Xander Schauffele made history during the first round of the 2024 PGA Championship by shooting a record-setting 9-under 62, the lowest round in the tournament’s 106-year history. He ended the day as the leader, three shots ahead of Tony Finau and Sahith Theegala. Schauffele, a 30-year-old golfer from La Jolla, California, had a remarkable round at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, with nine birdies and no bogeys. He finished with 12 one-putts and gained 4.1 strokes putting, the best in the field.
Schauffele comes from a diverse background, with four nationalities in his lineage. His father, Stefan Schauffele, was an athlete in Germany but had his Olympic dreams cut short by a car accident. Xander managed to fulfill that dream for his family by winning the gold medal in the men’s individual stroke play competition at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. This week marks Schauffele’s eighth appearance in the PGA Championship, with his best finish coming in 2020 when he tied for 10th place. He has never won a major championship but has come close, finishing tied for second in the Masters Tournament and the British Open, and tied for third in the U.S. Open.
Despite his historic round, Schauffele remains humble and focused on the task at hand. He acknowledged that it is only the first day of the four-day event and emphasized the need to stay grounded. In post-round interviews, he expressed satisfaction with his performance but was quick to shift his focus to the next day’s round. Schauffele is currently ranked No. 3 in the world and has 10 professional wins to his name. He won the PGA Tour Rookie of the Year award in 2016-17 and has steadily established himself as a top-performing golfer on the tour.
In addition to Schauffele’s impressive performance, other notable players in the field include last year’s PGA Championship winner Brooks Koepka and 2024 Masters winner Scottie Scheffler, who both shot 4-under in their opening rounds. Scheffler also had an incredible hole-out for eagle on the first hole. Despite stiff competition from other top players, Schauffele managed to build a significant lead after the first day. With three shots separating him from the rest of the field, Schauffele will look to maintain his momentum and capitalize on his strong start as the tournament progresses.
The PGA Championship has seen many great players post low scores over the years, with 17 players previously carding a 63 in tournament rounds. However, Schauffele’s 62 stands alone as the lowest round in the history of the event. His remarkable feat on the opening day of the 2024 PGA Championship has cemented his place in the record books and solidified his status as a top contender in the tournament. As the competition unfolds over the next three days, golf fans will be eager to see if Schauffele can continue his exceptional play and potentially capture his first major championship victory.
