A golfer has only shot 62 four times in the history of the four men’s major tournaments. Now Xander Schauffele is in charge of the final two.
The American recorded the lowest round total in major tournament history on Thursday for the second time in less than a year, speeding through Valhalla Golf Club to take an early three-shot lead at the PGA Championship in Kentucky.
After 18 prior 63s, the world No. 3 hit nine birdies en way to a bogey-free nine-under 62, a course record, and the best shot in the 106 editions of the event.
Less than 30 minutes after his countryman Rickie Fowler had established a new low, Schauffele opened with the same number in the 126th US Open in June of last year, tying the record for the greatest score in the history of the competition.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Schauffele said, “I’ll take a 62 in any major any day.”
“A major event is off to a terrific start. One that I will undoubtedly always choose… I’m happy with how I played, but there are always shots or chips that you can kind of pick apart and feel like you might have hit better.
The South African player broke the Open Championship record during the third round at Royal Birkdale in Southport, England in 2017, making Branden Grace the only other player to have shot as low at a major.
However, it is concerning to note that none of those three historic victories resulted in silverware, something Schauffele will be eager to avoid as he pursues his long-awaited maiden major title.
The 30-year-old is a seven-time PGA Tour winner who frequently contends for the biggest prizes in the sport. He has recorded twelve top-10 major finishes, but should his streak of near-misses continue, he runs the possibility of being one of the most gifted players to never win a major tournament.
In the 2018 Open Championship and the 2019 Masters, he ended as a major runner-up twice. Last week at the Wells Fargo Championship, he endured the same misery at the hands of world No. 2 Rory McIlroy.
This season, Schauffele has been playing some of the best golf of his life, and he is eager to use that form to win the Wanamaker Trophy on Sunday.
“Despite how strange it may sound, I believe that losing makes you want to win more,” he stated.
“At least for me, it causes me to react, wanting it more and more and more, which motivates me to work even harder and more.
“Slowly chipping away at it, but the top feels far away and I feel like I have a lot of work to do.”
Scheffler takes the eagle inside.
As likely as anyone to prolong Schauffele’s wait, Scottie Scheffler got off to a start that even exceeded his extraordinarily high standards.
In his first round since becoming a father last week, the dominant world number one holed a par-four in two swings, finishing with a birdie from 167 yards.
Scheffler closed the book on another successful chapter in the story of an incredible year with a 67. The 27-year-old, who won easily at The Masters last month, is going for his fifth victory in six tries and his second straight major championship.
Scheffler stated, “I’d like to straighten up a few of the mistakes.” “When the greens become a bit chewed up, that’s going to happen. I felt like I should have holed two putts today.
“I think I can still improve on a few things for tomorrow, but overall, I thought today’s round went well.”
At his 23rd PGA Championship, Tiger Woods appeared to be well on his way to posting a strong start of his own. However, a last pair of careless putts caused him to finish at one-over 72.
With back-to-back bogeys in his final round, the four-time champion has work to do if he is to build on his record-breaking 24th straight Masters cut with another significant weekend performance.
“You just need to put in the work.” It’s a full marathon. Major championships are not sprints; they’re a long haul, the 48-year-old stated on Thursday.
A tournament cannot be won unless you are able to advance. The whole point is to arrive at the weekend in order to take part and possibly win.
“I have won tournaments when I have been on the cut number or when I have led the tournament and won.”
Tony Finau and Sahith Theegala, two Americans, scored 66 to finish one stroke ahead of Schauffele and the in-form McIlroy, together with his Scottish Ryder Cup partner Robert MacIntyre.
Among those who shot 67 was the reigning champion Brooks Koepka, who is chasing a fourth PGA Championship victory and is two shots ahead of his countryman Jordan Spieth, who is attempting a grand slam.
Leader Schauffele tees off at 1:18 p.m. ET (6:15 p.m. BST) on Friday, when the second round gets off at 7:15 a.m. ET (12:15 p.m. BST).
