CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Stop what you’re doing right now and check the PGA Championship leaderboard, because you may be among the leaders at Quail Hollow. After a strange Thursday, pretty much everybody that’s not a top-10 player in the world is up there.
Jhonattan Vegas, ranked 70th in the world, leads the pack at -7 after a remarkable round of 64. He’s followed by Cam Davis and Ryan Gerard at -5, and then five players at -4, plus another dozen or so players at -3. You probably know Donald; he’s a former world No. 1 and the captain of the European Ryder Cup team, and you may know Vegas because, well, his name is Vegas, but it’s OK if you don’t know the others. The beauty of golf is that on any given day, a player can have the round of his life and vault himself up to the top of the leaderboard. And on Thursday, a whole lot of players did exactly that.
Advertisement
Consider this: according to the Elias Sports Bureau, this is only the second time that a PGA Championship has had zero top-10 players inn the Official World Golf Rankings in the top 10 at the end of a round. Ze-ro. The only other instance of this came in the 2021 PGA Championship at Kiawah, when the highest-ranked player at the end of round 2 was Brooks Koepka, ranked 13th in the world at the time.
The highest-ranked player in the world in the top 10 at Quail Hollow is Keegan Bradley, who’s ranked No. 19. He’s currently tied for ninth as one of the near-dozen at -3. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler lurks at -2, but there are 19 players between him and the lead.
Advertisement
What all this means is that there will be some fascinating and under-told, or untold, stories from this first round, like that of Gerard, who visited this course as a kid and played golf at nearby UNC. Naturally, he had a full gallery in his corner.
“It’s nice when everyone is cheering you on,” he said. “A lot of people that are wearing the light blue, UNC logo shirts and everything out there. It’s a big family of UNC Tar Heels where we all root for each other and support our own and I’m appreciative of all.”
Or Vegas, who is playing in just his fourth major since 2019 and has never finished inside the top 20 at any of the four majors. He’s bested the field on Thursday by two shot thanks to birdies on five of his final six holes.
Plus, there were moments of sublime beauty. This Justin Thomas chip-in from the water’s edge on No. 16 was magnificent:
But that only got Thomas back to +1; he had been as low as +4 after a bogey and a double in his first three holes of the day.
Advertisement
Thomas, who finished at +2, had plenty of company in the depths of the leaderboard. Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele, part of the morning supergroup with Scheffler, finished at +3 and +1, respectively. Schauffele, like Scheffler, placed at least some of the blame on mud balls altering his shot; McIlroy didn’t say what he blamed, since he didn’t speak to the media after his round.
Meanwhile, the other favorite on the week, Bryson DeChambeau, basically parred his way around the course, making the turn at +1 with just a single bogey on the card. He’s at even par. Jordan Spieth, in search of the PGA Championship win that would complete a career grand slam, couldn’t get into red numbers. He’s at +4. Brooks Koepka, once a major-killer, made a mess of Quail Hollow to also finish at +4. LIV’s Joaquin Niemann, who has spent so much time lobbying to be included in majors, once again laid down an ugly round, this one a +3. Fellow LIV stars Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson continued to fade further into the distance with scores of +7 and +8, respectively.
There’s a long time between Thursday and Sunday, and a whole lot of stars that could step up and drop a tidy 64 or 65 Friday and get right back into this. But on Thursday at the PGA, the supporting actors got their turn in the spotlight.
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Gauffová je ve finále v Římě po nejdelším zápase sezony
Jednadvacetiletá Američanka zdolala Čeng Čchin-wen i potřetí v kariéře, ale podruhé za sebou s ní svedla obrovskou bitvu. V listopadu ve finále Turnaje mistryň v Rijádu uspěla proti olympijské vítězce z Paříže po více než třech hodinách. Tentokrát musela absolvovat dokonce nejdelší utkání v životě.Ve finále čeká světovou trojku pátá hráčka žebříčku Paoliniová, proti které před měsícem na antuce ve Stuttgartu nezískala ani set. V dřívějších letech ji na tvrdém povrchu dvakrát porazila.Gauffová bude usilovat o první titul v sezoně a desátý v kariéře. Před dvěma týdny byla ve finále v Madridu, v němž podlehla světové jedničce Aryně Sabalenkové z Běloruska. Paoliniová je ve finále poprvé od loňského Wimbledonu, v němž podlehla Barboře Krejčíkové. Devětadvacetiletá Italka může získat třetí titul.Tenisový turnaj mužů a žen v Římě (antuka):Ženy (dotace 6,911.032 dolarů):Dvouhra – semifinále:Gauffová (4-USA) – Čeng Čchin-wen (8-Čína) 7:6 (7:3), 4:6, 7:6 (7:4)
„Genauso talentiert“ – Ex-Liverpool-Profi vergleicht Wirtz mit Mega-Stars
Wirtz und die große Frage nach seiner nächsten Station …Englands Top-Klubs und der FC Bayern buhlen um die Gunst des Leverkusen-Juwels. Nach SPORT BILD-Informationen tendiert der 22-Jährige zu den Bayern, soll sich mit dem Rekordmeister einig sein. Man City soll im Gegensatz zu Bayern aber schon ein Angebot abgegeben haben. Und auch Liverpool mischt mit. Ein Ex-Profi der „Reds“ ist Feuer und Flamme für Florian Wirtz, eines der begehrtesten Talente Europas: „Er ist unglaublich. Ich habe ihn in diesem Jahr dreimal gesehen und er hat mich jedes Mal umgehauen“, sagte Joe Cole (43) zu „TNT Sports“.Wirtz verbinde „südamerikanisches Flair mit deutscher Effizienz“. Cole vergleicht ihn mit Mega-Stars wie Jude Bellingham (21) und Cole Palmer (23): „Er ist genauso talentiert.“Lesen Sie auch<!-->[-->Ex-Bayern-Star Owen Hargreaves (44) lobte ebenfalls bei „TNT Sports“ Wirtz' beeindruckende Statistik: „18 Tore und 19 Assists – das sind […]
Nach Lungenentzündung – Lewis Hamilton gibt Update zu seinem Hund Roscoe
Er ist der berühmteste Hund der Formel 1 – und es geht ihm wieder besser.Roscoe gehört dem siebenfachen Weltmeister Lewis Hamilton (40). Die französische Bulldogge ist mittlerweile ein richtiger Star, hat einen eigenen Instagram-Account, dem über 1,2 Mio. Menschen folgen.Zuletzt litt Roscoe unter einer Lungenentzündung. Vor dem Rennen in Imola (Sonntag, 15 Uhr, Sky und RTL live, Liveticker bei BILD.de) gab Hamilton ein Update zum Zustand seines Haustieres.Lesen Sie auch<!-->[-->Der Brite: „Es geht ihm wieder besser. Er ist zwölfeinhalb Jahre alt, das ist ein ziemlich fortgeschrittenes Alter für eine Bulldogge. Jedes Mal, wenn ich von der Dame, die sich um ihn kümmert, eine Textnachricht bekomme, rutscht mir das Herz in die Hose. Ich habe vor, ihn nach Silverstone mitzubringen. Und auch in Monza möchte ich ihn dabeihaben. Ich glaube, er wird in einem roten Ferrari-Umhang sehr gut aussehen.“Und er verrät: […]
2025 FA Cup final odds: Can Crystal Palace thwart Manchester City at Wembley?
For more stories like this click here to follow The Athletic’s sports betting section and have them added to your feed.Saturday’s FA Cup final between Manchester City and Crystal Palace is about more than just silverware. It’s a crossroads moment for two clubs on very different journeys.For Man City, it’s a chance to salvage pride after a season that’s failed to meet their standards. Pep Guardiola admitted that winning at Wembley won’t erase the frustration of recent months, but it would “avoid bigger damage.” More importantly, for the beloved Kevin De Bruyne, it’s one last dance at Wembley in a City shirt.AdvertisementMeanwhile, for Palace, it’s the opportunity to win a major trophy for the first time in their history. So, amid high-stakes drama, here are three key talking points and betting angles ahead of the final.Manchester City seek salvationAfter the […]
Serie A’s big weekend: Who to wager on in the title race, top four fight, survival scrap
For more stories like this click here to follow The Athletic’s sports betting section and have them added to your feed.Premier League title race? Done. Ligue 1, Bundesliga, La Liga? Finished. There’s little joy left in these leagues, but in Serie A? Everything is in play.This weekend is shaping up to be truly decisive in Italy’s top tier, as champions could be crowned, the top four could be sealed, and the relegation situation could be flipped on its head. Let’s walk through those three scenarios and apply a betting lens to them, discussing the odds for each along the way.AdvertisementInter or Napoli? Title could be decided on SundayOdds via Betfair Napoli to win the title: 7/20 Inter to win the title: 9/4 Napoli’s 2-2 draw at home to Genoa last week made things tighter at the top, as it allowed […]
‘Embarrassed’ Amorim: Something is wrong with the way we’re playing football
An "embarrassed" Ruben Amorim has claimed there is "something wrong" with the way his Manchester United side play football ahead of their meeting with Chelsea, live on Friday Night Football.United suffered their 13th league defeat since Amorim was appointed in November against West Ham on Sunday, a 2-0 loss at Old Trafford, to keep them just two places above the relegation zone. . They have now gone seven games without a win in the Premier League, matching their longest winless streak in the competition, and will now be tasked with addressing the poor run of form against Enzo Maresca's Champions League-chasing side away from home. Man Utd's worst Premier League season United can finish no higher than 13th. That's five places worse off than their previous lowest finish in the Premier League - eighth in 2023/24. United's lowest-ever points tally […]
Related
Gauffová je ve finále v Římě po nejdelším zápase sezony
Jednadvacetiletá Američanka zdolala Čeng Čchin-wen i potřetí v kariéře, ale podruhé za sebou s ní svedla obrovskou bitvu. V listopadu ve finále Turnaje mistryň v Rijádu uspěla proti olympijské vítězce z Paříže po více než třech hodinách. Tentokrát musela absolvovat dokonce nejdelší utkání v životě.Ve finále čeká světovou trojku pátá hráčka žebříčku Paoliniová, proti které před měsícem na antuce ve Stuttgartu nezískala ani set. V dřívějších letech ji na tvrdém povrchu dvakrát porazila.Gauffová bude usilovat o první titul v sezoně a desátý v kariéře. Před dvěma týdny byla ve finále v Madridu, v němž podlehla světové jedničce Aryně Sabalenkové z Běloruska. Paoliniová je ve finále poprvé od loňského Wimbledonu, v němž podlehla Barboře Krejčíkové. Devětadvacetiletá Italka může získat třetí titul.Tenisový turnaj mužů a žen v Římě (antuka):Ženy (dotace 6,911.032 dolarů):Dvouhra – semifinále:Gauffová (4-USA) – Čeng Čchin-wen (8-Čína) 7:6 (7:3), 4:6, 7:6 (7:4)
„Genauso talentiert“ – Ex-Liverpool-Profi vergleicht Wirtz mit Mega-Stars
Wirtz und die große Frage nach seiner nächsten Station …Englands Top-Klubs und der FC Bayern buhlen um die Gunst des Leverkusen-Juwels. Nach SPORT BILD-Informationen tendiert der 22-Jährige zu den Bayern, soll sich mit dem Rekordmeister einig sein. Man City soll im Gegensatz zu Bayern aber schon ein Angebot abgegeben haben. Und auch Liverpool mischt mit. Ein Ex-Profi der „Reds“ ist Feuer und Flamme für Florian Wirtz, eines der begehrtesten Talente Europas: „Er ist unglaublich. Ich habe ihn in diesem Jahr dreimal gesehen und er hat mich jedes Mal umgehauen“, sagte Joe Cole (43) zu „TNT Sports“.Wirtz verbinde „südamerikanisches Flair mit deutscher Effizienz“. Cole vergleicht ihn mit Mega-Stars wie Jude Bellingham (21) und Cole Palmer (23): „Er ist genauso talentiert.“Lesen Sie auch<!-->[-->Ex-Bayern-Star Owen Hargreaves (44) lobte ebenfalls bei „TNT Sports“ Wirtz' beeindruckende Statistik: „18 Tore und 19 Assists – das sind […]
Nach Lungenentzündung – Lewis Hamilton gibt Update zu seinem Hund Roscoe
Er ist der berühmteste Hund der Formel 1 – und es geht ihm wieder besser.Roscoe gehört dem siebenfachen Weltmeister Lewis Hamilton (40). Die französische Bulldogge ist mittlerweile ein richtiger Star, hat einen eigenen Instagram-Account, dem über 1,2 Mio. Menschen folgen.Zuletzt litt Roscoe unter einer Lungenentzündung. Vor dem Rennen in Imola (Sonntag, 15 Uhr, Sky und RTL live, Liveticker bei BILD.de) gab Hamilton ein Update zum Zustand seines Haustieres.Lesen Sie auch<!-->[-->Der Brite: „Es geht ihm wieder besser. Er ist zwölfeinhalb Jahre alt, das ist ein ziemlich fortgeschrittenes Alter für eine Bulldogge. Jedes Mal, wenn ich von der Dame, die sich um ihn kümmert, eine Textnachricht bekomme, rutscht mir das Herz in die Hose. Ich habe vor, ihn nach Silverstone mitzubringen. Und auch in Monza möchte ich ihn dabeihaben. Ich glaube, er wird in einem roten Ferrari-Umhang sehr gut aussehen.“Und er verrät: […]
2025 FA Cup final odds: Can Crystal Palace thwart Manchester City at Wembley?
For more stories like this click here to follow The Athletic’s sports betting section and have them added to your feed.Saturday’s FA Cup final between Manchester City and Crystal Palace is about more than just silverware. It’s a crossroads moment for two clubs on very different journeys.For Man City, it’s a chance to salvage pride after a season that’s failed to meet their standards. Pep Guardiola admitted that winning at Wembley won’t erase the frustration of recent months, but it would “avoid bigger damage.” More importantly, for the beloved Kevin De Bruyne, it’s one last dance at Wembley in a City shirt.AdvertisementMeanwhile, for Palace, it’s the opportunity to win a major trophy for the first time in their history. So, amid high-stakes drama, here are three key talking points and betting angles ahead of the final.Manchester City seek salvationAfter the […]
Serie A’s big weekend: Who to wager on in the title race, top four fight, survival scrap
For more stories like this click here to follow The Athletic’s sports betting section and have them added to your feed.Premier League title race? Done. Ligue 1, Bundesliga, La Liga? Finished. There’s little joy left in these leagues, but in Serie A? Everything is in play.This weekend is shaping up to be truly decisive in Italy’s top tier, as champions could be crowned, the top four could be sealed, and the relegation situation could be flipped on its head. Let’s walk through those three scenarios and apply a betting lens to them, discussing the odds for each along the way.AdvertisementInter or Napoli? Title could be decided on SundayOdds via Betfair Napoli to win the title: 7/20 Inter to win the title: 9/4 Napoli’s 2-2 draw at home to Genoa last week made things tighter at the top, as it allowed […]
‘Embarrassed’ Amorim: Something is wrong with the way we’re playing football
An "embarrassed" Ruben Amorim has claimed there is "something wrong" with the way his Manchester United side play football ahead of their meeting with Chelsea, live on Friday Night Football.United suffered their 13th league defeat since Amorim was appointed in November against West Ham on Sunday, a 2-0 loss at Old Trafford, to keep them just two places above the relegation zone. . They have now gone seven games without a win in the Premier League, matching their longest winless streak in the competition, and will now be tasked with addressing the poor run of form against Enzo Maresca's Champions League-chasing side away from home. Man Utd's worst Premier League season United can finish no higher than 13th. That's five places worse off than their previous lowest finish in the Premier League - eighth in 2023/24. United's lowest-ever points tally […]
Be the first to leave a comment