In the first round of the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club, the world’s top three ranked golfers put on an unusual performance.
Scottie Scheffler, world number one, along with Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele, the defending champion, experienced difficulties on the 16th hole, a par 4.
Each of them made a double bogey on this hole, after starting on the back nine.
I kept the honor after making a double. Probably the first and last time that happens in my career, unless we have extreme weather conditions.
Scottie Scheffler
Scheffler managed to recover and sign a 2-under-par in the first nine holes, remaining in 14th place with a total of 2-under-par. Schauffele, for his part, achieved a birdie on the 8th hole and was in 60th place with 1-over-par. McIlroy added two additional bogeys, which relegated him to 85th place with 3-over-par.
Ryan Gerard led the leaderboard with 5 under par, while Luke Donald, captain of the European Ryder Cup team, and three other players were in second place with 4 under par.
Hole 16, at 535 yards, proved to be a challenge for the three top golfers.
McIlroy had a complicated performance on the 16th hole, with a drive that ended in the trees. His second shot, from an unfavorable position, was not good. His third shot came up short, and he needed two putts for the double bogey.
Scheffler, after an eagle on the 15th hole, made a mistake by sending his second shot into the pond behind the 16th green.
The PGA of America decided not to allow “preferred lies”, which would have allowed players to lift, clean, and place their balls in a designated area.
I understand it’s part of the game, but there’s nothing more frustrating for a player. You spend your whole life trying to learn how to control a golf ball, and because of a rules decision, you suddenly have no control over where that golf ball goes.
Scottie Scheffler
Scheffler, after a drop, had to chip in from 52 feet and then a 7-foot putt for a double bogey.
According to Elias Sports Bureau, Scheffler had never made a double bogey (or worse) in the first round of a major championship until this Thursday.
Schauffele, after a 323-yard drive, had an approach similar to Scheffler’s, also ending up in the water.
We were in the middle of the fairway, and I don’t know, we had to aim right of the stands probably. I’m not sure. I aimed right of the bunker, and it went in the water, and Scottie went in the water as well. It is what it is, and a lot of guys are dealing with it, but it’s a shame to hit good shots and get penalized that way. It’s a little stupid.
Xander Schauffele
Schauffele fears conditions will worsen as temperatures rise this weekend.
The mud balls are going to get worse. They’re going to get worse as the game dries out. They’re going to get into that perfect cake zone where it’s a little bit muddy underneath and then picking up mud on the way.
Xander Schauffele
