Surprises at the PGA Championship: Jhonattan Vegas Leads the Leaderboard
In a day marked by difficulties for the big golf stars, lesser-known names positioned themselves at the top of the leaderboard of the PGA Championship, held at Quail Hollow Club.
Venezuelan Jhonattan Vegas, who hadn’t made a cut in a major since the 2021 US Open, surprised by registering birdies on five of his last six holes, finishing with a score of 64 strokes (-7) and a two-stroke lead.
Vegas, playing with the Australian Elvis Smylie, became the first Venezuelan player to lead or co-lead the first round of a major.
“It’s incredible. It’s what we dreamed of”
Jhonattan Vegas
Ryan Gerard and Cam Davis were in second place with -5, while Luke Donald, captain of the European Ryder Cup team, was among the five golfers with -4.
What surprises will the second round hold at Quail Hollow?
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What do you think of Rory, Scottie, and Xander heading into the second round?
Scottie Scheffler during the first round of the PGA Championship.
If it weren’t for a couple of balls in the mud on the 16th hole, Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele might have been in a more favorable position after the first round. Scheffler managed to hold on and signed a 69 (-2), while Schauffele finished with +1.
Scheffler expressed his discontent with the conditions, especially after a muddy ball contributed to his double bogey on the 16th hole. Rory McIlroy also suffered the consequences on that same hole.
“Overall, I did a good job of fighting and staying calm on a day with challenging aspects on the course. I did a good job of grinding out a result on a day where I didn’t have my best stuff.”
Scottie Scheffler
McIlroy, one of the favorites, did not have his best performance, especially with the tee. He only hit four of 14 fairways and lost strokes in putting.
It’s early to rule out McIlroy, who rallied at the Masters after a difficult start. Which unexpected player do you think will stay on top over the weekend?
Ryan Fox, who qualified by winning the Oneflight Myrtle Beach Classic, shot a 67 (-4) despite limited preparation. Fox demonstrated mental toughness, inspired by his father, a Rugby World Cup champion with the All Blacks.
Stephan Jaeger, PGA Tour winner, also deserves attention. Despite not having performed well in driving, his approach game was excellent, which allowed him to stay in the top 10.
“This course is difficult, long, and plays even longer this week because it’s wet. You have to be able to hit the fairway and a decent distance off the tee to be able to hold the greens with mid-irons instead of long irons.”
Stephan Jaeger
Jaeger connected 12 of 18 greens and his short game provided him with a significant advantage.
Who is the favorite to win after the first round?
Scheffler, world number 1, is a clear candidate. However, DeChambeau and Rahm are also contenders despite not having had their best game in the first round.
Which important figures need to improve their game on Friday?
Several major champions, such as Sepp Straka, Rickie Fowler, Shane Lowry, Jason Day, Max Homa, and Justin Thomas, will need to improve to make the cut. Along with McIlroy, Patrick Cantlay, Min Woo Lee, and Gary Woodland also need a better performance.
In addition, LIV Golf League stars such as Joaquín Niemann, Brooks Koepka, Sergio García, Cameron Smith, Dustin Johnson, and Phil Mickelson are in danger of missing the cut.
Ryder Cup Captains Shine in First Round
Luke Donald at the PGA Championship.
Ryder Cup captains Keegan Bradley and Luke Donald were at the top of the leaderboard in the first round. Donald, despite not having a standout season, has been working on his game, while Bradley has shown good performance this season.
“I was pleasantly surprised. I got off to a really good, steady start. I hit a lot of fairways on the front nine, which always makes me feel good about my game”
Luke Donald
Bradley acknowledges Donald’s work and believes he can still compete in a major.
How did the field conditions influence the game and how might they affect the upcoming rounds?
The balls with mud were a determining factor. The field, which received heavy rains, did not dry completely, which made the game difficult. The players faced unpredictable hits.
“It’s frustrating to hit the ball in the middle of the fairway and have it get muddy and have no idea where it’s going to go”
Scottie Scheffler
Despite the conditions, the officials decided not to allow “preferred lies”, which generated frustration among the players.
Scheffler and Schauffele suffered the consequences of muddy balls on the 16th hole. Conditions could worsen as the course dries.
“The balls with mud are going to get worse. They are going to get worse as the course dries. They are going to get into that perfect zone where it’s a little muddy underneath and then picking up mud as you go”
Xander Schauffele
DeChambeau tries to adapt to the situation, while Jaeger hopes the course improves as the tournament progresses.
