Charlotte, N.C. (AP) — In a surprising turn of events during the PGA Championship, Jhonattan Vegas delivered an impressive performance that few witnessed on Thursday. After three consecutive days of rain, the sun finally emerged, attracting a full house of spectators eager for thrilling golf. However, the crowd's anticipation for star players like Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, and Xander Schauffele quickly dwindled as they struggled, leaving most fans to depart before Vegas showcased his skills in the late afternoon.
Vegas, a 40-year-old golfer from Venezuela, executed two solid par saves, followed by two short birdies, and capped off his round with three additional birdies, achieving an outstanding score of 7-under 64. This marked his best score in 45 major rounds and placed him two shots ahead at the end of the opening day, which was filled with surprises. “Incredible,” Vegas exclaimed when asked to summarize his round. “Any chance you get to shoot 64 at a major championship is always great.”
Equally shocking is the fact that, for the first time in over 30 years, none of the top 10 players in the world rankings found themselves among the top 10 on the leaderboard after the first 18 holes of a major championship. The largest crowds were drawn to the top three players globally, yet their performances failed to inspire, especially considering that they had combined to win four of the last five majors.
McIlroy, fresh off his Masters victory that completed his career Grand Slam, struggled significantly, failing to make a birdie in his last 12 holes. He ended the day with a disappointing 3-over 74, which sent him directly to the practice range for a much-needed adjustment. Both Scheffler, the current world No. 1, and defending PGA champion Schauffele faced challenges with mud balls on tee shots, particularly on the difficult 16th hole, which resulted in double bogeys for both players. Despite these challenges, Scheffler managed to hole two shots from off the green—one for birdie and another for eagle—finishing with a 69 after a remarkable 6-iron shot from 215 yards that landed just 3 feet from the hole on No. 9.
Vegas tied for the lead by successfully getting up-and-down from behind the green on the par-5 seventh hole. He made an 18-foot birdie putt on the short par-4 eighth and capped off his remarkable day on the rugged ninth hole, where his tee shot narrowly avoided a bunker. He hit his next shot to 25 feet, ultimately finishing the round with a third consecutive birdie. Notably, Vegas has never finished in the top 20 in a major and hadn't qualified for this championship in three years.
Following Vegas was Ryan Gerard, a rookie on the PGA Tour and a North Carolina native, who also reached 7 under until he encountered bogeys on his final two holes, finishing with a score of 66. He was joined by Australia’s Cam Davis, who also scored 66. Among other noteworthy players, Alex Smalley, the first alternate who learned of his entry into the tournament just 15 hours prior, rolled in an impressive 70-foot eagle putt, ending his round with a score of 67. Ryan Fox from New Zealand, who qualified by winning the Myrtle Beach Classic, matched this score as well.
Luke Donald, the 47-year-old Ryder Cup captain for Europe, was the only player to complete his round without a bogey on the card. The U.S. captain, Keegan Bradley, finished just one shot behind. "It’s always fun to go bogey-free in a major championship on a course that you wouldn’t have thought would be ideal for me,” remarked Donald, who is included in the field due to a tradition inviting active Ryder Cup captains.
Considering the champions that have emerged from recent major tournaments, this leaderboard bore a striking resemblance to the Myrtle Beach Classic, as none of the top eight players had previously won a major or had serious contention experience. Gerard appeared at ease playing in front of a home crowd, making a tough par on the demanding ninth hole before netting four straight birdies on the back nine, reaching 7 under after an eagle on the par-5 15th hole.
Davis, who had recently struggled with five consecutive missed cuts and hadn’t seen a top 10 finish since early February, showcased his determination by making seven birdies. “It’s just constantly trying to revert to things that have worked, keeping my mindset in a place where I’m not feeling like I’m banging my head against the wall,” he said. “It’s about letting success come organically — good processes, good routines, and every little one percenter adds up to good golf in the end.”
Other players who finished with a score of 67 included Stephan Jaeger and Aaron Rai, both of whom celebrated their first PGA Tour victories last year. Scheffler’s 69 was the best score among the top 10 players in the world. McIlroy, a four-time champion at Quail Hollow, entered this PGA Championship believing that his recent Masters win would be the highlight of his career, regardless of future achievements. Unfortunately, his sloppy round, particularly off the tee, did not align with his expectations. Schauffele concluded his day with a 72 as he aimed for back-to-back victories in the PGA Championship. Meanwhile, Jordan Spieth, a three-time major champion, will have to wait until next year at Aronimink to pursue the final piece of his career Grand Slam, as he struggled with three consecutive bogeys early on the back nine, finishing with a score of 76.
