donald, 47, was incredibly the only player in the field to go round without a bogey in the first round.
Jhonattan Vegas | -7 |
Cam Davis | -5 |
Ryan Gerard | -5 |
Luke Donald | -4 |
Ryan Fox | -4 |
Alex Smalley | -4 |
Stephan Jaeger | -4 |
Aaron Rai | -4 |
Tyrrell Hatton | -3 |
Viktor Hovland | -2 |
Scottie Scheffler | -2 |
Tommy Fleetwood | -1 |
Jon Rahm | -1 |
Collin Morikawa | -1 |
Ludvig Aberg | -1 |
Bryson DeChambeau | Par |
Xander Schauffele | +1 |
Justin Thomas | +2 |
Rory McIlroy | +3 |
Scroll below to see how the first round played out at the 2025 PGA Championship...
DeChambeau +1 (5)
It's been a sloppy start from LIV Golf superstar Bryson DeChambeau but he's just converted a 12-footer for par on the 5th to remain at 1-over par.
DeChambeau was the third favourite entering this week and LIV Golf's biggest hope for a win.
The two-time major champion finds himself six shots off the pace as it stands.
Spaun -4 (7)
It's a briliant start from one-time PGA Tour winner JJ Spaun.
The American has already moved it to 4-under par thru seven holes having started on the 10th.
Spaun is just one shot behind Gerard.
Thomas +4 (6)
It's a horror start for Justin Thomas, who was many people's favourite to win a third PGA Championship this week.
JT doubled the 2nd and then added further bogeys on the 3rd and 6th to fall to 4-over par in the early stages.
He's also just plonked his second shot into the par-5 7th into the water as his troubles continue.
JT battling to make the cut already.
PGA Championship R1 Latest Leaderboard
Ryan Gerard | -5 | F |
Luke Donald | -4 | F |
Ryan Fox | -4 | F |
Stephan Jaeger | -4 | F |
Alex Smalley | -4 | F |
JJ Spaun | -4 | 6 |
Gerard -5 (F)
Ryan Gerard bogeys the final two holes but still manages to post the clubhouse lead of 5-under 66.
Gerard is making his PGA Championship debut this week.
It's also only his third major start.
"It was a lot of fun, it's always been a dream to play a major in my home state. I went out there and played solid almost for the entire day and pleased with how it went," said Gerard.
Gerard currently holds a one-shot lead over five players.
McIlroy +3, Schauffele +1, Scheffler -2 (F*)
Deary me, Rory McIlroy.
The Northern Irishman was offline with his tee shot and had to chip back into the fairway.
He had 10 feet to save his par but his golf ball never threatened the cup.
Scheffler finishes in style, though, with a closing birdie after nearly holing his approach from 215 yards.
Schauffele settles for a par.
Thomas E, D Johnson E, Morikawa E (1)
JT saves par from the greenside bunker. His playing partners also make steady starts.
Jaeger -4 (67), MacIntyre -3 (68)
Stephan Jaeger finds the water at the 18th and drops a shot.
Meanwhile, playing partner Bob MacIntyre scrambles to save his par after finding the thick rough with his tee shot.
R. Gerard -7 (15)
What a round from Ryan Gerard on only his third major championship appearance.
The American makes easy work of the par-5 15th by chipping in for eagle from 58 feet!
He leads by three.
Jordan Spieth is teeing off shortly. The American is chasing the career grand slam this week.
Spieth claimed the third leg of the slam at the 2017 Open at Royal Birkdale.
However, his last PGA Tour title was in 2022 at the RBC Heritage.
Are the 31-year-old's best days now behind him?
He is playing alongside Ludvig Aberg and LIV recruit Patrick Reed.
McIlroy +2, Schauffele +1, Scheffler -1 (17*)
We mentioned McIlroy sent a booming drive just short of the green. From there, McIlroy's golf ball settled some 10 feet from the hole. Can he get a birdie? No!
Scheffler makes do with a par.
Schauffele found the bunker with his tee shot but rolls in an 11-footer for a three.
One hole to go for this group.
Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa and Dustin Johnson are off and running.
Thomas splits the fairway with his first drive.
JT won here in 2017. Will he win his third PGA Championship title this week?
And what can we expect from LIV recruit DJ? We spoke to his former coach Butch Harmon before The Masters and he told us he didn't believe his heart was truly in it anymore.
DJ needed a special invitation from the PGA of America to be here this week.
Tom McKibbin, Sergio Garcia and Joaquin Niemann also received invites to play the second men's major of the year.
McIlroy +2, Schauffele +2, Scheffler -1 (16*)
The par-4 8th is 342 yards and McIlroy pulls out the chief and gives his TP5 an almighty wollop.
His tee shot comes close to getting over the false front but trickles back short left of the green.
Still, it's a decent chance for a birdie.
Fleetwood -1 (70)
Tommy Fleetwood, so often the nearly man in the majors, started the first round of the PGA Championship on fire with three birdies right out of the gate.
But three bogeys in five holes saw the Englishman drop down the leaderboard.
Still, a 70 at Quail Hollow is nothing to be sniffed at.
Cantlay +3, Fitzpatrick -3, Rahm -1 (17*)
Excellent work from this group at the 8th.
Cantlay finds his first birdie in 12 holes to move closer to level. Rahm is back in the red.
McIlroy +2, Schauffele +2, Scheffler -1 (16*)
The World No.1 finds the green at the 7th in two hits and has a decent eagle chance from inside 20 feet. He can't manage to pick up two strokes but it's an easy birdie.
Meanwhile, McIlroy's approach lands short of the green and he cannot get up-and-down for a much-needed birdie.
Schauffele also trudges off the green with a par.
Opportunity missed...
Luke Donald told reporters at the beginning of the week he would be a happy man if he makes the cut at the 107th PGA Championship.
Well, he's exceeded his own expectations so far with a bogey-free 67.
"It's a great score for me," Donald told Sky Sports.
"I haven't been trending towards something like this, but that's golf.
"I putted really well and a 67 on a course that's not suited to my game is pleasing.
"It felt like the hole was a little bigger which is a nice feeling in golf."
McIlroy +2, Schauffele +2, Scheffler E (15*)
Three holes to go for the marquee group.
McIlroy sends a booming drive down the par-5 7th and it's in the fairway.
Shocking that he has only found three fairways today...
Lowry +2 (73)
Shane Lowry came into the PGA Championship in good form having finished runner-up to Sepp Straka at last week's Truist Championship.
The former Open champ will not be happy with how he has started here.
After seven holes he dropped three shots and clawed his way back to 1-over, but another dropped shot at the last sees the Irishman sign for a 73.
McIlroy +2, Schauffele +2, Scheffler E (14*)
The marquee group have been very scrappy today, to say the least.
McIlroy has a decent birdie look at the 5th but his attempt from 16 feet doesn't threaten the hole.
Can he close with a couple of birdies?
S. Jaeger -5 (15)
Back-to-back birdies for the German at the 14th and 15th sees the PGA Tour veteran take the solo lead.
Donald -4 (67)
What a round from the European Ryder Cup captain.
The Englishman keeps a clean scorecard courtesy of a nine-foot par putt at the 18th.
Luuuuuuuuuuuuke!
Cantlay +4, Fitzpatrick -2, Rahm -1 (14*)
Rahm takes advantage at the par-4 5th, draining a long birdie putt from nearly 30 feet to get back to 1-under.
His European Ryder Cup teammate, Matthew Fitzpatrick, drops a shot though despite finding the green in regulation.
Fox -4 (67)
The Kiwi will be pleased with his round but it's a sloppy finish.
Fox races his birdie putt at the last five feet past the cup and cannot make the returning putt.
McIlroy +2, Schauffele +2, Scheffler E (11)
McIlroy would have taken a par from where he was off the tee.
The Masters left himself a birdie putt from 30ft and it looked like it was going to drop but his TP5 lips out.
Meanwhile, Scheffler makes a meal of the same hole. His approach is long and despite chipping to seven feet cannot save par.
Par for Schauffele.
