The first round of the 2026 PGA Championship delivered a thrilling start, with seven players sharing the lead after firing matching 3-under 67s at Aronimink Golf Club in Newton Square, Pa. Among them was world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who not only claimed a piece of the lead but also achieved a personal milestone: his first-ever first-round lead at a major tournament. The seven co-leaders also set a new record for the most players tied after any round in major championship history.
Scheffler, the defending champion and tournament favorite, showed resilience after a shaky start. He bogeyed the fourth hole to go 1-over through five, but quickly rebounded with back-to-back birdies on Nos. 6 and 7 to card a 1-under 34 on the front nine. The momentum carried into the back nine, where he birdied Nos. 10 and 11. A second bogey on No. 14 briefly slowed him, but he responded with a birdie on No. 16 to reclaim a share of the lead. Pars on the final two holes sealed his round.
"The golf course was pretty challenging this afternoon," Scheffler said on the ESPN broadcast. "I did a pretty good job of staying in it mentally and staying patient around a place that was pretty tricky at times. It was very difficult to make birdies. Scrambling was important today."
Joining Scheffler atop the leaderboard are an eclectic mix of competitors, ranging from world No. 1,160 Martin Kaymer to rising stars like No. 75 Aldrich Potgieter and No. 31 Min Woo Lee. The group also includes Stephan Jaeger (No. 100), Alex Smalley (No. 78), and Ryo Hisatsune (No. 59), making for one of the most diverse leaderboards in recent major memory.
Just one shot back, a logjam of seven players—including world No. 11 Xander Schauffele—fired 2-under 68s to share eighth place. Meanwhile, world No. 2 Rory McIlroy struggled, carding a 4-over 74 to sit tied for 105th, leaving him with work to do to make the cut.
The second round tees off Friday at 6:45 a.m. EDT, with coverage available on ESPN+ from 6:45 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on ESPN from noon to 8 p.m. Fans can expect more drama as the field looks to separate from the crowded pack at Aronimink.