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In terms of US PGA Championship shocks, nothing is likely to beat the 2024 sight of Scottie Scheffler in a prison jumpsuit in the hours preceding his second round at Valhalla. The return of this major was, however, dramatic enough.
So much for Quail Hollow as Rory’s playground. Rory McIlroy, fresh from Masters glory, opened with a three-over 74. This was not in anybody’s script. Luke Donald, McIlroy’s Ryder Cup captain, last posted a major top 10 in 2013. Donald produced a 67 that rolled back the years and defied seasoned analysts who insisted only big hitters can master this major property.
The US PGA debutant Ryan Gerard, the world No 81, surged to the top of the leaderboard at seven under par. Gerard stumbled over the closing two holes but his 66 was sufficient for a share of the lead with Cam Davis before Jhonattan Vegas finished birdie, birdie, birdie for a 65. This was at 8pm. When a 68 for Matt Fitzpatrick is factored in – the Yorkshireman has been desperately searching desperately for form – this was another day of the unexpected. Only the brave will predict what happens next.
Beyond celebration of the completion of a career grand slam it may well be that McIlroy has a psychological adjustment to make in this fresh chapter of his extraordinary career. Perhaps that is looking too deeply into round one of this tournament. The Northern Irishman’s fundamental issue was technical and uncharacteristic; he hit just four of 14 fairways. At a course dominated by long par fours, this will always place a golfer behind the eight ball. Other elements of McIlroy’s game could not rescue him. He had, for example, 31 putts.
Things had started so promisingly for him. He comfortably birdied the 10th, his 1st, to plant himself immediately on the upper echelons of the leaderboard. This was a congested scene; at 10.30am, 13 players were tied at the top on minus three.
McIlroy three-putted from distance at the 11th and missed a short birdie attempt at the 14th. The next two holes rather typified his day; the 36-year-old pulled drives into trouble. He recovered to collect a shot at the 15th. McIlroy plus playing partners, Scheffler and Xander Schauffele, took 18 shots between them on the par-four 16th.
Amazingly, McIlroy’s six was his first Quail Hollow double bogey since 2010. Grisly stuff. Bogeys to bookend McIlroy’s second half meant three over par. He did not look despondent but the post-round plan to head to the practice range told a story in itself. The Masters champion needs to rediscover his mojo with driver in hand. McIlroy will be well aware that Scheffler’s 69 is ominous for the remainder of the field.
Those to outscore Scheffler included Donald, whose 14 pars and four birdies looked blissfully simple. There is no prospect whatsoever of the Englishman playing for Europe at Bethpage in September but the captain is entitled to relish this prominence while it lasts. It is often forgotten that Donald once spent a year as the world’s top-ranked golfer.
“Someone just told me it was the lowest first round in a major I’ve had since 2004,” Donald said. “I’m here only because I’m captain of the European Ryder Cup team. I wouldn’t be in this field otherwise. It’s a nice invitation and a perk that the Ryder Cup captain gets. I understand that. I understand that my game isn’t where it used to be and that the Ryder Cup is the focus. That really doesn’t bother me one bit.”
Fitzpatrick’s world ranking of 85 seems incredible given the heights he scaled when winning the 2022 US Open. The last year has been especially grim for the meticulous Fitzpatrick, meaning he was quite right to speak reflectively after his day’s work.
“It has been really hard,” Fitzpatrick said of his woes. “It doesn’t matter how many times you remind yourself what you’ve done and the success you’ve had. It’s hard when you step on the range or you step on the golf course and you’ve got an intention the shots don’t match.
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“This is the worst I feel like I have ever played. It’s the lowest I’ve ever felt, for sure, going on a golf course. I didn’t want to be out here at some points. I felt much more interested in football than golf. It’s tough.”
Gerard went to college in this state, meaning he is familiar with the venue. “I feel very comfortable here,” he said. “There’s a lot of people here that I know and I’ve been fortunate enough to play this golf course a few times. All of that is fantastic and it definitely helped in the preparation.
“I’ve been kind of just hovering in that 15th to 30th range a lot of weeks. That’s not a bad thing but I’m kind of looking to step on the gas here.”
Robert MacIntyre’s 68 was notable. Ryan Fox, who won on the PGA Tour on Sunday, matched Donald’s score. Phil Mickelson recounted a “rough day” which included 79 shots with an eight at the 7th, his 16th. Brooks Koepka, once a regular feature at these events, is four over. LIV Golf has made Koepka richer. It is perfectly legitimate to ask whether it has made him any better.
