NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pennsylvania, May 14 – Masters winner Rory McIlroy began his pursuit of back-to-back major championships on a sour note, carding a bogey on his opening hole of the PGA Championship’s first round. The world’s second-ranked golfer was part of several marquee groups that started their rounds well ahead of defending champion Scottie Scheffler, who is attempting to become the tournament’s first back-to-back winner since 2019.
The world number two player started his round on Aronimink Golf Club’s par-four 10th hole while battling a blister on his right pinky toe. His opening tee shot found a tree, followed by a second shot that barely escaped the heavy rough before landing 14 feet from the pin, leading to a two-putt bogey.
McIlroy was paired with Jordan Spieth and Jon Rahm, with Rahm being one of 11 LIV Golf competitors in this year’s second major championship. Spieth, who is attempting to join the exclusive group of just seven golfers to achieve the career grand slam by capturing all four major titles, started with a par. McIlroy became the most recent member of that elite club when he won the 2025 Masters.
One group in front of them featured another star-studded trio including 2024 PGA Championship winner Xander Schauffele, five-time major winner Brooks Koepka, and LIV Golf’s Tyrrell Hatton. Schauffele got off to an excellent start with consecutive birdies.
Playing ahead of that group was LIV Golf’s Bryson DeChambeau, who has finished second at the previous two PGA Championships, alongside Ludvig Aberg and Rickie Fowler. DeChambeau was one over par after completing two holes.
The world’s top-ranked golfer Scheffler, who increased his major championship count to four with victories at last year’s PGA Championship and British Open, was scheduled to begin his round at 2:05 p.m. ET from the par-four first hole. He will be grouped with Justin Rose and Matt Fitzpatrick in one of the day’s final threesomes.
Scheffler dominated last year’s PGA Championship with a commanding five-shot victory. The American has posted three consecutive runner-up finishes on the PGA Tour in his recent outings, including at the Masters where he narrowly missed achieving a historic comeback after trailing by 12 strokes at the halfway point.
Other notable golfers scheduled for afternoon tee times include Cameron Young, who is enjoying his strongest PGA Tour campaign with two victories already this season, along with Shane Lowry, Tommy Fleetwood, and past champions Collin Morikawa and Justin Thomas.
Stephan Jaeger held the early lead on the course after recording four birdies in his first six holes.
