Xander Schauffele ripped up the major record books to set a commanding clubhouse target during a historic opening round at the PGA Championship.
Schauffele carded nine birdies during a stunning bogey-free opening round at Valhalla Golf Club, seeing him record the first ’62 round’ in the PGA Championship and just the fourth ever in a men’s major.
Branden Grace was the first player to shoot 62 in a men’s major in the 2017 Open at Royal Birkdale, with Schauffele now matching the feat that he and Rickie Fowler managed during the opening round of last year’s US Open at Los Angeles Country Club.
Schauffele is looking for a maiden major title
Schauffele is the first player to card multiple rounds of 62 in major history, with an opening round of nine under also equalling the lowest score – relative to par – ever in a men’s major.
How Schauffele made major history
Beginning on the back nine alongside two-time PGA Championship winner Justin Thomas and Ryder Cup star Ludvig Åberg, Schauffele failed to take advantage of the par-five 10th but made a close-range birdie at the par-three next after a brilliant tee shot to inside three feet.
Schauffele holed from 15 feet to save par at the 12th and converted from a similar distance to birdie the par-four next, then got up and down to scramble a par at the 14th before starting his charge by birdieing both his next two holes.
He added another at the par-five 18th to close an impressive first-nine 31, with Schauffele producing another sand save at the first and then firing his approach at the second to inside five feet and making his sixth birdie of the day.
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A look at Schauffele’s amazing start to the PGA Championship, where he reached the turn in 31 after five birdies in nine holes
Schauffele chipped to tap-in range at the fourth and rolled in from 10 feet at the fifth to go eight under for his round and put multiple major records under threat, with the Olympic gold medallist making a two-putt birdie at the par-five seventh to pull ahead.
A brilliant up and down from the back of the eighth green kept Schauffele bogey-free heading to the par-four ninth – his final hole – where he knocked his approach to 30 feet and two-putted for a par to complete a record-breaking performance.
More to follow…
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