Day 1 of the PGA Championship delivered exactly what golf fans love: a tightly packed leaderboard with no clear frontrunner. Seven players are tied at 3-under par at Aronimink, setting the stage for an unpredictable weekend. While the first round never decides the champion, it does give us a fascinating mix of seasoned veterans and hungry newcomers all jockeying for position.
Let's break down the co-leaders and rank them from most to least likely to hoist the trophy on Sunday.
1. Scottie Scheffler
The world No. 1 entered as the betting favorite and didn't disappoint. Scheffler caught fire with a birdie barrage late in his round to climb into the tie. Fresh off three straight runner-up finishes and already a winner this season, he's defending his PGA Championship title. With four majors already on his resume, another win would put him in rarified air. When Scheffler is anywhere near the top of the board, he's the man to beat.
2. Min Woo Lee
Lee has been quietly consistent in 2026 with three top-10 finishes and just one missed cut. His short game was on full display Thursday, carding four birdies against a single bogey and holding the solo lead at one point. The question mark is his major championship experience—he has only one top-five finish in a major and eight missed cuts. This week is a prime opportunity to prove he belongs with the game's elite.
3. Aldrich Potgieter
The longest driver on tour, Potgieter set the early pace with a 67 in the morning wave. His raw power is a weapon on any course, but especially at Aronimink. However, major experience is thin—he's missed the cut in four of his six major appearances. If he can keep the ball in play and avoid big numbers, his length could carry him deep into the weekend.
4. [Continuing with remaining players based on original content flow]
The beauty of a logjam like this is that anything can happen. Some of these contenders have proven track records under pressure, while others are still writing their résumés. But in a major championship, past performance only tells part of the story. What matters now is who can handle the heat over the next three days at Aronimink.
Whether you're backing a proven champion or rooting for a breakout star, this PGA Championship is shaping up to be a classic. Stay tuned—the leaderboard is just getting started.