Lowry's 62 equals low major round as Schauffele, Morikawa lead PGA Championship | Sport (2024)

Lowry's 62 equals low major round as Schauffele, Morikawa lead PGA

Shane Lowry matched the lowest round in major golf history on Saturday, shooting a nine-under par 62 in the third round of the PGA Championship, while Xander Schauffele and Collin Morikawa shared the 54-hole lead at Valhalla.

The 37-year-old Irishman tied the mark achieved four prior times, most recently in Thursday's first round by Schauffele, who closed with back-to-back birdies to shoot 68 and match fellow American Collin Morikawa on 15-under 198 with Sahith Theegala third on 199.

World number three Schauffele, seeking his first major title, made double bogey at 15 but recovered with tap-in birdies at 17 and 18.

"Bouncing back was big. It's nice to have a share of the lead at least," Schauffele said.

"Need to stay in my lane, keep doing what I'm doing and hope it's enough."

Lowry's bogey-free round left the 2019 British Open champion, who began the day eight shots adrift, sharing fourth on 200 with American Bryson DeChambeau and Norway's Viktor Hovland.

"I'm going to have to keep going," Lowry said. "A lot of guys are playing great golf. The course is gettable. And like you see today somebody can come from way behind.

"I'm going to go out tomorrow and see if can get that trophy."

Other 62s have been made by Schauffele and American Rickie Fowler in the first round at last year's US Open and the 2017 British Open by South African Branden Grace.

Lowry birdied eight of the first 14 holes, sank birdie putts of 37 feet at 13 and 32 feet at the par-3 14th and one from just outside six feet at 17 to build the drama.

"I felt like I was just going to keep making birdies," Lowry said. "I just kept rolling them in. I got off to a great start."

At 18, Lowry had a birdie putt from just inside 12 feet for 61 but missed, saying, "It has been a long time since I've seen this so I'm not going to complain."

Scheffler fades

Schauffele birdied from just inside four feet at the par-5 seventh - his first birdie in 15 holes - and added others from just outside 21 feet at the par-5 10th and just inside 30 feet on the par-3 14th.

Tokyo Olympic champion Schauffele has not won any event since the 2022 Scottish Open, having had 19 top-10 PGA Tour finishes in the nearly two years since.

Two-time major winner Morikawa started with a bogey but a 30-foot chip-in birdie at the third and a closing 10-foot birdie putt kept him level with Schauffele.

"This week has been about taking one shot at a time, figuring out what you have and playing golf," said Morikawa.

"I've been doing a good job of that and I have 18 more holes to do that.

Theegala birdied six of the last 10 holes, a tap-in at 18 keeping him one adrift."I know my game is good enough to compete," Theegala said.

"I'm going to have to play my butt off."

A contender who faded was world number one Scottie Scheffler, who fired a two-over 73 - his first over-par round of the year - a day after being arrested.

He stood on 206, eight adrift.Scheffler, 27, faces charges of felony assault of a police officer, criminal mischief, reckless driving and disregarding signals from an officer directing traffic.

"I definitely did not feel like myself but yesterday happened and I came out and did my best," he said.

Scheffler stumbled early with a double bogey at the par-5 second and bogeys at three and four.

Scheffler birdied the fifth and 18th but after three other birdies he made a bogey on the next hole.

"Tough day. Got off to a tough start," he said. "Was battling all day but seemed to follow every birdie with a bogey. Way too many mistakes. Pretty frustrated with the day."

Jordan Spieth, needing a victory to complete a career Grand Slam, birdied three of the last four holes to shoot 67 and stand on eight-under 205.

Also on 205 was second-ranked Rory McIlroy, a four-time major winner who filed for divorce from wife Erica on Monday.

McIlroy shot 68.

- AFP

Nevermind, Xander Schauffele just sank another birdie. ??

— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 18, 2024

UNBELIEVABLE! Justin. Thomas.

The Kentucky guy holes out for birdie! #PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/YVeNslCW37

— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 18, 2024

Bouncing back ??

Two birdies in Scottie Scheffler's last three holes after a rocky start @PGAChampionship.pic.twitter.com/pE2CPZ1DGJ

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 18, 2024

Collin Morikawa moves into a tie for the lead!

Things are heating up at Valhalla ??#PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/JMhCmzrmsv

— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 18, 2024

Jordan Spieth makes his first career eagle in a PGA Championship??#PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/RJzQQMpvp0

— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 18, 2024

Two South Africans have made the weekend cut with LIV golfer Dean Burmester leading the way.

Burmester, who eagled the par-5 18th hole to reach 134 for 36 holes, four off the pace at eight-under par and tied for eighth.

Erik van Rooyen is the only other South African to make the cut as he sits tied for 52nd on two-under par.

Beauty and pace.

Max Homa birdies from 43 ft!#PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/Sx8GKcGPlW

— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 18, 2024

Round 3?? of the 2024 PGA Championship is officially underway! ??#PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/e6qgewcjUu

— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 18, 2024

Eagle for @BurmyGolf to finish his 2nd Round ??

He fires a bogey-free 6-under 65 and jumps to 8-under into T8 ??#PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/PwNtAlgkkT

— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) May 18, 2024

Play resumed in the second round of the 106th PGA Championship at Valhalla on Saturday after heavy fog delayed the restart by two hours and 25 minutes and changed how players will be grouped for round three.

The final 17 players still on the course on Friday, when darkness halted play, must complete their last holes before the cut can be made and groups can be determined for round three.

The lowest score among those still on the course belonged to South African Dean Burmester on 6-under, six off the pace, with two holes remaining.

Players were going to start in pairs from the first tee in round three but now will be sent off from the first and 10th tees in groups of three to try and ensure the round is completed before sunset.

Reigning Olympic champion Xander Schauffele, seeking his first major victory, leads the field on 12-under par 136 after 36 holes with Collin Morikawa, a two-time major winner, one stroke behind and Sahith Theegala two back.

The American trio will tee off for round three in the afternoon's final group.

Scottie Scheffler, who fired a five-under par 66 on Friday after being arrested in the early morning, shares fourth on 133 with fellow Americans Bryson DeChambeau and Mark Hubbard and Belgium's Thomas Detry.

- AFP

Heavy fog delays restart of PGA Championship

Heavy fog has delayed Saturday's restart of the second round of the 106th PGA Championship at Valhalla and changed how players will be grouped for round three.

The final 17 players still on the course Friday when darkness halted play, must complete their last holes before the cut can be made and groups can be determined for round three.

The lowest score among those still on the course belongs to South African Dean Burmester on 6-under, six off the pace, with two holes remaining.

Players were set to start in pairs from the first tee in round three but now will be sent off from the first and 10th tees in groups of three to try and ensure the round is completed before sunset.

Reigning Olympic champion Xander Schauffele, seeking his first major victory, leads the field on 12-under par 136 after 36 holes with fellow American Collin Morikawa, a two-time major winner, one stroke behind and countryman Sahith Theegala two back.

Scottie Scheffler, who fired a five-under par 66 on Friday after being arrested in the early morning, shares fourth on 133 with fellow Americans Bryson DeChambeau and Mark Hubbard and Belgium's Thomas Detry.

AFP

UPDATE: Resumption of Round 2 is DELAYED until further notice due to heavy fog. The resumption will be 30 minutes after conditions are playable.

Round 3 Starting Times will be a split tee start in groups of 3 off of #1 & #10 tees from approximately 11:17 AM - 1:40 PM.

— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 18, 2024

UPDATE: Resumption of Round 2 has been delayed due to heavy fog.

— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 18, 2024

Fatality, Scheffler arrest cause concern, chaos for PGA rivals

A fatal accident near the entrance to Valhalla on Friday and the subsequent arrest of top-ranked Scottie Scheffler rattled rivals at the PGA Championship.

John Mills, a vendor headed to work at the course, was struck by a vehicle and killed before dawn Friday outside the entrance to Valhalla.

The subsequent traffic jam caused by the accident prompted Scheffler to jump a curb while trying to enter the course.

This led to his arrest on four charges, but he left a jail cell and fired a five-under par 66 to stand on nine-under 133 and be in contention for a third major triumph.

While the tragic and bizarre tales unfolded, however, other players were trying to cope with the chaos.

"It's dark, it's raining, police lights everywhere, it was very strange coming into the course," said American Harris English, who fired a 67 to stand on 135.

"Then news broke that Scottie had been detained and all that. We had no idea what was going on. That could have been any one of us. We're all taking that same route coming into the club.

"You kind of take it all in, and talking amongst all the players and caddies and physios and our little bubble in there, and it's just wild. Turn on ESPN and seeing Scottie in handcuffs, getting in a police car, I never would have thought I would have seen that this morning.

"It was just wild."

Sadder yet, English said, was the loss of life.

"Very unfortunate. You never want to hear about a person losing their life coming to the course," he said.

"It's just terrible."

Australia's Min Woo Lee was a quick supporter of Scheffler after his arrest, posting on X: "#FreeScottie."

"I thought it was a little overreaction. It was just a weird one. So much traffic. I was a bit shook about what happened on both the scenarios," Lee said after firing 66.

"During the round, it was even hard to just concentrate, and I had to make sure to keep my head in the game because I wouldn't want that to happen to anyone, and what happened to Scottie was very scary, too. Hopefully, he's OK."

Eckroat walks to the course

Austin Eckroat went about two miles in 30 minutes in his car due to the traffic backup and took matters onto his own feet.

"I ended up getting out of my car and walking a mile and a half and having my wife drive the car in," Eckroat said.

"We were in a standstill so I pulled up the local news station trying to figure out what was going on, and the first thing I saw was Scottie had been put in handcuffs, and I was like, what in the world is going on.

"It was a weird morning."

Two-time major winner Collin Morikawa, who fired a 65 to briefly grab the lead, felt Mills deserved more reflection.

"I don't think that's getting talked about enough, or at all. My wishes and prayers are within that family," Morikawa said.

As for his day, that jumped into gear quickly.

"By the time I went into the workout trailer, I knew I had to focus and not worry about anyone else," said Morikawa.

"It's very hard to do that when things are going on around you."

AFP

The round of the day so far at Valhalla ??

A stellar Friday showing from @Collin_Morikawa. pic.twitter.com/GG4t5LXq29

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 17, 2024

Morikawa grabs PGA lead as Schauffele starts, Scheffler charges

Two-time major champion Collin Morikawa made five consecutive birdies on Friday to seize the PGA Championship lead while top-ranked Scottie Scheffler charged into a share of third after being arrested before his second round.

World number three Xander Schauffele fired a nine-under par 62 Thursday at Valhalla to match the lowest major round in history and was second, two back of Morikawa, when he teed off in round two.

Morikawa, who reeled off two sets of three birdies in a row in a 66 on Thursday, went two better to overtake fellow American Schauffele for the lead and reach 12-under with one hole to play.

Morikawa, ranked 13th in the world, began on the back nine and sank a 12-foot birdie putt at the 13th and a three-footer to birdie the par-5 18th.

He unleashed another hat trick starting with a birdie putt from just outside eight feet at the fourth. Next came a 17-footer for birdie at the fifth and then he holed out from just inside 34 feet at the sixth.

At the par-5 seventh and par-3 eighth, he sank birdie putt from about five feet, stretching his lead to three on 12-under.

Morikawa won the 2020 PGA Championship and 2021 British Open and comes off a career-best share of third at last month's Masters.

Scheffler, however, was the focus of most spectators, as they lined the course to cheer him every hole, some while wearing T-shirts with his new mugshot image taken hours earlier.

Scheffler, who won his second Masters title last month, shook off his arrest and booking to make five birdies against a lone bogey to share third on 8-under overall after 14 holes.

Before dawn, Scheffler was taken into custody and charged with assault of a police officer, criminal mischief, reckless driving and disregarding signals from an officer directing traffic from an incident at the entrance to Valhalla.

He was handcuffed and taken into custody after driving over a curb trying to get around a traffic accident, one that resulted in the death of a pedestrian, and according to police dragging a police officer with his car so severely the man was hospitalized.

In a surreal morning at a major for a world number one, Scheffler was ordered out of his car, arrested, booked, had his mugshot taken in an orange jumpsuit and released into his own custody just in time to get back to the course and practice before his second round began.

Scheffler, a new father after his son arrived last week, hit his opening tee shot into the right rough at the par-5 10th hole but dropped his approach three feet from the hole and tapped in for birdie.

He missed the green and a five-foot par putt to bogey the par-3 11th but responded with his longest made putt of the week, a 26-foot birdie, at 12 to reach 5-under.

Scheffler left himself a birdie putt from just inside six feet at the par-5 18th and sank it, then added birdie putts from six feet at the second hole and three feet at the fourth.- Soderberg aces eight -Sharing third on 8-under with Scheffler was world number 81 Mark Hubbard, making only his fourth major start.

Hubbard birdied the par-5 10th and par-4 12th to start his round then sank a seven-foot birdie putt at the par-5 18th.

The 34-year-old American, whose best PGA Tour finish in 214 career starts was a share of second at the 2019 Houston Open.

Sweden's Sebastian Soderberg, making only his third major start, aced the 173-yard par-3 eighth hole.

- AFP

BUCKETS!

Emiliano Grillo holes out for eagle on the signature 13th! ??#PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/HKSv8VoWFZ

— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 17, 2024

Collin Morikawa drains it to tie the lead. ?? pic.twitter.com/d7nWpvFU6j

— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) May 17, 2024

Scheffler climbs within three of PGA lead after early arrest

World number one Scottie Scheffler climbed within three strokes of the lead Friday after being arrested before the second round of the PGA Championship, but third-ranked Xander Schauffele remained the overall leader at Valhalla.

Schauffele, who fired a nine-under par 62 on Thursday to match the lowest major round in history, remained at the top ahead of his afternoon start at the rainy layout.

Scheffler was 2-under through nine holes in Friday's second round and shared seventh on 6-under for the tournament after being taken into custody and charged with assault of a police officer, criminal mischief, reckless driving and disregarding signals from an officer directing traffic.

He was handcuffed and taken into custody after driving over a curb trying to get around a traffic accident, one that resulted in the death of a pedestrian, and into the course.

Instead, Scheffler was ordered out of his car, booked, had his mugshot taken in an orange jumpsuit and released into his own custody just in time to get back to the course and practice before his second round began.

"This morning, I was proceeding as directed by police officers," Scheffler said. "It was a very chaotic situation, understandably so considering the tragic accident that had occurred earlier, and there was a big misunderstanding of what I thought I was being asked to do.

"I never intended to disregard any of the instructions.

"I'm hopeful to put this to the side and focus on golf today. Of course, all of us involved in the tournament express our deepest sympathies to the family of the man who passed away in the earlier accident this morning. It truly puts everything into perspective."

That accident delayed the start by 80 minutes and ensured the second round would not be completed until Saturday on a damp, receptive course.

Scheffler, who captured his second Masters last month and has won four of his past five starts, was cheered by spectators who lined the holes to watch him play.

Scheffler, a new father after his son arrived last week, hit his opening tee shot into the right rough at the par-5 10th hole but dropped his approach three feet from the hole and tapped in for birdie.

He missed the green and a five-foot par putt to bogey the par-3 11th but responded with his longest made putt of the week, a 26-foot birdie, at 12 to reach 5-under.

After five pars, Scheffler left himself a birdie putt from just inside six feet at the par-5 18th and sank it to make the turn 2-under.

World number 81 Mark Hubbard, making only his fourth major start, birdied the par-5 10th and par-4 12th to start his round and reach 8-under, pulling within one of the lead after seven holes.

The 34-year-old American, whose best PGA Tour finish in 214 career starts was a share of second at the 2019 Houston Open, moved the closest of any rival to Schauffele.

A third-place pack on 7-under included Sweden's Alex Noren and Americans Collin Morikawa, Harris English and Austin Eckroat.

Two-time major winner Morikawa sank a birdie putt from 12 feet at 13 and just outside three feet at the par-5 18th to reach 7-under.

Eckroat stumbled with a bogey at six then birdied the next four holes to make his charge.

English fired five birdies against a lone bogey over his first 13 holes for the low round on the course to pull within two of Schauffele while Noren overcame an early bogey with four birdies.

Sweden's Sebastian Soderberg, making only his third major start, aced the 173-yard par-3 eighth hole.

- AFP

Scottie Scheffler almost just holed out again! #PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/ZdbByGW51H

— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 17, 2024

ACE!

Sebastian Soderberg makes the first hole in one of the week from 169 yards on No. 8!#PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/cyrirzEULX

— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 17, 2024

"This morning we were devastated to learn that a worker with one of our vendors was tragically struck and killed by a shuttle bus outside Valhalla Golf Club. This is heartbreaking to all of us involved with the PGA Championship. We extend our sincere condolences to their family…

— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 17, 2024

Scheffler released, returns to Valhalla Golf Club

Louisville's WAVE-TV news and Golf Digest reported Scheffler was charged with assault of a police officer, criminal mischief, reckless driving and disregarding signals from an officer directing traffic.

SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio reported Scheffler was released on his own recognizance.

Scheffler arrived at Valhalla's clubhouse about 30 minutes after his release and just under an hour before his 10:08. (16:08 SA time) start time off the 10th tee for the second round, which began after an 80-minute delay due to the accident.

As Scheffler exited a vehicle, reportedly driven by the owner of Valhalla Golf Club, and walked through the clubhouse front door, he was asked for a comment by ESPN reporter Marty Smith.

"I love you, Marty," Scheffler said.

Scheffler, trying to become the first player since 2015 to win the first two majors in a calendar year, would have time to practice putting and drives before teeing off. - AFP

UPDATE

Play of Round 2 will begin at 8:35 AM. All Round 2 Starting Times are delayed 1 hour and 20 minutes from the originally published time.

All spectator gates will open at 8:00 AM.#PGAChamp

— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 17, 2024

Play of the second round at the PGA Championship will get under way at 8:35 local time (14:35 SA time).

It remains to be seen if World No 1 Scottie Scheffler will continue at Valhalla, after he was arrested and reportedly charged with assault.

World No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler has been detained by police in handcuffs after a misunderstanding with traffic flow led to his attempt to drive past a police officer into Valhalla Golf Club prior to the second round of the PGA Championship.

?? MORE: https://t.co/6Ae5Gtcr3i pic.twitter.com/jRr6DTj9dk

— ESPN Australia & NZ (@ESPNAusNZ) May 17, 2024

Police detain World No 1 Scheffler outside Valhalla golf course

Golf world number one Scottie Scheffler was handcuffed by police early on Friday, according to video footage and media reports, after allegedly trying to drive around traffic controls outside the PGA Championship at Valhalla.

According to CNN, he was charged with assault.

Scheffler was detained when he attempted to drive past an officer to get into the Kentucky course as police dealt with congestion caused by a separate accident that he was not involved in, according to witnesses and US media reports.

ESPN's Jeff Darlington posted a video on X of Scheffler, wearing shorts and A T-shirt with his hands held behind his back, being led away by police in the incident before dawn.

As police lights flashed in the dark, police shouted at witnesses to stand back and one officer said, "right now, he is going to jail and there's nothing you can do about it".

Darlington said the incident was a misunderstanding over traffic flow, and that a police officer acted "very quickly, very rapidly, very aggressively" as he screamed at Scheffler to get out of his car.

Scheffler was shoved against the vehicle and placed in handcuffs before being put in the back of a police car.

The PGA of America said the second round was delayed by more than an hour, without giving any further details.

Top-ranked new father Scottie Scheffler fired a 67 on Thursday, including a 167-yard, one-bounce eagle from the fairway on the first hole with a 9-iron.

He is tied for 12th and was expected to tee off at 14:45 SA time before the incident occurred.

It was uncertain if Scheffler, trying to become the first player since 2015 to win the first two majors in a calendar year, would make his revised start time of 10:08 (16:08 SA time) off the 10th tee.

- AFP

American Xander Schauffeleequals record-low major round with 62 to lead PGA Championship

Xander Schauffele matched the lowest round in major golf history on Thursday, firing a nine-under-par 62 to seize command after the opening day of the PGA Championship.

Reigning Olympic champion Schauffele started off the 10th tee and birdied five of his first nine holes, then birdied four more after the turn in a bogey-free round for a three-shot lead at rain-softened Valhalla.

"It feels great," Schauffele said. "If someone told me I'd shoot nine-under I'd have taken it. It's a great start to a big tournament."

The 30-year-old American topped the leaderboard over countrymen Tony Finau, Mark Hubbard and Sahith Theegala on 65.

Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, South Korean Tom Kim, Scotsman Robert MacIntyre, Belgium's Thomas Detry and Americans Tom Hoge, Collin Morikawa and Maverick McNealy shared fifth on 66.

Top-ranked new dad Scottie Scheffler fired a 67, including a 167-yard, one-bounce eagle from the fairway on the first hole with a 9-iron.

"I tried to hit it right at the pin. I was fortunate to get the distance right. It's nice to get a little bit of luck there," Scheffler said.

"I did a lot of good things today."

Thursday's 64 players under-par were the second-most below par after any round in tournament history - and more rain is expected on Friday and Saturday.

Schauffele already shared the record-low round in major golf history with his 62 from the first round of last year's US Open at Los Angeles Country Club, matched by American Rickie Fowler in the same round and South African Branden Grace at the 2017 British Open at Royal Birkdale.

"I can't nit-pick. I'll take a 62 in any major any day," Schauffele said.

He set Valhalla's course record, breaking the 63 fired by Spain's Jose Maria Olazabal in the first round of the 2000 PGA Championship.

Asked where it ranked among his greatest rounds, Schauffele said, "Up there. It's only day one. But I'm very content with the shots I played and the putts I rolled."

Schauffele, seeking his first major title, has had 19 top-10 PGA Tour finishes since last winning at the 2022 Scottish Open.

That includes a humbling loss to a McIlroy last Sunday after dominating the Wells Fargo Championship until the final holes.

Schauffele has had 12 top-10 major finishes without a victory, with runner-up finishes at the 2018 British Open and 2019 Masters.

"I've been playing some really solid golf, been having a lot of close calls," Schauffele said. "Me and my team say why not just keep plugging along."

Schauffele birdied the par-3 11th from inside three feet, sank a 13-foot birdie putt at the par-4 13th, another from just outside 16 feet at 15, one from just past seven feet at 16 and a five-footer to birdie the par-5 18th.

On the front side, Schauffele sank a four-foot putt to birdie the second, birdie putts of four feet at the fourth and just inside 10 feet at the fifth, then sank a tap-in birdie at the par-5 seventh.

At the ninth, Schauffele missed a birdie putt of just under 32 feet for a 61.

McIlroy scrambles to 66

McIlroy battled his own personal turmoil in the first round, which came less than 48 hours after his shock divorce filing from wife Erica became public.

The four-time major winner, who last won a major 10 years ago at Valhalla, made six birdies against a lone bogey after a back-nine start.

"A little erratic off the tee," said McIlroy. "But I scrambled well and made some great putts. It wasn't the greatest 66 but 66 it was."

Bogey-free Finau tied his second-lowest major round at 65, only behind his third-round 64 at the 2019 Masters.

"A really nice round," Finau said. "The course was there for the taking if you hit it in the fairway."

Five-time major winner Brooks Koepka, the defending champion, eagled the par-5 seventh and birdied eight to shoot 67.

American Jordan Spieth, a three-time major winner who would complete a career Grand Slam with a victory at Valhalla, opened on 69.

Tiger Woods, a 15-time major champion, fired a 72 with three birdies and four bogeys.

"It was a grind. I didn't drive it particularly well," Woods said.

- AFP

Tiger Woods cards a one-over 72 in his first round at the PGA Championship. ?? pic.twitter.com/MsVzwgj7o3

— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) May 16, 2024

Xander Schauffele is on ??????

And it's a tap in for the 3-shot lead!#PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/gvivxfLwS7

— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 16, 2024

Resilient Schauffele grabs PGA lead as McIlroy's emotions tested

Rory McIlroy battled through an epic test of emotional resilience to stay in contention early in Thursday's first round of the PGA Championship but Xander Schauffele showed his own perseverence to seize the lead.

Less than 48 hours after his Monday shock divorce filing from wife Erica became public, second-ranked McIlroy shared 15th on 1-under after nine holes at Valhalla, where his most recent major win came 10 years ago.

The 35-year-old from Northern Ireland sank a six-foot birdie putt at the par-5 10th and birdied the par-4 13th from just outside 10 feet before finding two bunkers at 17 and making bogey.

The four-time major winner made clutch seven-foot par putts at 16 and 18, the first after blasting out of a greenside bunker and the last after finding water off the tee.

McIlroy handled the personal turmoil after wins in his past two starts, a PGA Tour pairs event last month with Irishman Shane Lowry and last Sunday's fightback at the PGA Wells Fargo Championship, overtaking Schauffele on the back nine to win.

Third-ranked Schauffele, an American seeking his first major title, has 19 top-10 PGA Tour finishes since last winning at the 2022 Scottish Open.

Schauffele, the reigning Olympic champion, set aside his heartbreaking defeat to McIlroy last weekend and birdied six of his first 11 holes after a 10th-tee start to take command at the rain-softened 7,609-yard, par-71 layout.

Schauffele birdied the par-3 11th from inside three feet, sank a 13-foot birdie putt at the par-4 13th, another from just outside 16 feet at 15, one from just past seven feet at 16, a five-footer to birdie the par-5 18th and a four-footer to birdie the second.

That left Schauffele atop the leaderboard on 6-under through 11 holes with compatriot Tony Finau two back through seven and Scotsman Robert MacIntyre three adrift.McIlroy, top-ranked Masters winner Scottie Scheffler and defending champion Brooks Koepka had topped the list of favorites to lift the Wanamaker Trophy.

American Jordan Spieth, a three-time major winner who would complete a career Grand Slam with a victory at Valhalla, birdied three of his first four holes before a bogey at 17 dropped him back.

Five-time major winner Koepka, among 16 LIV Golf players in the field of 156, began on the back nine and birdied the 12th hole to stand 1-under after seven holes.

Tiger Woods, a 15-time major champion and 2000 PGA Championship winner at Valhalla, was 1-over after the back nine, making bogey at the par-3 11, sinking an 18-foot birdie putt at 13 before a bogey at 15.

Scheffler, a winner in four of his past five starts, was set for an afternoon start off the first tee alongside two other 2023 major champions from the United States -- US Open winner Wyndham Clark and British Open winner Brian Harman.Other afternoon starters include two-time major winner Jon Rahm of Spain, who jumped from the PGA to LIV last December, and six-time major winner Phil Mickelson.

-AFP

ZERO INTEREST IN PAR

Justin Thomas birdies on 16 ???? #PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/upSbX1fHh0

— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 16, 2024

Rory McIlroy is picking up where he left off! #PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/0VvPOL0Rva

— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 16, 2024

Luke Donald makes the first birdie of the 2024 PGA Championship!#PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/AyXW9eIyPY

— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 16, 2024