Schauffele leads with a historic first round, Argentine Tosti is excited and Tiger Woods had a bad start

The American golfer Xander Schauffele started this Thursday at the head of the PGA Championship equaling the lowest round in the history of Grand Slam tournaments, with a total of 62 hits, nine under par. This fabulous card gave him a three-stroke advantage over his compatriots Tony Finau, Mark Hubbard y Sahith Theegala at the premiere of the second major of 2024 in Louisville (Kentucky).

The American Scottie Scheffler, also a big favorite for the title, was positioned in twelfth place with 67 strokes (-4) while the Spanish Jon Rahm recovered from a disastrous start to finish with 70 (-1) in 47th place.

Schauffele, current Olympic champion, was the great sensation on the Valhalla course, where many golfers took advantage of the fine rain that fell on the field. Up to 64 players went under par, the second most of any round in the 106 editions of the PGA Championship.

Schauffele started in the tee from the 10th and made five birdies on his first nine holes, and four more after the round in a bogey-free round.

The 30-year-old Californian already shared the record for the lowest round in the history of Grand Slam tournaments. He had scored a 62 in the first round of the US Open last year, while the American Rickie Fowler He achieved it on that same day and the South African Branden Grace at the 2017 British Open.

“It feels very good. If someone had told me I would hit nine under par I would have accepted it. But it’s only Thursday,” Schauffele said. His performance also beat the record of valhallasurpassing the 63 hits that the Spaniard achieved José María Olazábal in the first round of the 2000 PGA Championship. The American is still fighting for his first Grand Slam crown after having finished in the top 10 on a dozen occasions.

One of the last players to start was Scottie Scheffler who, after winning the Augusta Masters in April, now aspires to be the first to monopolize the first two ‘Majors’ of the year since Jordan Spieth in 2015. The world number one landed in Valhalla with just enough preparation time due to the birth of his first son but once he took up the clubs it didn’t take him long to confirm his spectacular moment of form.

Scheffler, who has won four titles in his last five tournaments, sent a message to his rivals by signing a huge eagle of 51 meters on the first hole. “I tried to hit it right on the flag. I was lucky to hit the distance. It’s good to have a little luck there,” said Scheffler, who closed his round with four birdies and two bogeys.

For its part, Jon Rahm He had a nightmare start with four bogeys in the first six holes but he remedied the situation with six subsequent birdies. The Spaniard, who competes as a great reference on the Saudi circuit LIFE Golfcomes from registering its worst participation in the Augusta Masters and face the worst title drought of his career.

The Argentinian Alejandro Tosti He was the best-ranked Latin American with a score of 68 (-3) that placed him in 18th place, while his compatriot Emiliano Grillor finished with 71 (even) in 65. Above par, Chilean Joaquín Niemann finished with 73 strokes (+2) in 108th place and Colombian Camilo Villegas with 79 (+8) in 151st.

Another of the great focuses of attention on Thursday was Tiger Woodswho remained under par until making bogeys on the last two holes.

The 48-year-old American star had a total of three birdies and four bogeys for a card of 72 strokes (+1) that placed him in the rank 85 and they will force him to roll up his sleeves on Friday to make the cut.

At this point in his legendary career, Woods only participates in Grand Slam tournaments due to his numerous physical problems, especially with his right leg which was damaged in a car accident in 2021. “It took me probably three holes to feel competitive again and feel how I hit the ball in competition, the adrenaline, the temperature, the speed of the green,” Tiger explained.

And he closed: “These are things that I normally get used to very quickly, and it has cost me a few holes,” he admitted. “Every day is a little different. Some days better than others. That’s just the way it is. My body is like that.”