The PGA Championship Is Off to a Wild Start. Here Is What Happened.

Scottie and Spieth Rise. Rory and Bryson Collapse. PGA Championship Round 1 Recap. Get up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at square.com/go/WINGO #squarepod #sponsored Round 1 of the PGA Championship at Aronimink delivered everything you could ask for from a major championship opening day. A seven-way tie atop the leaderboard at three under par. A historic first for the world's best player. A grand slam chase that nobody took seriously suddenly very real. Two of the biggest names in the sport falling apart when it mattered. And a story nobody saw coming that reminded everyone why we watch this game. Trey Wingo breaks it all down from Cabo San Lucas — where he is on his annual college buddies golf trip — giving you the full picture of everything that happened in round one at Aronimink. Scottie Scheffler is tied for the lead. And here is the thing about that — for the first time in his career on the PGA Tour, Scottie Scheffler has either led or shared the lead after the first round of a major championship. He has been the dominant number one player in the world for three years. He has won four majors. And he has never been in this position after round one until today. His approach play has been slightly off this season by his own extraordinary standards. It was not off today. The full arsenal was on display. Scottie Scheffler is primed for something big over the next three days. Jordan Spieth is at one under par — two strokes off the lead. Spieth needs a PGA Championship to complete the career grand slam and join Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Tiger Woods, and Rory McIlroy in the most exclusive club in men's golf. Nobody was taking that seriously heading into this week. His recent PGA Championship record has been poor. He had no top tens this year. And then Thursday happened. The grand slam chase is suddenly very real. Martin Kaymer is also in contention and it is one of the best stories of round one. Kaymer is a two-time major winner — the 2010 PGA Championship and the 2014 US Open. He went to LIV and essentially disappeared. No top 20 finishes this season. Someone apparently questioned why he was even at Aronimink. Trey tells the full story of what happened next — and uses the greatest Bubba Watson club championship story you have ever heard to explain exactly why you never say that to a competitor. Now for the other side of the leaderboard. Rory McIlroy bogeyed five of his last six holes. The back-to-back Masters champion came in with a blister concern, played through it, and then fell apart down the stretch. He is at four over par with serious work to do to make the cut. Bryson DeChambeau made a birdie on his final hole to get in at six over par. A 76 in round one. He also missed the cut at the Masters. And Trey makes the case that two consecutive missed cuts in majors is not just a bad week — it is a direct hit to whatever negotiating leverage Bryson thinks he has with the PGA Tour. And then there is Garrick Higgo. Higgo was assessed a two-stroke penalty for being late to his tee time. He arrived at the tee box after 7:19 for a 7:18 starting time. Before he hit a single shot he was two over par. He finished the day at one under. One stroke off the lead. Seven strokes better than Bryson DeChambeau. With a two-stroke penalty already in the books. Round one at Aronimink gave us everything. Here is the full breakdown. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.