Xander Schauffele matched the lowest round in major golf history on Thursday, firing a nine-under-par 62 to seize the early lead on the opening day of the PGA Championship.
Reigning Olympic champion Schauffele started off the 10th tee and birdied five of his first nine holes, then birdied four more after the turn in a bogey-free round to seize command at Valhalla.
Schauffele already shared the record-low round in major golf history with a 62 from the first round of last year's US Open at Los Angeles Country Club, matched by American Rickie Fowler in the same round and South African Branden Grace at the 2017 British Open at Royal Birkdale.He set a course record at Valhalla, breaking the 63 fired by Spain's Jose Maria Olazabal in the first round of the 2000 PGA Championship.
Schauffele, seeking his first major title, has endured 19 top-10 PGA Tour finishes since last winning at the 2022 Scottish Open. "I've been playing some really solid golf, been having a lot of close calls," Schauffele said."Me and my team say why not just keep plugging along."Schauffele birdied the par-3 11th from inside three feet, sank a 13-foot birdie putt at the par-4 13th, another from just outside 16 feet at 15, one from just past seven feet at 16 and a five-footer to birdie the par-5 18th.
He reeled off three birdies in a row starting at the fifth hole and made clutch seven-foot putts to save par at 16 and 18.
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