Seven players were tied for the lead at three-under par after the first round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on May 14, 2026 [1, 2]. Among them was world No. 1 and defending champion Scottie Scheffler [1, 2].
The group also included Aldrich Potgieter, Martin Kaymer, Stephan Jaeger, Lee Min-woo, Ryo Hisatsune, and Alex Smalley [2]. Potgieter finished with a three-under par 67, boosted by a pair of late birdies. He said, "There wasn't a lot of people out there this morning on the first couple of holes. So it was nice to kind of get in my own little space and kind of get a groove in early on" [2].
Martin Kaymer, who birdied the final hole to join the leaders, reflected on his experience, saying, "Winning the PGA in 2010 and the U.S. Open, that is the ultimate feeling. No tournament, it doesn't matter on what tour you can play, you can keep up with that. So having the opportunity every year now for the few more years is great" [2].
Jordan Spieth started strong and shared the lead late in his round but finished at one-under par after two bogeys. He noted, "Just didn't quite finish the way I wanted to the last three holes, but under-par was a good score" [2].
The Aronimink Golf Club course proved challenging with cambered greens and canted fairways causing difficulty for many players [1]. Rory McIlroy struggled in particular, finishing four-over par after four consecutive bogeys on the last four holes. He said simply, "Shit. I started missing fairways. From there, it’s hard" [1, 2].
Bryson DeChambeau ended the round at six-over par [1].
The tournament continues with the second round scheduled to begin on May 15, 2026, where players will attempt to separate themselves as the field adjusts to the demanding course conditions [1, 2].
