Scheffler shares US PGA lead as Aronimink bites back
The defending champion is part of a seven-way tie for the first-round lead after plotting a three-under round of 67 which encapsulated his ability to play with relentless diligence and barely a flicker of fluster. The world number one has often struggled to make fast starts - a trait which has proved particularly costly this season - but is now leading a major after 18 holes for the first time in his career. But the 29-year-old American is not surrounded by the usual suspects.
Scheffler finds himself alongside German pair Martin Kaymer and Stephan Jaeger, South Africa's Aldrich Potgieter, Australia's Min-Woo Lee, Japan's Ryo Hisatsune and Alex Smalley of the United States - none of whom many would have expected to see at the top of the leaderboard. England's Dan Brown is one shot behind the leaders on his overseas major debut. "Earlier in the week there was some chatter where people thought 15 to 20 under par was going to win.
And I think that got to somebody in the PGA [of America], and they did something about it," said Spain's Jon Rahm, who finished one under par. 'My caddie was yelling at me' - late Higgo denied US PGA lead McIlroy and Rahm grouped together - US PGA tee-times Masters champion Rory McIlroy's gameplan of bashing the driver as far as possible came unstuck late on in his round after more erratic tee-shots. The 37-year-old from Northern Ireland, who had no issues with the troublesome toe which affected his preparations, ended seven shots behind the leaders after finishing with four successive bogeys to post a four-over 74.
"There certainly is a penalty for missing the fairway. Probably more than what I anticipated," said McIlroy. Bryson DeChambeau, another big bomber, shot a six-over 76 as power was trumped by precision.
The unorthodox American's short game badly let him down. Getting to grips with the geometry of the greens was always likely to prove a key battleground and, after some overnight rain slightly softened up the putting surfaces for the early starters, the devilish pin positions invited trouble. DeChambeau notably found that to his cost when a feathery touch from the back of the 11th raced his ball the 30 feet to the pin - and another 57 feet past it.