PGA Championship: Big Names Struggle, Young Guns Emerge

Strategic Insights -

Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, and Scottie Scheffler, the world's top three golfers, all made double bogey at the 16th hole of the PGA Championship, their opening day in Charlotte, North Carolina, a far cry from the stellar performance the trio had been expected to deliver. The big names struggled to navigate the challenging course, while newcomers Ryan Gerard, Ryan Fox, and others took center stage with impressive performances.

Key Takeaways:

  • Ryan Gerard, a 25-year-old PGA Championship debutant, shot 5 under 66, the lowest round of the day, with four birdies in a row starting at No. 10 and an eagle chip-in from 59 feet at No. 15.
  • Cam Davis, the Australian golfer, carded 5 under 66, tied with Gerard, with a bogey on the 18th hole.
  • Luke Donald, the 47-year-old European Ryder Cup captain, shot 67, his first bogey-free round in a major since 2015, and tied his lowest first-round score in a major since the 2004 PGA.
  • Ryan Fox went from chipping-in to win the OneFlight Myrtle Beach Classic on May 11 to a 67 at the PGA Championship, including a chip-in for par at the third hole.
  • Alex Smalley and Stephan Jaeger signed for 4 under 67, also impressing with their performances.
  • The big names struggled, with Rory McIlroy making double bogey at the 16th hole, his first at Quail Hollow since 2010, and Xander Schauffele making a mud ball double, his first in the first round of a major championship.
  • The PGA of America's decision to play the ball down and not allow players to clean mud off the ball in closely-mowed areas was questioned by several players, who felt it gave an unfair advantage to those who could keep their ball clean.

Statistics:

  • 25-year-old Ryan Gerard shot the lowest round of the day, 5 under 66, on his PGA Championship debut.
  • Cam Davis shot 5 under 66, tied with Gerard, on his opening day at the PGA Championship.
  • Luke Donald shot 67, his first bogey-free round in a major since 2015.
  • Ryan Fox shot 67 at the PGA Championship, including a chip-in for par at the third hole.
  • Alex Smalley and Stephan Jaeger shot 4 under 67 on the opening day at the PGA Championship.

Sources:

  • Adam Schupak, Golfweek | USA TODAY NETWORK