Newtown Square (United States) (AFP) – Defending champion Scottie Scheffler began Sunday’s final round of the PGA Championship five strokes behind leader Alex Smalley and in need of a superb fightback at formidable Aronimink. There were signs such a score was on offer, however, as early starter Kurt Kitayama fired a seven-under par 63 to match the lowest final round in major golf history and grab the clubhouse lead.
Smalley, a 29-year-old American seeking his first PGA Tour victory, topped the leaderboard at six-under par 204 in only his fifth major start. He led by two shots, but a record 29 rivals lurked within five strokes, 11 of them major winners. Among them was compatriot Scheffler, a four-time major winner who shared 23rd on one-under after 54 holes despite missing six putts inside 10 feet in his 71 on Saturday. Aronimink’s sloped greens and tough pin placements combined with windy conditions have kept anyone from running away from the field.
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“I’ve never seen a leaderboard like this, this bunched up,” said Scheffler. “It’s quite literally anybody’s tournament. There’s a lot of guys that have a chance. Somebody is going to have a great round. I’m going to …give myself my best shot at being the one who has a great round.”
American Kitayama’s bogey-free record round left him on three-under 277, three back of Smalley but a signal to others what could happen. Kitayama started with three consecutive birdies and closed with a 12-foot birdie putt to fire the week’s low round. “I’m ecstatic,” Kitayama said. “It was pretty crazy just trying to hang in there on the back nine. I got off to a great start. Nice to have a round like that when it’s so bunched up.”
Jon Rahm, the 2021 US Open and 2023 Masters champion, was in a second-place pack on four-under with England’s Aaron Rai, German Matti Schmid, Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg, and Canada’s Nick Taylor. Rahm, who is also on pace for his third consecutive LIV Golf season crown, could become the first Spaniard to lift the Wanamaker Trophy. Rai would be the first Englishman to win the event since Jim Barnes took the inaugural two in 1916 and 1919.
World number two Rory McIlroy, who won his sixth major title at last month’s Masters, was in a pack on three-under that included Americans Xander Schauffele, Patrick Reed, and Maverick McNealy. McIlroy shared 105th after the first round. No player worse than 84th after the first 18 holes has ever won a major title.
– ‘A good chance’ – The 37-year-old from Northern Ireland could become the first PGA Championship winner since Payne Stewart in 1989 to shoot 74 in the opening round. After his struggles Thursday, he spent hours on the driving range to sort out his woes off the tee. “I’ve climbed my way out of that hole a little bit,” McIlroy said. “I feel like I’ve still got a good chance.”
Not since Jordan Spieth in 2015 has a player won the first two majors in a year. Not since Jack Nicklaus in 1975 has a player won the Masters and PGA Championship in the same year. Another 12 players shared 11th, including four major winners — England’s Justin Rose, Germany’s Martin Kaymer, Australian Cameron Smith, and Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama. That group also included Norway’s Kristoffer Reitan, who won last week’s PGA Tour event at Quail Hollow. He is making his PGA Championship debut and only his fourth major start.
The winner takes home $3.69 million from a record purse of $20.5 million.
© 2024 AFP
