Xander Schauffele within the historical past of the PGA

Xander Schauffele units the tempo for the 2024 PGA Championship: in Louisville, the American shot a 62 (-9), the bottom rating ever recorded on this Main. With such a powerful debut, all eyes are on him, beginning with the three fellow Individuals, Tony Finau, Sahith Theegala, and Mark Hubbard, who completed at (-3).

Xander Schauffele, outcomes

Following carefully behind is Rory McIlroy and 6 different colleagues at (-5). Sharing the twelfth spot at (-4) are Brooks Koepka and Scottie Scheffler. The previous, the defending champion, has already gained the event 3 times (in 2023, 2018, and 2019).

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The latter, the world primary, has already claimed 4 trophies in 2024, together with his second profession “Inexperienced Jacket” after successful the Masters. Francesco Molinari is presently in sixty fifth place with a rating of 71 (par) on the Valhalla Golf Membership (par 71), forward of Tiger Woods.

Schauffele, a seven-time winner on the PGA Tour and gold medalist on the Tokyo Olympics, is chasing his first main triumph on the twenty eighth Main. His lead, as talked about, is record-breaking. Within the historical past of the occasion, solely Nick Hart (1963), Bobby Nichols (1964), and Raymond Floyd (1982) have held such a lead.

McIlroy’s sport can be off to a powerful begin. The Northern Irishman hasn’t gained a Main since 2014 when he gained the PGA Championship on this very course. Francesco Molinari’s efficiency is a rollercoaster, marked by an eagle on the thirteenth (par 4) and a birdie, with three bogeys.

Because the 2022 Masters, the place he opened with a 71 (-1), Woods hasn’t posted a constructive rating in a Main. Nevertheless, making the minimize is just not assured for him. Born in San Diego to a Franco-German father and a Taiwanese mom, he comes from a household of athletes and soccer gamers: his father Stefan was an aspiring decathlete, whereas his great-grandfather Richard (additionally a discus thrower, weightlifter, and multi-titled javelin thrower) and Johann Hoffmann had been reasonably profitable soccer gamers in Europe.

He attended California State College, Lengthy Seashore, after which San Diego State College, the place he efficiently pursued golf. In 2014, he defeated compatriot Hossler to win the California Newbie Championship on the prestigious La Costa Resort & Spa, earlier than being defeated by the identical opponent within the ultimate of the Western Newbie a couple of months later.

His novice outcomes earned him a spot within the Prime 10 of the world novice rankings earlier than turning skilled in 2015. In 2021, he participated in Tokyo 2020 and gained the primary American gold medal since golf’s reintroduction to the Olympics. He gained the Olympic event with 266 strokes over 4 days, 18 beneath par.