The first round of the 2026 PGA Championship is officially in the books, and the opening day of the year’s second major was filled with a number of surprises, from the seven-player logjam at the top of the leaderboard to the lackluster Thursday performance by some of the pre-tournament favorites.
Let’s break it all down. Here are five things to know for Friday at Aronimink.
Scottie’s continued dominance
Defending PGA champ Scottie Scheffler won last year’s edition at Quail Hollow by a whopping five shots and came into the week as the prohibitive betting favorite. So far, he’s off to a stellar title defense, tied for the lead at three under par after a steady round that included five birdies and two bogeys.
What happened to Rory?
Coming off a Masters win and a career Grand Slam, hopes were high for Rory McIlroy this week — especially at a course where he could enjoy a solid advantage with his off-the-tee game. But a string of five straight mid-round bogeys derailed him, and he ultimately signed for a round of four-over 74 — currently T105 and deep in cut-missing territory if he can’t right the ship on Friday. When asked how he would describe his opening round, McIlroy had one word: “S—.”
LIV ups and downs
On the LIV front, one surprising competitor surged into a share of the first-round lead: 2010 PGA champion Martin Kaymer (!). The 41-year-old left the PGA Tour for LIV in the first wave of players in 2022 and, with a current world rank of 1,160, has only played in a handful of majors since, with a top finish of T64 at the 2024 U.S. Open. But he has a lifetime exemption into the PGA thanks to his win, and so far, he appears to be maximizing the value this year.
On the other end of the spectrum: Bryson DeChambeau. A pre-tournament favorite, DeChambeau fired a six-over 76 on Thursday, and will have to battle mightily on Friday to simply make the cut.
Club pro cut watch
It’s exceedingly rare for a club pro competitor to make the cut at the PGA Championship and even more rare when one contends. Michael Block did both in 2023 when he finished T15 at Oak Hill. Block is back in the field this week, his eighth time qualifying for the PGA Championship, and after an opening round of even par, Block is T34 and in prime position to make a run at the cut on Friday — and perhaps even the lead.
Big-time movement
Not only are there seven players tied for the lead after Round 1, but there are a whopping 66 total players who are within four shots of the lead. That means only one thing: Friday’s round will be telling when it comes to setting up a weekend of potential drama. Don’t miss the action! Click here for everything you need to know to watch the second round of the 2026 PGA Championship.
