LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Xander Schauffle traced his own name in the record books with a 9-under-par 62 in the first round of the PGA Championship, good for the course record Thursday at Valhalla Golf Club and the clubhouse lead in the second major of the season.
Schauffele now has two of the four rounds of 62 in major championship history. Schauffele posted a 62 in the first round of the U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club in 2023. Rickie Fowler also carded a round of 62 at the 2023 U.S. Open.
After his opening-round 62 at the U.S. Open last summer, Schauffele posted three rounds in the 70s and finished in a four-way tie for 10th.
Schauffele, who has never won a major, fired a bogey-free opening round Thursday that included nine birdies. After starting his round on the back nine and collecting five birdies, with four more on his back nine, he arrived to his final hole looking for the field’s sixth birdie of the day at No. 9.
A 33-foot putt that would have given Schauffele a 61 was right of the cup and he made a 3-footer to end his round.
The course record at Valhalla belonged to Jose Maria Olazabal with a 63 in the 2000 PGA Championship. Club professional Michael Block also shot 63 at Valhalla in August of 2023 in a non-tournament setting.
Now the only player in golf history with multiple rounds of 62, Schauffele hit the clubhouse on Thursday afternoon just after 1 p.m. EDT with a three-shot lead.
–Field Level Media