PGA 2024: Scottie Scheffler starts with fireworks, ends with practice putting

Scottie Scheffler could only offer a wry smile. What else is there to do when you hole your second shot in a major championship?

Scheffler’s 167-yard approach shot on the par-4 first Thursday at Valhalla Golf Club took one hop and landed in the hole for an eagle-2.

“It was a stock 9-iron. I was trying to hit it right at the pin because I felt like if I hit it the right way, the shortest it was going to go was on the pin,” he said after his round. “I felt like it was going to go a little past the pin, if anything, and it was nice to see that one go in, obviously.”

That immediately took Scheffler to 2 under par, seven back of the clubhouse leader, Xander Schauffele, who posted a 9-under 62 among the morning wave at the 106th PGA Championship.

Scheffler birdied the fourth hole as well and then traded a bogey at No. 5 with a birdie at No. 7. On the inward half, he went birdie-bogey-birdie on Nos. 13-15, but that was the extent of his scoring.

The world No. 1 finished with a 4-under 67 and in a tie for 12th. Afterwards, he went to the both the range and the practice putting green.

Scheffler ranked 111th in the 156-man field in strokes gained: putting. He was first in the field tee to green, fourth off the tee, 10th around the greens and 27th in approach.

Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis reported that Scheffler was working on his grip with swing coach Randy Smith and on his feel with putting coach Phil Kenyon.

Scheffler is making his first start since winning the Masters Tournament and the RBC Heritage in back-to-back weeks. He missed the last three weeks as his wife, Meredith, gave birth to their first child, son Bennett, on May 8.

Scheffler has won four of his last five Tour starts, including a major, The Players and two signature events.