Tiger Woods Struggles, Xander Schauffele Sets Course Record at First Round of PGA Championship

Tiger Woods struggled in his return to the PGA Championship, while Xander Schauffele set the course record at Valhalla Golf Club during the first round of 2024’s second Major Championship on Thursday.

Both Woods and Schauffele teed off from the tenth tee box with early morning start times on Thursday. Conditions at Valhalla were tough, but the greens were soft, which presented scoring opportunities for players. Plenty of them took the opportunity while Woods struggled to find his footing on the tee boxes.

Tiger Struggles to Build Momentum

Admitting he did not drive the ball “particularly well” and struggled with the speed of the greens on his lag putts, Woods carded a +1 72 on Thursday, leaving him tied with the likes of Ludvig Ǎberg and Adam Scott.

Tiger Woods fired a +1 72 today in the first round of the @PGAChampionship https://t.co/9eAClMJi8G

— Golficity (@Golficity) May 16, 2024

Woods said during his post-round interview that his condition after the round “is what it is,” and he will likely undergo lengthy therapy and preparation for tomorrow’s round and the rest of the weekend if he makes the cut.

Woods managed a one-over-par 37 on his first nine holes but finished with two bogeys on his final two holes, which brought him to an even-par 35.

Tiger Woods opens with a 1 over 72 with back to back 3 putts to end the round. He looked decent today but will likely need to go under par tomorrow to make the cut. pic.twitter.com/J3MwXU8DSB

— Flushing It (@flushingitgolf) May 16, 2024

Woods struggled immensely with longer putts and had several holes where he simply could not get within a makeable range for his second putt. 

It was not all bad, however, as Woods hit a spectacular rescue shot from the woods with an 8-iron on his second hole

Schauffele Shines at the PGA, Fires Course Record

Xander Schauffele broke the course record on Thursday, taking advantage of the soft conditions and rattling off nine birdies in a bogey-free round for 62.

Starting on 10, Schauffele birdied the 11th, 13th, 15th, 16th, and 18th for a -5 31. On the front nine, which was Schauffele’s back nine, birdies on the 2nd, 4th, 5th, and 7th rounded out a -4 31.

Xander Schauffele’s 62 is the 18th in @PGAChampionship history. Five of those players went on to win, most recently being Brooks Koepka in 2019 at Bethpage Black: pic.twitter.com/AJQ6zoLQ0h

— Golficity (@Golficity) May 16, 2024

62 was good enough to beat Jose Maria Olazabal’s previous course record at Valhalla of 63, set in 2000.

Xander Schauffele’s 62 was enough to beat Jose Maria Olazabla’s course record at Valhalla of 63, set in 2000.

63 has been shot 18 times at the @PGAChampionship, with five players going on to win. The most recent was Brooks Koepka in 2019 at Bethpage Black: pic.twitter.com/74vDd1yBPd

— Golficity (@Golficity) May 16, 2024

63 has been shot at the PGA Championship 18 times previously. Five of these players went on to win the tournament, most recently being Brooks Koepka in 2019 at Bethpage Black.

Cover Image via CBS Sports