Sensational Scottie Scheffler Dominates Field To Win PGA Championship At A Canter

WELCOME TO THE LIVE BLOG

Welcome to the second men's Major Championship of the year and the first day of the PGA Championship. We'll have you covered here with all the action and updates from Quail Hollow right the way through until the champion lifts the Wanamaker trophy on Sunday afternoon (weather permitting).

So, who will that be?

MARQUEE GROUP OFF AT 08.22AM ET

The world's top three players will play the first 36 holes together in the all-star grouping on Thursday and Friday, going off at 8.22am ET in round one and 1.47pm ET on day two.

All three have plenty of reasons to like their chances this week, especially Scottie Scheffler who won the CJ Cup Byron Nelson recently and Rory McIlroy, of course, who won the Masters last month to complete the career Grand Slam.

Meanwhile, Xander Schauffele is kind of flying under the radar recently, perhaps due to the injury he had been suffering with earlier in the season.

PGA WEATHER UPDATE

I'm no meteorologist but I've had a good look at the weather and I'd describe it as 'mixed but Ok'ish'.

A dry and warm start is expected before unsettled conditions on Saturday. The first two rounds look like playing out in fine conditions, with the biggest concern being the humidity as temperatures approach 90F on Friday.

However, Saturday is likely to bring more unsettled weather, with the potential for thunderstorms, the chance of downpours leading to flooding and strong gusts of wind. It won't be quite as humid on Sunday, although it will remain warm with clouds and sun.

Summary...

Thursday: Partly sunny and humid; Low: 68F; High: 87F; Winds: SW 8 mph
Friday: Very warm and humid with some sunshine; Low: 71F; High: 89F; Winds: WSW 7 mph
Saturday: Partly sunny and humid with breezes in the morning and potential thunderstorms, wind and downpours in the afternoon; Low: 66F; High: 87F; Winds: WSW 12 mph
Sunday: Warm and less humid with clouds and sun; Low: 64F; High: 87F; Winds: W 7 mph

WHEN'S BRYSON OUT?

Bryson DeChambeau is out at 1.47pm ET with Viktor Hovland and Gary Woodland. The PGA opted not to put him with Rory, but I think we'd all like to see these two players in the same group on Saturday/Sunday.

I think this is a genuine rivalry now. You can't force these things as a lot of the players on tour are just good friends. I'm not saying there's not respect there, but they are two very different characters.

WE'RE OFFICIALLY UNDERWAY

Right, we're off. Enjoy! It's an early one for these chaps but Ryan Fox is off and he's made birdie at 1...

Great to see European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald get us off. I'm sure there will be quite a bit going on inside his head this week; he'll be hoping to see some European names up there contending on Sunday afternoon.

EARLY PICTURES FROM QUAIL HOLLOW

I have to say, it looks delightful. My guess is that we're going to see some low numbers today - looks soft and 'getable'.

Here's Luuuuuuuuuke making his way towards the 1st tee. He's got a very busy year ahead of him, of course, and will be no stranger to an early morning. Perhaps this is why they put the former World No.1 golfer off first.

Incidentally, did you know that there hasn't been an English winner of the PGA Championship since 1919?

HERE'S WHAT THEY'RE PLAYING FOR

It must be said, the Wanamaker Trophy (currently near the 1st tee) has to be one of the best-looking pieces of silverware in golf. Who really wants a jacket? Ok, that green one might be pretty cool, but you can't beat a massive trophy!

The original Wanamaker Trophy stands at 28 inches (2.5 feet/75cm) high, 10-and-a-half inches in diameter, 27 inches from handle to handle, and weighs 27 pounds (12kg). Look at it, magnificent!

THE GREEN MILE

We're only just underway in the first round. However, here's a reminder of what the players face towards the end of their round.

The Green Mile is the name given to the final three holes at Quail Hollow, which represent one of the toughest finishing stretches in Major championship history and regularly the toughest on the PGA Tour.

Measuring in at around 1,270 yards for the par-4, par-3, par-4 combination, carnage usually ensues as players try and cling on to their score during a white knuckle ride to the finish.

WHO'S YOUR MONEY ON?

Despite being the reigning Masters champion and having a record at Quail Hollow most players could only dream of, Rory McIlroy is not the bookmakers' favorite this week. Scottie Scheffler, the World No.1 and a recent winner at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, is back.

While many of his rivals warmed up for the second men's Major of the year with a Signature Event, the 28-year-old took time at home to practice before making a run at his third Major title.

PAST CHAMPS OUT EARLY

Great to see two former PGA champions out and about early at Quail Hollow - Padraig Harrington (2008) and Martin Kaymer (2010).

Harrington enjoyed a purple patch winning the PGA Championship at Oakland Hills and two Open Championships in fairly quick time. Kaymer a winner, of course, at Whistling Straits in 2010 when he edged out Bubba Watson in a playoff.

SHOWTIME!

Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele are moments away from getting underway.

No introductions needed. I'm predicting three long, straight drives. Stay tuned...

MARQUEE GROUP OFF

Rory is off first. Not his best, finds the rough. Xander is Ok. Scheffler, wearing that orange polo, (nice) with the best of the lot.

We're in for a special few hours with this lot. Ram is out, too, and he pars the 10th hole (his first).

Ryan Fox leads the way early at -2.

FOX TO -3

'Flying Fox'. Not the first time you'll hear that today, so we'll get that in early. The Kiwi is out of the blocks quickly.

Back to the marquee group and we have the top three in the world all taking aim at the par-5 10th with their second shots. We're about to see some short game magic from all three.

McIlroy in an awkward spot but it would be no surprise to see all three start with birdies.

BIRDIES FLOWING

Rahm drops a long putt at the 11th (his second). It feels like it's important for the Spaniard to make a good start this week. That'll help his confidence.

Back to the 10th, a 591-yard par 5. It's a par for the World No.1 and birdies for Schauffele and McIlroy. Schauffele played the hole perfectly, his chip for a eagle from a tight lie scaring the hole. McIlroy rolls in a nice putt from about 10 feet after a good pitch from the greenside rough.

RORY BIRDIES HIS FIRST

You can't get bored of watching Rory McIlroy drive the golf ball. He's off to a solid start with a birdie on the 10th. The same can't be said of Scheffler who has put in a double cross at the 11th.

HERE'S YOUR LEADER

Enough with all the chat about the world's top three. Here's your leader, Ryan Fox. Birdies at the 10th, 13th and 14th so far and he's now playing the par-5 15th. Great start and could be about to get even better.

Scheffler, meanwhile, has made a jumpy start. After a poor drive on 11 and an average third shot from the front of the green, he has some 12 feet left for par.

BOGEYS FOR WORLD'S NO.1 & 2

McIlroy hands the shot he picked up on the 10th back straight away at the 11th. It's a sloppy one, too, three putts from around 25 feet. Scheffler also misses his par effort. A long, long way to go, still settling.

Onto the par-4 12th for this group, 456 yards. Back on the 8th, the now silver-haired Luke Donald gets to -2, converting a short birdie putt. Quite a few players already in the red. There's not much roll on the fairways so it's going to play long today and the greens are still fairly firm (that'll be the sub air system for you). Good scoring conditions - just don't stray into the trees.

SPLASH!

Phil Mickelson with an early water ball. That is not one of his best drives. Wild. Splash. Lefty looks a bit bemused. He must have known that was going to end up wet the moment it left the clubface.

Back to the marquee group. Scheffler goes at the pin on the 12th and it bounces past the pin and into a semi awkward spot on the fringe. Wow, that looked good - these greens are firm. There's a little shelf on 12 that McIlroy has also misjudged and he spins back into a really tricky spot.

Schauffele, last to play, takes one bounce and goes over the green. Not the best second shots from these three but the 12th looks to be one of the toughest holes so far.

TIDY... VERY TIDY

McIlroy with a really delicate touch, tidies up on 12, as does Schauffele. Scheffler, though, with the tidiest chip of the lot... pops it in from the back of the green. Back to level par for the World No.1 and that was class. World class. Might have been going past a few feet but, still, very good.

TOMMY STARTS WELL

Fleetwood has made a solid start as he goes in search of his first Major title - it's all that's really missing from his CV.

The Englishman (-2) has finished runner-up twice in the Majors and clearly has all the attributes to land one of the 'big 4'.

We've got a Tommy feature coming up in the magazine, which goes to press next week. Nothing would give us more pleasure than giving it a major edit on Sunday evening.

SCOTTIE STRUGGLING... SORT OF

We've seen a bit of everything from Scottie Scheffler so far in the early part of this first round. He's pitching in with his second shot on the par-3 13th (something most club golfers do), and does it nicely enough. He has some work to do to make his par. He somehow manages it, curling in a 10-footer for make his 3.

Meanwhile, Schauffele and McIlroy make their par 3s in the more conventional, no stressing there. This group now moves onto the driveable par 4.

RISK AND REWARD

Onto the 14th and it's just 311 yards - a cracking little par 4. We saw Mickelson go swimming earlier, and Schauffele has done the same - this time overdoing a little draw with a 3-wood.

McIlroy leaves himself in a tricky spot near the entrance to the green. Nothing wrong with the tee shot, just needed a kick left off the slope. Scheffler in the best position of the three.

Fleetwood continues his good start with a third birdie in three holes (13, 14 and 15).

JOINT LEADER

Here's your joint leader. Fleetwood has nailed it with this stripy little number from Nike. Three birdies on the bounce and the Englishman is at -3 alongside Ryan Fox.

TOUCH OF CLASS

The touch of a now five-time Major winner. McIlroy chipping towards the water releases his chip down the slope to set up a birdie on 14, which he should convert to get to -1.

Scheffler a bit tentative and leaves his effort 12 feet short. Schauffele wedges his third 15 feet past the pin after a penalty for finding water with his tee shot.

What a great hole this is by the way - risk/reward at its finest. If you were being boring, you could put an iron in Position A and wedge it close, but these guys are in full out attack mode.

MISSED CHANCES

Both McIlroy and Scheffler miss very good opportunities at the drivable par-4 14th. They'll have been eyeing birdies after those tee shots. The 'big 3' play that hole in +1 and it's onto the par-5 15th.

TIME FOR AN ENGLISH WINNER?

It's early days but could we finally see an Englishman win the PGA Championship? No English player has won the PGA Championship since Jim Barnes (below) claimed victory at the first two tournaments in 1916 and 1919.

There are currently three English players in the top three (Tommy Fleetwood, Luke Donald and Matt Fitzpatrick).

BIG BREAK!

McIlroy looked for all the world like he was wet off the tee, but he finds his ball above ground and he's now facing a simple up-and-down for birdie. He's just alongside Scheffler in the dip in front of the 15th green.

Both players could do with making 4s to settle. You need a bit of luck, of course, and the Northern Irishman knows he's had some there. The ball musxt have taken a soft bounce - it was a just a few feet from toppling into the water. Can he take advantage of that good fortune?

GO CAPTAINS

Not to be outdone, Keegan Bradley gets himself alongside Luke Donald at -3. The Ryder Cup captains are rolling back the years.

I genuinely don't know what would/could happen if they were to win this week. It's unlikely, certainly in Donald's case, but stranger things have happened. Playing captains?

Meanwhile, Scheffler holes a long putt for eagle at the par-5 15th to get to -2. Of course he does. McIlroy to -1 with a four. Both players have shown flashes of brilliance over their opening holes but Scheffler has certainly played a few bad ones, too. Suddenly, though, he's a -2, a shot off the lead.

Bubbling nicely, this one.

STRIPE SHOW

We gave the nod to Tommy Fleetwood's striped polo earlier. How about Jason Day's? The Aussie always has people talking about his clobber. Who's stripes do we prefer?

WOW... TOP 3 STRUGGLING

The par-4 16th is tough, but the world's top three are playing the hole like a group of 28-handicappers (no offense to 28-handicappers).

Rory is greenside in three after almost finding the water off the tee and just about managing to hack his second 10 yards further.

Scheffler and Schauffele have played two of their worst iron shots of the year - both wet (I think, Schauffele definitely).

A report of the damage will follow shortly.

THE DAMAGE

Schauffele, in fairness, had a mud ball. It went left on him and into the drink. Everyone is looking at double here. Expect a fair bit of chatter about mud balls later on today.

Three lengthy putts for bogeys for these three absolute hackers. Scheffler ends up with 10 feet left for a double - this is really, really messy stuff on the 'Green Mile'. I imagine there will be some players waiting on the tee now, as this is all taking quite a bit of time.

McIlroy almost drops his bogey putt, but it stays above ground. He's now back to +1. Scheffler makes his six with a good, confident putt - that's eagle, double for the World No.1 and he's back to level par.

Schauffele's putt just grabs enough of the hole and that's three doubles for the world's top three golfers.

Right, onto the 17th.

THE LEADERS

Let's take a moment to bring you up to speed with what's happening elsewhere on the course. We have nine players sharing the lead and, to be honest, I don't have time to list them all (see leaderboard above).

One of the stories of the morning so far is that we have Ryder Cup captains Luke Donald and Keegan Bradley both in the mix at -3.

SUNDAY AFTERNOON... CAPTAIN VERSUS CAPTAIN

What a great story it would be if both Donald and Bradley found themselves in contention on Sunday afternoon.

No thoughts of the Ryder Cup - former World No.1 Donald in the hunt for a first Major Championship and Bradley looking to lift the Wanamaker Trophy for a second time.

SHIP STEADIED

After all making double at the par-4 16th, Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele and Scottie Scheffler (who I will now refer to as 'RXS') steady the ship with 3s at the par-3 17th.

The 18th is regarded as the toughest hole on the course, a fraction under 500 yards (par 4) and playing longer today. All three players will feel as though if they can get through this hole with no further damage, it will give themselves a chance to make inroads on the front nine.

FOX TAKES SOLO LEAD

Only for a moment. Luke Donald rolls in a short one and joins the main from New Zealand at the top on -4.

The marquee group is midway down 18. McIlroy dicing with water again off the tee, finds the center of the green with a beauty (9-iron out of the juicy rough from 165 yards).

It's been a scrap for all three players so far, but I'm expecting them to respond on the front nine and make a move.

THREE AT THE TOP

Stephan Jaeger has joined Donald and Fox at the top of the leaderboard on -4. We've then got eight players at -3.

Talking of the top, the world's top 3 are now playing the par-4 1st. It's a bit of a monster at 504 yards. Scheffler(E) is safely on and will have a decent look at birdie; Schauffele (+2) is also in good shape.

QUAIL SHOWING ITS TEETH

We might currently have a bunch of players in the red numbers, but there's plenty of trouble out there and 'RXS' are certainly finding enough of it.

The par-4 1st is no pushover. McIlroy is in the greenside trap and that looked like a straight block. A lot of people were expecting a fast start from the Northern Irishman, myself included, but after opening with a birdie on 10, the Masters champion has been a bit off it.

NOT GOING TO PLAN... YET

It's another bogey for McIlroy at the 1st - he slips to +2. That eagle from Scheffler aside, no real fireworks from the top 3 in the world just yet.

We've got a four-way tie at the top. Donald, Noren, Echavarria and Jaeger all at -4.

MORE TROUBLES ON 2

It's fair to say that Rory hasn't driven the ball too well today. He's underneath the trees on the 2nd, but does a pretty good job of carving one up onto the green from about 130 yards. A 72 wouldn't be a bad score from here, you feel.

It's a good putt from mid range and he escapes with a par. Talking of good putts, Fox hits the front with another good roll. -5 leads.

SCOTTIE STRUGGLING?

Don't be silly. He rolls in a 10-footer at the 2nd to get back under par. Fox and Noren are sharing the lead at -5.

AT THE BOTTOM END...

One of the pre tournament favorites, Brooks Koepka is at +5. The three-time winner with a really ugly-looking card so far and has just four holes left of his first round to repair some of the damage.

Phil Mickelson (+4), who famously won this tournament at the age of 50, is also struggling.

MUD BALL!

A mud ball for Ryan Fox and that's one of his first loose shots of the day. A little trouble for our leader coming up.

A reminder of what the PGA of America said yesterday evening, as we're going to hear a few complaints about this from the players, I'm sure.

"We do not plan to play preferred lies. The playing surfaces are outstanding and are drying by the hour. We are mowing the fairways this evening."

The weather at Quail Hollow has led to a soft course that is playing even longer than its official yardage. A by-product of the wetter conditions means that there was always a risk of mud balls coming into play, but the PGA of America was confident that the course was dry enough to avoid playing 'lift, clean and place.'

Big championships like to avoid lift, clean and place on the fairways as it allows players to clean their golf balls and place them on perfect lies, while it also means that any records broken are unofficial or at least carry an asterisk.

AT THE TOP

The Kiwi is carrying on from where he left off at the Myrtle Beach Classic. Can he safely close out a very fine opening round? No, bogey at his final hole. Still, a decent day's work. A very decent day's work, in fact.

We have Noren, Fox, Donald, Poston and Smalley leading at -4.

ARMY GOLF FROM RORY

We're used to seeing Rory striping his drives and splitting fairways but he's been out of sorts today. We've seen him go right and now he's gone left - that was hooky.

What an incredible response from the fairway trap - over the pin, 15 feet for birdie. I'm calling it early, though: Rory doesn't win this week. He's been out partying in his Green Jacket, I reckon. Good on him, I say.

Donald and Fox are both in with 67s - that's bogey free from Donald. I thought when you were a Ryder Cup captain you downed tools and just took it easy watching lots of golf.

STAT ATTACK

This is a good one. A par at the 18th would give Luke Donald his lowest opening round in a Major in 21 years.

Well, he made it. The force is still strong in Luke.

SITTING PRETTY

"I haven't been trending towards something like this," Luke Donald says after his round of 67. He says he has been working hard on his game, though. It showed.

Says it's fun working towards the Ryder Cup for a second time and he's excited about what lies ahead. "The old captain has a little life in him" he jokes. He sure does.

STEPHAN JAEGER LEADS AT -5

The German gets himself out of the pack at -4. He was out in 32 and has just entered the last three holes, which is a really tough section at Quail Hollow.

A few facts on the current pacesetter. From shooting 58 in a pro event to winning six times on the Korn Ferry Tour and earning his PGA Tour card, Jaeger has been in the pro ranks since 2012.

The German moved to Tennessee to play college golf and has been based in the US ever since.

FOX FLYING HIGH DESPITE POOR PREP

"I played really solid today. It hasn’t been the ideal prep coming in for me, obviously winning last week, being last man in. I literally played 18 holes yesterday and that was the only thing I did preparation-wise, basically, hit a few balls on Tuesday and played one hole before the storm came in.

"Obviously knew I was playing well and just tried to get out of my own way and just let it happen. Today I was really happy with how I did that. Kept the momentum going from last week pretty nicely."

The players get asked A LOT about their preparation ahead of the Major Championships. The Kiwi's round is proof that sometimes you can just go out there and play, not overthink things.

I say this like I know what I'm talking about.

WORRYING STAT

It's been a bad day at the office for Rory and the big stick. Personally, I've never seen him so wayward. I wouldn't be surprised if he went to the range straight after his round - he seems to have a two-way miss going on.

Again, I say this like I know what I'm talking about. I can confidently say, however, he's driven the ball badly today and he will need no-one to remind him of this after his round.

RORY FINDS THE FAIRWAY

McIlroy has struggled off the tee today but, at the short par 4 17th, he finds the fairway and will have a short pitch to the green. He is currently two-over for the day, as is playing partner, Schauffele, who has a tough shot coming in from the thick rough.

LEADER IN TROUBLE

Jaeger is playing the final hole and, currently, he sits five-under for the day and in a share of the lead alongside Ryan Gerard. However, at the 18th, it seems that Jaeger may have found the water that runs through the center of the fairway with his tee shot.

EXCELLENT ROUND FROM THE CAPTAIN

Donald enjoyed fine bogey-free round at Quail Hollow and, after his round, the European Ryder Cup captain stated: "Obviously very pleased with the score, bogey-free in a Major. Someone just told me it was the lowest first round in a Major I’ve had since 2004 or something.

"So you know, obviously I’ve been trending with all the missed cuts coming into this week. But no, it was a pleasant surprise. I got off to a really nice, steady start. I hit a bunch of fairways on the front nine which always makes me feel good about my game. I didn’t hit a ton of greens today but my putter was really good."

JUSTIN THOMAS GETS HIS ROUND UNDERWAY

Justin Thomas is one of the favorites to lift the Wanamaker Trophy this week and, at the first hole, he safely hits the fairway to get his round underway.

He is playing alongside Dustin Johnson and Collin Morikawa, who both also find the fairway at the opening hole. What's more, it seems that the fairways may be drying out fractionally, after Morikawa's tee shot runs out a significant amount.

BIRDIE FOR XANDER, PARS FOR RORY AND SCOTTIE

Schauffele leaves himself the longest birdie putt of the three at the par 4 17th but, from 12-foot, he converts to get back to one-over-par.

Both McIlroy and Scheffler have decent looks for birdie as well, but the World No.2 and No.1 are unable to hole their putts as they slide-by the right-side. McIlroy remains two-over, while Scheffler is one-under.

SPIETH BEGINS GRAND SLAM ATTEMPT

Like McIlroy at The Masters, Jordan Spieth has the chance to complete the Career Grand Slam this week at the PGA Championship.

He would become the seventh player to do so with a victory and, at the first hole, Spieth hits a delightful high draw that finds the center of the fairway. Perfect start for the three-time Major winner.

LATE BLEMISH FOR JAEGER

It turns out Jaeger's tee shot found the water at the 18th and, after an awkward drop, his third shot lands and stays in the greenside bunker to the right.

From there, the German splashes out to six-foot and is able to hole the putt for a bogey. Although he'll disappointed with the dropped shot, it's still a fine round from Jaeger, who sits in the logjam at four-under-par.

EXCELLENT FROM SCOTTIE

The marquee group are playing their final hole of the day, the par 4 ninth, with Scheffler finishing with a fine shot. Playing from the left-side of the fairway, the American puts it to two-feet from 215-yards and will tap-in for birdie.

Schauffele's second goes over the back and, in terms of McIlroy, he plays his pitch, his third, to around 11-feet. He will need to hole that for par.

GERARD CHIPS IN FOR EAGLE

Perfectly played chip from Gerard, who gets to seven-under-par and leads the PGA Championship by three! The American is greenside in two on the par 5 15th and, faced with a straight forward chip, Gerard rolls it in for an eagle. Superb stuff!

SCHEFFLER BIRDIES, RORY MAKES BOGEY

After his excellent approach, Scheffler makes birdie for an excellent back nine and a two-under opening round of 69. That leaves him just outside the top 10.

In terms of Schauffele, he gets up-and-down from the back of the green for a one-over-par 72. McIlroy, who has a similar putt to that of the American, is unable to hole his par attempt, with the five-time Major winner carding a three-over-par 74. Work to be done tomorrow for Rory...

WORK TO BE DONE FOR RORY

BRYSON DECHAMBEAU GETS HIS ROUND UNDERWAY

The stars are out this afternoon and now on the tee is Bryson DeChambeau. The two-time Major winner is among the favorites this week and, at the first, he pounds his tee shot down the middle of the fairway.

He is playing alongside Viktor Hovland, who finds the right-side of the short grass, and Gary Woodland, who carves his tee shot into the right rough.

THOMAS DOUBLE BOGEYS THE SECOND

Not the start JT was looking for, as the American makes a mess of the second hole. Pulling his tee shot left, Thomas has to chip out and, from there, he puts his pitch to 18-feet. Following that shot, he then three putts for double bogey, leaving him two-over through two.

GERARD LOOKING STRONG

Leader, Gerard, is remaining strong in the final stages of his round, with the American parring the tough 16th. He remains at seven-under, three ahead.

Back at the first, DeChambeau fires in his approach from 200 yards and safely finds the back-edge of the green. He will have a good look for birdie. In his group, Hovland fires his second over the back, despite being in an A1 position.

PAR AT THE FIRST FOR BRYSON

Strong start for DeChambeau, who just misses his birdie putt from 30-feet. Opening with a par, he then bombs his drive at the second hole 350 yards, leaving him just a flick of a wedge in at the 450 yard par 4...

BOGEY FOR GERARD

Playing the par 3 17th, Gerard pushes his tee shot right and, with the subsequent chip, it's average at best. Left with around eight-feet for par, his putt slides by the right side and, after tapping in, he moves back to six-under.

SCHEFFLER REACTS AFTER OPENING ROUND

The World No.1 produced a two-under 69 on Thursday, thanks to a strong back nine. Speaking after his round, Scheffler stated: "I'm satisfied with my finish. It's always nice coming off the course finishing with a birdie. Today I feel like I did some good things out there and did some things I could improve on."

Scheffler was also asked about the mud ball on the 16th and, explaining the situation, the World No.1 said: "It's one of those deals where it's frustrating to hit the ball in the middle of the fairway and get mud on it and have no idea where it's going to go.

"I understand it's part of the game, but there's nothing more frustrating for a player. You spend your whole life trying to learn how to control a golf ball, and due to a rules decision all of a sudden you have absolutely no control over where that golf ball goes. But I don't make the rules. I just have to deal with the consequences of those rules."

STRUGGLES DOWN THE 18TH

Gerard has found the fairway bunker off the tee at the finishing hole and, with an iron in hand, the American thins his second.

Luckily, the ball pops out of the sand and down the fairway and, from the short grass, Gerard plays his third to around 10-feet and will have that for a closing par and six-under round of 65.

BOGEY FOR GERARD

That's back-to-back bogeys at the 17th and 18th for Gerard, who finishes with a five-under-par round of 66. He still leads by one, but two dropped shots at the end will sting.

YOUR CURRENT ROUND ONE LEADER

BIRDIE FOR HOVLAND

Excellent start for Hovland who, after back-to-back pars, produces an excellent approach at the par 4 third. He is now one-under for his round.

Alongside Hovland, DeChambeau goes over the back of the green with his second and fails to get up-and-down. He is one-over for the day.

J.J SPAUN WITH A HOT START

The American is having an excellent 2025 and, through six holes, J.J. Spaun finds himself four-under-par.

Birdieing the 10th, his first hole of the day, Spaun has made three birdies on the bounce at the 13th, 14th and 15th to move into a share of second. Can he continue his excellent start?

BIRDIES ROLLING IN

Some big names are starting to get in the groove at Quail Hollow and, at the par 4 fifth, Ludvig Aberg rolls in the birdie to move back to level-par.

Along with Aberg, Patrick Reed makes back-to-back birdies at the fourth and fifth to get under-par for his round. The American is coming off a strong showing at The Masters and will hope his form continues.

TORRID TIME FOR JT

In contrast, Thomas' struggles continue in North Carolina, with the two-time PGA Championship winner now four-over for his round through six holes.

Double bogeying the second, Thomas bogeyed the par 4 third and has failed to get up-and-down at the par 3 sixth, with the American now well down the leaderboard early on.

GERARD'S HIGHLIGHTS

BIG SAVE FOR BRYSON

It hasn't been a strong start for DeChambeau, who misses the green with a wedge in hand at the par 3 fourth. What's more, his chip only just trickles on to the green but, with the putt, he slams it home to stay one-over-par.

Up ahead, Thomas' struggles continue, with the American finding the water with his approach at the par 5 seventh. Finding the green with his fourth shot, his putt from 15-feet never looks anywhere else as it drops in for a good par. Could that switch momentum for JT?

TYLER COLLET WITH THE NEAR ACE

THREE IN A ROW FOR SCOTT

Adam Scott has struggled for form in 2025 but, through eight holes, the Australian is three-under after a trio of birdies at the sixth, seventh and eighth.

He's not the only player to make a good start, with the English pair of Aaron Rai and Tyrrell Hatton three-and-two-under-par for their rounds. There's also Cam Davis who, through nine holes, is also three-under and in a share of seventh.

SUPERB FROM AARON RAI

He was three-under through six holes, but Rai has just played an exquisite chip at the par 4 16th, his seventh hole of the day, to get to four-under-par.

In the rough for his third shot, the Englishman lands the ball perfectly on the green and, after rolling down the slope, it hits the bottom of the cup for a huge birdie at one of the toughest holes on the course.

DAVIS GETS TO FOUR-UNDER

Like Rai, Davis is also firing at flags and, at the par 4 first, his 10th of the day, the Australian produces a delightful approach to five-feet, with Davis knocking in the putt for birdie to get to four-under-par.

HOW ARE THE BIG NAMES DOING?

There are some huge names in the afternoon wave but, as of now, they aren't firing at Quail Hollow.

Currently, Tyrrell Hatton is two-under, while Ludvig Aberg and Viktor Hovland are one-under. Jordan Spieth has just got back to level-par, with Dustin Johnson, Collin Morikawa and Hideki Matsuyama also at that score.

Justin Thomas is still four-over, while Bryson DeChambeau is one-over, alongside the likes of Cameron Smith, Justin Rose and Sergio Garcia.

BLOCK PARTY

Michael Block famously sprung on to the scene at the 2023 PGA Championship, where he famously made a hole-in-one alongside Rory McIlroy.

In 2025, he has managed to qualify for the championship and, for his first round, he is a respectable one-over-par through 10 holes, after a birdie and two bogeys.

HIDEKI GETS UNDER-PAR

The Japanese star has birdied the par 4 eighth to get to one-under-par, with Matsuyama rolling in a lovely putt from mid-range.

Back in 2017, when the PGA Championship was held at Quail Hollow, Matsuyama led going into the final round, so don't count him out in terms of who could win this championship.

Away from Matsuyama, Aberg has made just the fourth birdie of the day at the ninth hole, with the Swede now two-under for his day. He will now head into the back nine.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

In case you missed Scottie Scheffler's thoughts after his first round, it's safe to say the World No.1 wasn't best pleased about mud balls following his two-under 69 this morning.

WIND PICKING UP

It's certainly a little more breezy than it was for the morning wave and there are a few wayward drives not being helped by the weather. Cam Davis remains the biggest threat to Ryan Gerard's outright lead, but he is in a spot of trouble on his 12th (the third hole) after missing the short grass off the tee.

The Australian shows his class, though, escaping with a par-4 to remain at four-under for the day.

CLASS IS PERMANENT

You've heard of the old saying 'form is temporary, class is permanent' - Adam Scott is the living embodiment...

THOMAS IS TOILING

Having found a fairway bunker down the left of the par-4 11th, Justin Thomas pulls his second shot left of the green. He spins around and thumps the sand with his club - it's been one of those days for JT, unfortunately.

The cut line (a bit early, I know) is currently at two-over. Thomas is a shot outside of that as it stands. Plenty of time to recover the situation, mind.

HOLE IN ONE BY ERIC COLE

We have an ace! The first of the 2025 PGA Championship, I believe. 186 yards out with a 7-iron, Eric Cole sumptuously draws his golf ball into the par-3 fourth (his 13th hole), it bounces a couple of times before dancing down the flagstick and disappearing into the cup. Superb scenes!

DAVIS INTO A SHARE

No ace for Cam Davis, but the Australian achieves the next best score at the par-3 fourth and moves alongside Gerard on five-under.

Meanwhile, Viktor Hovland has vaulted himself up to three-under after nine holes. The Norwegian is bogey-free as well. Could he make a charge today and give the top page of the leaderboard something to think about?

MACKENZIE HUGHES CHIPS IN

The Canadian was left with a tough downhill lie for his second-shot chip at the driveable par-4 14th hole. With little choice but to fire his ball low and try to make it check hard once it reached the green, Hughes failed to execute the shot as he'd planned. However, he watched his ball crash into the flag and drop for eagle when a near-certain bogey was inevitable if the ball had carried on into the waiting water. Better to be lucky than good, as a wise man once said...

NEW LEADER INCOMING?

Cam Davis looks in complete control with iron in hand, and the rest of his clubs, to be fair. But the Australian shows his prowess with the irons by flying his tee shot right over the flag at the par-3 6th (his 15th). He has maybe 15 feet left for birdie. Should that go, Davis would lead on his own.

Elsewhere, Thomas duffs a chip as his troubles continue. But Bryson DeChambeau shows his resilience by making his first birdie of the day at the par-5 10th, helping him return to even par. This has been really gritty from a player who is usually known for his entertaining.

DAVIS HITS THE FRONT

Davis dribbles his 15-footer down the slope from left to right and watches it just about fall in the right side of the hole. The 2021 and 2024 Rocket Mortgage Classic champion is leading a Major. And he still has three holes to play. Thankfully for him, it is not the Green Mile, so he may even be able to extend his advantage.

Earlier on, Gerard was three strokes clear entering the Green Mile before making bogey at 17 and 18...

BIG NAMES BATTLING

A couple of star faces are not enjoying the best of days out here - namely, Ludvig Aberg and Jordan Spieth. Aberg is one-under for the day but struggling with his irons. He pulls out a lovely bunker shot to likely save par at the par-3 13th, though. Meanwhile, Spieth gets his tee shot wrong at the same hole, sending his ball long and left.

Someone who isn't struggling is Taylor Pendrith! The Canadian holes out for eagle at the par-4 third hole (his 12th) to reach two-under.

ROUGH BREAK

Throughout the day, there have been complaints over the height of the rough at Quail Hollow, and particularly near the water which has stopped golf balls from trickling to a watery grave.

Cam Davis will be thankful the rough is so high and thick, however, as his approach towards the 7th green (his 16th) is just about held on dry land by the luscious vegetation...

A LEADERBOARD FEW SAW COMING

As it stands, there are not many household names sat on the first page of the leaderboard. Dan Rapaport has called it "the most unexpected Thursday leaderboard of a Major" that he can recall. I know one group of people who are enjoying this so far - the bookmakers. Still, there's plenty of time for things to change.

DRIVE FOR SHOW, PUTT FOR DOUGH

How's this for a stat slider, if you will, from Justin Ray?

MORIKAWA MAKES A MOVE

That's two birdies in a row for Collin Morikawa at the par-4 14th and the par-5 15th. He's now at two-under for the day.

Elsewhere, DeChambeau writes down a four at the par-3 13th and he's back to one-over. His LIV Golf peer, Tyrrell Hatton remains at three-under, though, after lagging a long-range putt to the hole side at 16.

HERE COMES THOMAS

Justin Thomas is quietly putting together an absolute masterclass in resilience at Quail Hollow. Having been four-over and staring down the barrel of an early exit, the American has just slotted home his third birdie in a row at the 16th. The way his hat-trick arrived was incredible, too.

In the right rough off the tee, Thomas drew his approach into the green with far too much zip and it exploded off the surface before somehow being held up the thick collar of rough. Left with no choice but to send his golf ball into orbit with shot three, Thomas landed it just short of the flag and watched the ball roll home. Just outrageous!

CAM COMES UP SHORT

Leader, Davis has missed the green right at 18 and is facing a brutal up-and-down from the rough to retain his one-stroke advantage heading into Friday's second round. Part one is fantastic, throwing his golf ball up into the air over a greenside bunker and watching it come to rest some six-eight feet away.

However, the Australian no longer leads on his own after missing the short par save. His last stroke of the day is a bogey tap-in, which cannot be fun at all. Davis can take plenty of solace from the fact he signs for a 66 and has so many of the world's absolute best comfortably behind him.

DR CHIPINSKI NOT ANSWERING ABERG

Ludvig Aberg is the latest player to miscalculate the par-4 16th and fly it through the back, only for the rough to save his bacon. Unlike Thomas, though, the Swede is unable to call Dr. Chipinski and must roll home a 12-foot putt to walk away without any damage. He can't, and the Genesis Invitational champion is back to -1.

RAI-GHT ON THE MONEY

Aaron Rai is playing Quail Hollow's nines the opposite way around today, but his game is certainly in order, don't you worry about that. The Englishman cards his fifth birdie of the day to reach four-under with just two holes to play.

Meanwhile, Morikawa chips in from off the back of the par-3 17th to move up to three-under. The wind has died down a little bit as the sun begins to set. Thomas follows him in for par on the same hole. Getting out of here today at one-over would be a great result for Thomas, considering where he was not that long ago.

TEAM EUROPE CAPTAIN SHOWING THE REST HOW IT'S DONE

Luke Donald, boss of Team Europe at the Ryder Cup, had a fantastic day at Quail Hollow today. As a result, he earns a little slice of history...

LIV GOLFERS FIGHTING BACK

Shortly after Tyrrell Hatton ends his day with a closing birdie to reach three-under, DeChambeau makes it birdies 2 bogeys 2 in the battle for supremacy on his scorecard. The Crushers GC captain makes a gain at the par-5 15th and continues to battle away.

On the flip side, Collin Morikawa tries to banana cut his ball out of the right rough and 18 and plonks it right in the stream running down the middle of the hole. That is a rather confusing decision, I have to say...

JT MAGIC

That is genius from Justin Thomas. Just straight-up genius. His approach into the 18th landed almost right against a large rock and left him with a choice to make. Try and get really steep to flick it onto dry land, punch it against the rock and leave your tournament in the hands of the golf gods, or do the sensible thing and take a drop before trying to get up and down.

Thomas took one shoe off, his left, and considered placing one foot in the stream to play the shot with the ball at knee height. In the end, he decided to hold himself on the bank and play it from much closer to his ankles. Thomas took a while to consider his options but eventually decided this way was the best. He flicked his ball out of the rough and onto the green, leaving a 12-foot par putt. Unreal.

Sadly for all concerned, the brave move didn't result in a par. His attempt dribbled just wide left, and it's a closing bogey for Thomas to finish on two-over. That was a rollercoaster of a first round for Thomas who will have to come out again early tomorrow and try to haul himself into the weekend.

A TASTE OF WHAT IS TO COME AT BETHPAGE?

Speaking of magic and genius, Viktor Hovland joins the group on three-under after chipping in on the par-4 16th. That's also two birdies in a row for the Norwegian. Are we seeing a little bit of what's in store at Bethpage?

On a similar note, Hovland's potential teammate, Aaron Rai has left himself with a 15-foot birdie putt at the ninth hole (his 18th) after driving one into the heart of the putting surface and watching it roll down towards the flag. Beautiful.

The quality shots just keep on coming! It's almost an ace from Bryson DeChambeau at the par-3 17th hole. Measuring 228 yards, the American apparently hit an 8-iron!? Whichever club he used, it was the right one. The ball appeared destined to drop, only to have a look in the hole but stay above ground. Brutal.

WHAT IS HAPPENING TO VEGAS?

As DeChambeau moves into the red, Rai is unable to chisel out another birdie at his final hole and will sign for a 67 - a brilliant opening day for the PGA Tour winner.

One name we haven't seen much today is Jhonattan Vegas. It turns out the Venezuelan is carding birdies for fun at Quail Hollow. He has six (as well as two bogeys) to squeeze into the six-man group on four-under, and he still has four holes left in his first round.

MAKING A MESS OF 18

Wyndham Clark and Tom Kim are both using every piece of this fine property to make their way down 18. Eventually, Kim walks off with a double-bogey six while Clark escapes with a bogey-five after finding the water off the tee.

Following them down the closing stretch, DeChambeau screamed "fore right" as his ball sailed off towards the fans and Hovland looked exasperated as his drive turned over to the left. World-class players are really struggling at what has historically been the hardest hole on the property.

DIMMED POWERS OF RECOVERY

DeChambeau stabs his ball out of the trees and leaves himself a delicate little chip up the green. The result of his third shot was maybe a B, but it wasn't good enough to aid a par save. The LIV man rolled his eight-foot effort to the left of the hole and will sign for a 71, dropping a shot at the last. A sickening feeling.

Meanwhile, Hovland scooped his second into the front bunker before whipping one into the air and stunning it six feet past the flag. Left with a downhill putt, his line was a little too optimistic and the ball never wandered as far right as Hovland expected. Another final-hole bogey is added to the list, but he won't mind walking away with a two-under round of 69.

THAT'S ALL FOR DAY ONE

As the remaining players engage in a race to finish off their opening rounds before the sun sets in Charlotte, North Carolina, it's time for us to sign off for the day and reflect on everything we've witnessed at Quail Hollow.

It started in peculiar fashion with complaints about the rough and players dealing with mudballs. Then there was the underwhelming rounds from Rory McIlroy (74) and Xander Schauffele (72). Many of the big names struggled to overpower a course most felt would suit the longer hitter, and we're left with a leaderboard devoid of many household names.

But take nothing away from those who performed admirably. As it stands, Ryan Gerard and Cam Davis lead the way on five-under (66) with plenty of multiple-time PGA Tour winners in the hunt with 54 holes remaining.

Join us again here tomorrow as we bring you all of the second-round action - including the race to make the cut - from Quail Hollow. Thank you for tuning in.

GOOD MORNING ON DAY 2

Hello and welcome to day two of the 2025 PGA Championship, where the top 70 and ties will make it through to the weekend.

LIV GOLF LEADERBOARD

A number of big name LIV players struggled on Thursday, with Tyrrell Hatton leading the way at three-under-par. Here's how they all got on:

• T9 -3 Tyrrell Hatton
• T29 -1 Jon Rahm
• T29 -1 Richard Bland
• T29 -1 Tom McKibbin
• T46 E David Puig
• T46 E Bryson DeChambeau
• T60 +1 Patrick Reed
• T98 +3 John Catlin
• T98 +3 Joaquin Niemann
• T98 +3 Dean Burmester
• T112 +4 Brooks Koepka
• T112 +4 Sergio Garcia
• T138 +7 Martin Kaymer
• T138 +7 Dustin Johnson
• T138 +7 Cameron Smith
• T149 +8 Phil Mickelson

DAVID PUIG ON PLAYING THE BACK NINE BLIND

LIV Golf prospect David Puig shot a solid level-par opening round having never seen the back nine before at Quail Hollow!

"I only played the front nine. I've never seen the back nine ever in my life," he said.

"Today was the first day I actually seen the back nine. I didn't even know where the holes were going and how the greens were."

LEADER JHONATTAN VEGAS ON HIS 64:

"Incredible, obviously. Any chance you get to shoot 64 at a Major Championship is always great, right," he said.

"Obviously with the conditions yesterday, I didn't really see that score coming. But I think I got lucky that I was able to tee off very late and the course obviously is drying very quick.

"So I was able to take advantage a little bit of those conditions at the end of the day today. But obviously a solid round from beginning to end. Good way to start."

FRIDAY WEATHER FORECAST

Mostly cloudy, hot and humid with just a 15% chance of rain. Winds are set to be calm, between 6-12mph.

PGA CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND TWO TEE TIMES

The waves are switched for round two, meaning that the star trio of Scheffler, McIlroy and Schauffele go off in the afternoon on Friday. Check out all the PGA Championship tee times, while here are some of the notable groups to keep tabs on today:

10th tee morning wave notable groups (ET)

• 7.38am: Tyrrell Hatton, Will Zalatoris, Adam Scott
• 7.49am: Justin Thomas, Dustin Johnson, Collin Morikawa
• 8am: Jordan Spieth, Patrick Reed, Ludvig Aberg
• 8.11am: Hideki Matsuyama, Wyndham Clark, Tom Kim
• 8.22am: Bryson DeChambeau, Viktor Hovland, Gary Woodland

1st tee afternoon wave notable groups (ET)

• 1.03pm: Brooks Koepka, Rickie Fowler, Shane Lowry
• 1.14pm: Phil Mickelson, Tommy Fleetwood, Jason Day
• 1.25pm: Jon Rahm, Patrick Cantlay, Matt Fitzpatrick
• 1.36pm: Corey Conners, Min Woo Lee, Rasmus Hojgaard
• 1.47pm: Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, Scottie Scheffler

DONALD THE ONLY BOGEY-FREE MAN SO FAR

HOW TO WATCH THE PGA CHAMPIONSHIP SECOND ROUND

Here's where to watch the main coverage today wherever you are in the world:

► ESPN (US): 12pm-7pm ET on ESPN, from 7am on ESPN+

► Sky Sports (UK): 1pm-12am BST

► TSN (Canada): 7am-7pm ET

► Fox Sports (Aus): 3am-9am AEST (Saturday)

PGA CHAMPIONSHIP ODDS

Scottie Scheffler might be five back but the World No.1 is the only top-10 player inside the top 20 at Quail Hollow after 18 holes. He remains tournament favorite, where he was starting the week.

• Scottie Scheffler +350
• Bryson DeChambeau +1100
• Tyrrell Hatton +1400
• Jhonattan Vegas +1600
• Ludvig Aberg +1800
• Collin Morikawa +1800
• Jon Rahm +1800
• Tommy Fleetwood +2200
• Viktor Hovland +2200
• Rory McIlroy +2200

WELCOME TO DAY 2

Hello and welcome to day two of the 107th PGA Championship. Not long now until the second round gets underway at Quail Hollow. It already feels like moving day for some of the big guns who started slowly yesterday, including World No.2 Rory McIlroy.

We've got you covered right through until the last putt drops on Friday afternoon/evening.

Let's start with some chat about mud balls, which has become a hot topic already this week.

THE MUD BALL CONVERSATION

During the morning wave on the first round, questions were asked over the PGA of America’s decision not to implement preferred lies despite downpours earlier in the week leaving an issue with mud balls.

On Wednesday evening, the PGA of America released a statement saying: “We do not plan to play preferred lies. The playing surfaces are outstanding and are drying by the hour.”

However, afterwards, both players had something to say about the decision.

World No.1 Scheffler was the most vocal when asked about the issue.

“I don't think they understand what it's like literally working your entire life to learn how to hit a golf ball and control it and hit shots and control distance, and all of a sudden due to a rules decision that is completely taken away from us by chance.”

MUD BALLS CONTINUED...

I think Scheffler is entitled to feel annoyed. I don't think that playing the ball as it lies and getting on with it is a fair argument in this case. These players are good enough to play the ball out of fairway divots, but hitting a ball with a big chunk of mud on the side is a lottery.

Given the wet weather at the start of the week, I don't see the problem in implementing lift, clean and place. Scheffler maybe could have been measured with his reply, but I think any player who finds the fairway with a good drive and ends up with a lump of mud on their ball is entitled to feel a little annoyed with the rules.

The same rules apply to everyone, yes, but if you're finding fairways and getting punished with mud balls, that doesn't seem fair to me.

Anyway, get on with it Scottie, for goodness' sake man.

THE GREEN MILE

Anyway, enough chat about mud balls. I have to say, I quite enjoyed watching the first day's action at Quail Hollow. There's always a lot of chat about the PGA Championship lacking an identity, but I think the course this week makes for a really good watch.

The driveable 14th was particularly entertaining, although not everyone was impressed. There's a lot of chat about the rough being too long and thick, which is stopping wayward shots from ending up wet. I don't know, people, I think we got to see a good bunch of scores on that hole - are we not in danger of nitpicking?

The last three holes, known at 'The Green Mile', caused some carnage. The best three players on the planet all made double on 16, although Scheffler and Schauffele are blaming mud balls for that. Rory McIloy can't use that excuse - his errant drive led to his six.

I love a brutal finish, personally. We see these guys making birdies for fun all year, so let's enjoy them grinding out a few pars every now and again - it's surely no bad thing.

The second round will soon be underway, so you'll re relieved to learn I won't be sharing too many more of my personal opinions. Instead, I will bring you mud ball updates and pictures of players looking annoyed.

ROUND 2 IS UNDERWAY

We're underway on day two for the second round. Jake Knapp has birdied the 10th to make a nice tidy start to his round. Remember, players are going off the 10th and 1st still.

No doubt you have you favorite players/bets/big names in your trackers, but here's a reminder of the tee times for Friday's second round at Quail Hollow...

TEE TIMES FOR ROUND TWO

Round 2: 1st tee morning wave

7am: Keith Mitchell, Bob Sowards, Adam Hadwin

7.11am: Eric Cole, Eric Steger, Cam Davis

7.22am: Austin Eckroat, Brian Bergstol, Jacob Bridgeman

7.33am: Niklas Norgaard, Byeong Hun An, JJ Spaun

7.44am: Patrick Rodgers, Nick Taylor, Dean Burmester

7.55am: Joe Highsmith, Cameron Young, Aaron Rai

8.06am: Tom Hoge, Matthieu Pavon, Taylor Pendrith

8.17am: Rasmus Neergard-Petersen, Patton Kizzie, Matt McCarty

8.28am: Tyler Collet, Jimmy Walker, Richard Bland

8.39am: Jason Dufner, Michael Thorbjornsen, Shaun Micheel

8.50am: Rafael Campos, Ryan Lenahan, Matt Wallace

9.01am: Jhonattan Vegas, Elvis Smylie, Brian Campbell

9.12am: Kevin Yu, Larkin Gross, Johnny Keefer

Round 2: 10th tee morning wave

7.05am: Michael Kartrude, Sami Valimaki, Jake Knapp

7.16am: Erik Van Rooyen, Michael Block, Mackenzie Hughes

7.27am: Lucas Glover, Max Homa, Joaquin Niemann

7.38am: Tyrrell Hatton, Will Zalatoris, Adam Scott

7.49am: Justin Thomas, Dustin Johnson, Collin Morikawa

8am: Jordan Spieth, Patrick Reed, Ludvig Aberg

8.11am: Hideki Matsuyama, Wyndham Clark, Tom Kim

8.22am: Bryson DeChambeau, Viktor Hovland, Gary Woodland

8.33am: Sergio Garcia, Daniel Berger, Russell Henley

8.44am: Justin Rose, Cameron Smith, Brian Harman

8.55am: Brandon Bingaman, Davis Riley, Sungjae Im

9.06am: Takumi Kanaya, Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Tom McKibbin

9.17am: Keita Nakajima, Timothy Wiseman, Beau Hossler

Round 2: 1st tee afternoon wave

12.30pm: John Parry, Justin Hicks, Ryan Fox

12.41pm: Andre Chi, Patrick Fishburn, Seamus Power

12.52pm: Max McGreevy, Sahith Theegala, Sepp Straka

1.03pm: Brooks Koepka, Rickie Fowler, Shane Lowry

1.14pm: Phil Mickelson, Tommy Fleetwood, Jason Day

1.25pm: Jon Rahm, Patrick Cantlay, Matt Fitzpatrick

1.36pm: Corey Conners, Min Woo Lee, Rasmus Hojgaard

1.47pm: Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, Scottie Scheffler

1.58pm: Tony Finau, Nicolai Hojgaard, Max Greyserman

2.09pm: Andrew Novak, Keegan Bradley, Maverick McNealy

2.20pm: Akshay Bhatia, Denny McCarthy, Sam Burns

2.31pm: John Catlin, Garrick Higgo, Jesse Droemer

2.42pm: Eugenio Chacarra, Rupe Taylor, Justin Lower

Round 2: 10th tee afternoon wave

12.25pm: Luke Donald, Padraig Harrington, Martin Kaymer

12.36pm: John Somers, Taylor Moore, David Puig

12.47pm: Kurt Kitayama, Nic Ishee, Alex Noren

12.58pm: JT Poston, Ryo Hisatsune, Tom Johnson

1.09pm: Davis Thompson, Bud Cauley, Nico Echavarria\

1.20pm: Harris English, Michael Kim, Thomas Detry

1.31pm: Stephan Jaeger, Chris Kirk, Robert MacIntyre

1.42pm: Thorbjorn Olesen, Karl Vilips, Laurie Canter

1.53pm: Si Woo Kim, Sam Stevens, Rico Hoey

2.04pm: Bobby Gates, Lee Hodges, Ben Griffin

2.15pm: Thriston Lawrence, Nick Dunlap, Harry Hall

2.26pm: Greg Koch, Marco Penge, Ryan Gerard

2.36pm: Dylan Newman, Daniel Van Tonder, Victor Perez

ROUND 2 FEATURED GROUPS

And here's a reminder of when some of the big names are off.

7.49am: Justin Thomas, Dustin Johnson, Collin Morikawa
8am: Jordan Spieth, Patrick Reed, Ludvig Aberg
8.22am: Bryson DeChambeau, Viktor Hovland, Gary Woodland
1.03pm: Brooks Koepka, Rickie Fowler, Shane Lowry
1.14pm: Phil Mickelson, Tommy Fleetwood, Jason Day
1.25pm: Jon Rahm, Patrick Cantlay, Matthew Fitzpatrick
1.47pm: Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, Scottie Scheffler

BETTING UPDATE

One round in and the favorite remains Scottie Scheffler (3/1 ish), despite the World No.1 having an up-and-down day. He chipped in, rolled in an eagle putt from off the green and made an ugly 6 on 16, but he still nudged it round in 69.

I want to thank my colleague, Elliott, for convincing me to back some of the longest players in the PGA Championship field on the basis Quail Hollow would be playing really long after the wet weather at the start of the week.

Well, I did, and I might as well have flushed my money down the toilet. Golf's great. We've got Luke Donald tied fourth with Ryan Fox, and one of these players is significantly longer than the other.

MICHAEL BLOCK UPDATE

We know you all love 'Blocky'. He's one under early today and looking to bounce back from an opening round of 75. Block’s performance at the 2023 PGA Championship was one of the golf stories of the year.

Talking of good starts, Tyrrell Hatton is two under after two and -4 overall, just two shots back of Jhonattan Vegas.

RORY'S STATS FROM YESTERDAY

Looking back at Rory McIlroy's stats from yesterday - the Masters champion was well off it.

SG Off-The-Tee: 85
SG: Tee-To-Green: 65
SG Approach: 71
Proximity: 117
SG Putting: 136

NO CAREER SLAM FOR SPIETH THIS YEAR

Jordan Spieth has started his second round and he needs a low one. At +5 it's hard to see him completing the career grand slam this year.

Saying that, he's off to the perfect start with an eagle 3 on the par-5. Back to +3. As I was saying, this could be his year.

Bryson coming up...

TYRRELL THROWS HAT INTO THE RING

A lovely start from the LIV player. He's made birdie at 10 and 11. I mentioned yesterday that the PGA Championship hasn't been won by an Englishman since Jim Barnes in 1919.

Hatton has the quality to win a Major Championship (he's had top 10s in all of them). Could this be his week? He's on the green on 12 but I wouldn't call it a decent chance of a hat-trick.

ABERG DIALLED IN

The Swede is pin high on 11. I wouldn't be surprised to see him go low today. After an incredible start to his career, he's quickly established himself as one of the pre tournament favorites every week.

Meanwhile, we've got our first look at a 'mud ball' in the second round. Gary Woodland is down on the grass giving his ball a good inspection. Plays it well - what's all the fuss about?

Back to Aberg. -2. Lovely roll, in at a nice pace.

MAKING MOVES

We've only been going about an hour, but there have already been some significant moves today. Collin Morikawa has birdied the 10th. The former PGA champion is currently at -2. Meanwhile, Bryson DeChambeau has opened with a birdie to move under par.

The conditions at Quail Hollow look similar to yesterday - soft fairways and firm greens. Justin Thomas has also made a tidy start and has got it back to +1. I think he was +4 yesterday at one stage and looking a little hot under the collar.

A WORLD GAME

Let's leave the action for the moment and review some of the most interesting stats/facts from yesterday.

After the first round there were players from 12 countries among the top-10 and ties - a new Major Championship record! The previous mark was 11, at the Open Championship in 1997 (Round 4), 2002 (Round 2) and 2006 (Round 1); and the 2014 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club (Round 2).

Jhonattan Vegas is the only player representing the country of Venezuela to win a tournament on the PGA Tour, having won four. He becomes the first player from Venezuela to lead or co-lead at the end of any Major Championship round.

Adam Scott is appearing in his 95th consecutive Major (starting with the 2001 Open Championship) . The only player with more consecutive Major Championship appearances was Jack Nicklaus (146, 1962-1998). Tom Watson (87, 1974-1996) is third on the list.

Absolutely love a stat.

DUSTIN STRUGGLING

Former World No.1 Dustin Johnson (+7) has started his second round with three straight pars. I think it's been a bit of a hard watch seeing the two-time Major winner go through the motions the last few years.

He's on LIV now, of course, and by the sounds of it, quite content. The former Masters champion is still only 40 but it feels like he's settled for his lot.

SMITH ALSO AT +7

Talking of players who seem to have settled for their lot, Cam Smith, also at +7, looks a totally different player to the one that lifted the Claret Jug a few years ago. Whether or not his move to LIV has anything to do with it, only he knows, but with his putting stroke and temperament, he looked like a player who would rack titles up for fun.

Still, he's only 31.

LEADERBOARD CHECK

Vegas makes a super up-and-down to save par on 1. Hatton's temperature is rising. He couldn't take advantage of the driveable 14th, and he's in a bit of bother on 15 after a bit of a snapper.

The man with the black gloves (Aaron Rai) started with two bogeys but he's just made a lovely two at the par-3 4th. The Englishman sits just inside the top 10 at -3.

Vegas still has a two-shot cushion at the top of the leaderboard and he'll be feeling good after that nice save. We've not mentioned Cam Davis today - the Aussie is even par and sits at -5 after seven holes today.

Back to Hatton and he can only make a par at the 15th. He'll definitely feel as though he's dropped one shot after the last two holes, although he's still going along very nicely.

News on the hottest player on the course coming next, which is Max Homa...

HOMA ON THE CHARGE

He's had his struggles over the last year or so, but Max Homa has things going today. He's talked about being close to something like his best recently. Could he be about to really turn the corner?

The American is 5 under through six holes and -3 for the championship heading to the par-3 17th.

VEGAS BACK TO -6

Bit of an edgy start from the overnight leader, who now leads by just one. He managed a nice up-and-down on the 1st but he misses the par putt on the 2nd.

ANOTHER INTERESTING STAT

There are currently several marquee players way down the leaderboard. Only two players have ever won the PGA Championship after being ranked 50 or worse on the leaderboard at the end of the first round:

Payne Stewart (below), 1989 Kemper Lakes GC, T-77 after Round 1
John Mahaffey, 1978 Oakmont CC, T-59 after Round 1

ONE MORE STAT FOR YOU...

I know I keep banging on about English players at the PGA Championship and the fact no one representing England has won it since 1919. This is the last time I'll mention it today.

Following the first round, a record six players representing England were among the top 20 and ties on the leaderboard (Luke Donald, Matt Fitzpatrick, Aaron Rai, Harry Hall, Marco Pence and Tyrrell Hatton). The previous record was four.

Hatton, by the way, is now up to -5 , just one shot off the lead and one ahead of Rai and Donald.

CHIP IN!

Wow, Homa scrambling on 18 and chips in. He's gone out in 30! What a nine holes.

HATTON ON TROUBLE DOWN 18

The Englishman slams his driver into the ground, then holds up the head and says something to it - 'You silly sausage,' I think it was.

At -5, he's really just looking to get through 18 and then get stuck into the front 9 but I think he's going to be in a spot of bother with that drive. If it's not wet, it's going to be in an awkward spot in the long rough.

HATTON MAKES 7

Tyrrell undoing all his good work on 18. He must have found the water with his tee shot and it's not getting much better for him up ahead at the green. The Englishman is going to drop three shots.

Morikawa has also found the stream on 18. I have a feeling the final hole will be playing quite a bit over par come the end of the day. Hatton is going to drop back to -2.

ABERG... SPLASH

What do I know? Thought we'd see a big move from Aberg today but he's just hoiked one into the drink on the par-3 17th. He's normally ice cool but he looks disgusted with that one.

The Swede currently sits at -2 overall and is in decent enough shape, but he'll do well to drop just one shot here.

MORIKAWA LIMITS THE DAMAGE

After finding the stream on 18 with his drive, Morikawa almost chips in. In the end, it's actually a decent bogey. Justin Thomas three putts 18 and he's back where he started the day at +2 for the championship.

Vegas pars the 5th to retain his one-shot lead. Aberg escapes 17 with a bogey after dunking one in the middle of the lake with his tee shot.

CUT WATCH

74 players currently at +1 or better.

PERFECT BIRDIE FOR BC ON 16

DeChambeau (-2) shows the difficult 16th no respect whatsoever. At 526 yards, it's a beast. Bryson hits driver and wedge, and nails a straight putt from about 12 feet straight into the center of the cup. Nice.

What's not so nice is seeing Aberg fritter more shots away on 18. Big number coming up. Remember how he finished The Masters? Ugly stuff.

HOMA TO -7

For the round that is. He'd drained a lengthy birdie effort and is now just one shot off the lead. Vegas, who still hasn't been joined at the top despite a few wobbles, has a lot of traffic stacking up behind him.

RAI TO TIE...

No. Narrowly misses. Good putt, though.

Elsewhere, Masters runner-up Justin Rose makes a much-needed birdie to get to +6. He's a proud man is Rose and he'll be desperate to make the weekend.

HOMA ALL SMILES

I will shortly be researching the course record. Max Homa is tearing it up right now, -7 with half a dozen holes left to play of round two. No wonder he's smiling, especially after going through a bit of a rough patch over the last year. He is struggling on the 4th, though...

More struggles for Hatton, too, who drops another one on the 2nd.

BOGEY FOR MAX

Shame. He can't chip in for par on the 4th and drops a shot. Course record watch over, -6 is nothing special.

Everyone is getting a bit excited about Bryson. He's not made a huge move but he is driving the ball very nicely.

Rai burns the edge again and still Vegas is all alone on -6. Pavon is now -4 and Thorbjornsen, who I will refer to as 'TBJ' going forwards, is at -5.

BDC ON 18

A 322-yard drive and Bryson has a wedge in his hand. It's a good one, too, but it rolls back off the front - still a chance from there.

VEGAS TO -7

Back where he started. Just as it was looking like he'd soon have company at the top, he makes a tidy birdie on the par-5 7th.

A reminder, Vegas' only other top-10 rank at the end of a Major Championship round was T9 at the end of the first round of 2016 PGA Championship at Baltusrol GC. He went on to finish T22.

No other player representing Venezuela has ever been among the top-10 on the leaderboard at the end of a Major Championship round.

THORBJORNSEN BOGEYS THE NINTH

Following birdies at the second and seventh, Thorbjornsen rounds out his front nine with a bogey at the difficult par 4 ninth.

The American had found the back edge of the green but, after a tough first putt, which finished nine-foot from the flag, he was unable to convert and taps-in for bogey. He moves back to four-under-par.

THERE'S A SNAKE ON THE COURSE

Slight hold up in play whilst a snake makes its way across a fairway. A referee gives it a little nudge/kick, which some on the commentary team aren't too pleased about. You need one of those litter picking things. Anyway, it's disappeared into the first cut of rough.

Rory McIlroy has arrived at Quail Hollow. The Northern Irishman isn't off for a couple of hours. He'll be hoping to slide his way up the leaderboard (little snake joke there).

DUSTIN AT +13

I don't care how much money he has in the bank, Dustin Johnson can't be happy with where his game is at right now. He's +13 and has one player below him (Michael Block).

There aren't many golf pros out there I know who like going through the motions. When you know you're capable of playing a certain level, it's hard to settle for less. Maybe I'm wrong and he really doesn't give a s***. In which case, fair enough.

CUT UPDATE

+2 right now seems to the number... we shall see. Bryson DeChambeau won't be thinking about that, although he has just dropped a shot.

Homa in very good shape at the 7th - that'll be a birdie after a delicate chip to within a few inches from the side of the green.

TEE TIME REMINDER

Here are your PGA Championship tee times for round two. Ryan Gerard will be in the second last group to head out on Friday, the American getting his round underway at 2.26pm. He'll be quite happy sat with his feet up - no-one is getting away from the field.

Some notable names coming up:

1.03pm: Brooks Koepka, Rickie Fowler, Shane Lowry
1.14pm: Phil Mickelson, Tommy Fleetwood, Jason Day
1.25pm: Jon Rahm, Patrick Cantlay, Matthew Fitzpatrick
1.47pm: Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, Scottie Scheffler

ADAM SCOTT APPRECIATION POST

I did mention this earlier but it needs repeating. Adam Scott is appearing in his 95th consecutive Major (starting with the 2001 Open Championship). The only player with more consecutive Major Championship appearances was Jack Nicklaus (146, 1962-1998). Tom Watson (87, 1974-1996) is third on the list.

The popular Aussie is -2 for the championship.

VEGAS EXTENDS LEAD

Ok then - the lead is now three. After a shaky start, Vegas looks like he's starting to enjoy himself.

FIST PUMP ALERT

Bryson with a birdie, gets a little fist pump - not an aggressive one or a walking Tiger-like one. Timely after a bogey on the 2nd.

Elsewhere, Niemann is at -1. He's been having a very good season on LIV and is tipped as someone who could shortly step up on the Major stage.

BRYSON ON THE MOVE

The two-time US Open champion has been faultless off the tee today - and he's now -3. Another blistering drive. A few big names have disappointed so far, but Bryson is delivering again on the Major stage.

Meanwhile, Vegas misses a good opportunity to extend his lead to three. Pavon is now up to second at -6.

GO JOE

Joe Highsmith, playing in only his third Major, goes 3, 3 at 14 and 15. Big fan of that hat, provides good cover for the top of the head, face and neck. It's a hat that more golfers should wear, not just cricketers.

VEGAS TO -9!

Vegas is giving himself a nice little cushion here. He rolls in another birdie and extends his advantage at the top to three shots.

After giving Bryson top marks for his driving, his last couple have been loose. This one goes left - it's long but a fair bit off line and he's going to have some work to do.

DOUBLE BOGEY FOR RAI

A setback for Aaron Rai, who makes a 6 on 16. It's this difficult final three holes that causes so many headaches. You can have a really good round going and give it all away on the 'Green Mile', a brutal stretch of holes. I think if you offered any player in the field one over the last three holes, they'd take it.

SPIETH FINISHES AT TWO-OVER

The American's chances of making the weekend are dangling by a thread but, overall, it's a good second round for Jordan Spieth, who cards a three-under 68 to sit at two-over-par.

Currently, he is one shot outside the cutline and, with the afternoon wave heading out now, he will have a long wait to see if he makes the weekend at Quail Hollow.

VEGAS EXTENDS HIS LEAD

This is excellent from Vegas who, at the par 4 14th, makes the most of a free drop and secures the birdie to get to 10-under-par.

Although unclear as to why he received a free drop, the Venezuelan plays a delightful pitch and holes a six-footer for birdie, extending his lead to four.

THORBJORNSEN CONTINUES STRONG SHOWING

This is just Thorbjornsen's fourth Major appearance and first PGA Championship. Certainly, on debut, he's making the most of it, with the American birdieing the 12th and 14th to get to six-under for the championship.

MAX HOMA REACTS

Max Homa has endured his struggles of late but, following a seven-under 64, he is in a great position heading into the weekend.

Speaking after his round, the American stated: "Yesterday I played awesome. I felt like I had really good control. I just couldn't really get the ball close to the hole, didn't pull the right club a lot, and had a poor finish.

"It was kind of in a way nice to be able to play in the morning and just get to go immediately because I knew the game was good. Didn't know I was going to shoot seven-under, but I will take it."

PAR FOR VEGAS AT 15

Playing the par 5 15th, Vegas pulls his second shot and can only find the edge of the green with his third. Facing a putt for birdie, it misses on the left side, but a tap-in means another stress-free par for the 40-year-old.

PERFECT START FOR FITZ

Like Homa, Matt Fitzpatrick has struggled for form in 2025 but, at the PGA Championship, he has shown some great play and, at the opening hole, the Englishman makes birdie to get to four-under.

Finding the fairway with his tee shot, Fitzpatrick plays a nice mid-iron to the middle of the green and, from 20-foot, the putt finds the center of the cup for a birdie three.

CLOSING BOGEY FOR BRYSON

DeChambeau pounds his tee shot down the ninth but, unluckily, he finds the rough to the left.

Unable to reach the green with his second, he chips up with his third, but his putt slides by for par, with the two-time US Open winner tapping in for bogey. He cards a three-under 68 and is three-under for the tournament, seven back of Vegas.

FINAL HOLE CHIP IN FOR VIKTOR

MARQUEE GROUP ARE UNDERWAY

Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele get their second rounds underway, with all three men looking for stronger performances on Friday.

McIlroy is first up and, with driver in hand, he bombs his tee shot up the left side and on the fairway. Schauffele follows the five-time Major winner with a similar drive, while Scheffler pulls his tee shot into the crowd on the left side.

PAVON SITS AT SIX-UNDER

Matthieu Pavon has been superb today and, at the last, he pars to fire a blemish free six-under 65 to sit in solo second.

The Frenchman has struggled for form this season but, thanks to six birdies and 12 pars, he is now four back of Vegas and in contention heading into the weekend.

MIXED RESULTS AT THE FIRST

Despite finding trouble off the tee, Scheffler is able to get up-and-down for an impressive par at the opening hole.

Schauffele, who found the green with his second, hits a poor first putt and, from six-foot, is unable to hole the par attempt as he makes bogey to drop to two-over-par.

McIlroy produces a bad second shot with a wedge in hand but, after splashing out of the bunker, he rolls in the par putt to remain at three-over.

VEGAS' WEEK?

I'm not sure if you'll see a more lucky break this week at the PGA Championship! Playing the par 3 17th, Vegas hits the bunker rake with his tee shot and, miraculously, it fires back towards the flag!

Although he doesn't hole his birdie putt, it's a tap-in par for the Venezuelan, who remains 10-under and finds the fairway at the final hole, the par 4 18th.

BIRDIE FOR RORY

Is this the start of something special for McIlroy? After getting up-and-down at the first hole, the five-time Major winner hammers his drive at the second, with a wedge finding the putting surface.

Facing a putt from 12-feet, it never looks anywhere else as it drops into the center of the cup for his first birdie of the day and just his third of the week. He is now two-over-par.

WHAT A MESS FROM VEGAS

After finding the fairway with his tee shot at the 18th, Vegas puts his approach in to the right greenside bunker.

An up-and-down will keep him 10-under for the championship, but the 40-year-old plays an incredibly poor bunker shot that rolls off the front edge of the green.

Now playing his fourth, Vegas' chip just rolls by the right side and, with three-feet remaining, it looks a formality that he will roll in the bogey putt. However, his attempt grazes the left side and he makes a double bogey to finish one-under for the day and eight-under for the championship...

VEGAS' CARD

MARQUEE GROUP UPDATE

Away from Vegas' final hole drama, Scheffler, McIlroy and Schauffele are well underway for their second rounds and, through the first five holes, have remained rather muted.

In terms of Scheffler, he is one-under for the day after a birdie at the third hole, with the World No.1 three-under for the championship.

McIlroy is also one-under for the day after birdieing the second hole, with the five-time Major winner holing some big putts early on. In terms of Schauffele, the defending champion is one-over for his day and two-over for the tournament after a bogey at the first hole.

WHAT A PAR FROM J.T. POSTON

That's the par of the day from J.T. Poston! Finding the water at the par 3 17th, the American takes a drop and, from 110-yards, he holes his third shot for par. Special stuff from the 31-year-old, who remains two-under for the tournament.

RORY KEEPS THE MOMENTUM GOING

The first six holes are proving tough but, through that stretch, McIlroy remains one-under for his round and is continuing the momentum as he looks to make the cut.

In the group, Schauffele misses from 12-foot and bogeys to drop back to three-over-par. Scheffler, meanwhile, makes a par and also remains one-under for his day and three-under for his tournament.

PERFECT FOR POSTON

DRAMA AT THE SEVENTH

The par 5 seventh has played as one of the easier holes of the day and, after Scheffler is forced to lay-up, McIlroy plays a long-iron to the back edge. He will have an easy chip coming up, which you could say is even hole-able...

Following on from McIlroy, Schauffele seems to be laying-up from the fairway bunker but, striking the ball, it appears the defending champion is going for the green. Making impact, it's not even close to clearing the drink and, on landing, splashes into the water.

HUGE SAVE FOR XANDER

The World No.3 finds the water at the par 5 seventh and, with his fourth, he finishes on the back edge of the green. Schauffele is then faced with a tough chip but, with a belly wedge, he rolls it in the center of the cup for an unlikely par to remain three-over.

In the group, McIlroy just misses the chip for eagle, but rolls in the birdie putt to get to one-over and inside the cutline. Scheffler taps-in for par to remain at three-under for the championship.

ALEX SMALLEY GETS WITHIN ONE

The American was the last man in the field after Sahith Theegala withdrew on Thursday morning, and Alex Smalley is making the most of it here in Quail Hollow.

Carding a four-under 67 on Thursday, Smalley has just made birdies at the seventh, eighth and tenth to get to three-under for the day and seven-under for the tournament. He is now just one back of Vegas, who is eight-under.

BEN GRIFFIN MAKES A HOT START

The American claimed his first PGA Tour victory at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans and, with two birdies and an eagle at his first six holes, he is six-under for the tournament and two back of the lead.

Away from Ben Griffin, Scheffler and McIlroy have just birdied the par 4 eighth to get four-under and level-par. The other player in the group, Schauffele, makes par to remain three-over.

HIDEKI LETTING HIS ANGER OUT

Hideki Matsuyama hasn't missed a Major cut since the 2019 Open Championship but, following rounds of 72 and 73, he will not be present at the weekend.

After his round, the Japanese star was spotted doing some speed training to let some anger out!

FRONT NINE COMPLETED

Scheffler, McIlroy and Schauffele have completed their front nines and, in terms of the best scorer, that falls to McIlroy, who is three-under for his day and level-par for the tournament.

Scheffler is two-under for his round and four-under for his championship, while Schauffele is two-over for the day and three-over for the tournament. Still all to play for on this back nine.

VEGAS REACTS AFTER SECOND ROUND

RAHM WITH A BIG SAVE

The two-time Major winner fired a one-under front nine to sit at two-under for the tournament and, after a par at the 10th, Rahm drains a mid-range putt at the 11th for a big par. He is six back of leader, Vegas, but does have seven holes remaining of his back nine.

BIRDIE FOR RORY

McIlroy pounds a huge drive down the par 5 10th and, with a fairway wood in hand, he finds the left side of the green. His eagle putt just misses on the right side, but he taps in for a birdie to get under-par for the championship.

Schauffele, who needs to start making birdies, does just that with a lovely putt from 10-foot. He is now two-over-par. Scheffler is the final player in the group, but his birdie putt slides by the right side and he has to make do with par.

TOP TRIO STUMBLE ON 11

None of Scheffler, Schauffele or McIlroy find the fairway off the tee at 11, and they pay the price with their approach shots. Scheffler and Schauffele hit double-cross shots from the right rough out to the left of the green, while McIlroy can't get his ball to stop after launching one out of the fairway bunker from 149 yards away.

Elsewhere, Matt Fitzpatrick has dunked another birdie at the 12th to reach six-under for the tournament. He's on a real heater today, the 2022 US Open champion. Five birdies and two bogeys so far, with a third of his round to go...

XANDER AND RORY MAKE BOGEY

Schauffele's defence appears as though it is coming to a very limp end. A weak bunker shot leads to a bogey, taking him to three-over and two behind the current cut line.

Scheffler maintains his squeaky-clean round with a good par save, but McIlroy can't follow him in. The Masters champion ultimately three-putts from just off the back of the 11th green and falls to even par for the tournament.

LOVE IS IN THE AIR

During the ad break, I do believe there was a successful marriage proposal among the patrons at Quail Hollow. One mustached gentleman got down on one knee and was delightfully met with a big hug and kiss by what we hope is his bride-to-be. Congratulations to the happy couple. What a day for them!

MCILROY IN DUFF TOWN

The Northern Irishman misses the 12th fairway left and tries to poke a wedge towards the green from a decent spot, but he gets the second shot all wrong and drags his ball forward some 50-100 yards but still short of the green. Whatever that was, it was ugly.

No such problems for his playing partners, with Scheffler on the dancefloor from 112 and Schauffele doing likewise from 105.

CONNERS RECOVERING

At one-under for the day and one-over for the championship, Corey Conners has drilled his tee shot at the par-3 13th to kick-in range. The Canadian - who many fancied as their outside pick this week - is fighting hard to play the weekend.

SUBLIME FROM SCHAUFFELE

Xander is trying to prove me wrong. Maybe he's not out of this. He plays the 12th perfectly and gently nudges home his birdie putt from 15 feet to move back up to two-over.

CONSECUTIVE BOGEYS FOR MCILROY

Oh dear, McIlroy is stalling. That scuffed wedge shot ends up costing the Northern Irishman, despite a wonderful recovery flop shot shortly after. With a winding right-to-left putt down the hill in front of him, McIlroy knew it wasn't high enough right off the blade. The par-3 13th is up next. All 214 yards of it.

TENSIONS RISING

McIlroy watches his tee shot at the par-3 13th be rejected off the putting surface by the slope short of the flag. In response, the World No.2 throws his club at the yardage sign just to the left of the tee box. Truth be told, it wasn't the most aggressive throw you'll ever see, but it's still a sign that McIlroy is feeling the pressure. A moment of magic with a wedge later, and he's in for a settling par.

Scheffler is also feeling frustrated now after a wildly pulled tee shot ultimately sees him make a first bogey of the day. Schauffele escapes with par after taking a pretty similar route to McIlroy.

STEADY FROM FITZPATRICK

In the group ahead of McIlroy and co., Fitzpatrick takes the ultra-conservative path on the driveable par-4 14th to record a par. At two shots off the lead and with the Green Mile to come, the Englishman is taking no chances coming home.

THE BUNKER BOYS

While it would be a great name for the three of them if they decided to form a band, 'The Bunker Boys' more accurately sums up Scheffler, Schauffele and McIlroy following their respective tee shots at the 14th. All of them have ended up in the right green-side bunker - not the worst place to be.

In total, over 130 players have passed through the 14th today. Only 13 have left their tee shots on the green. Max Homa almost aced it earlier on today, but his ball came to rest just less than two feet away.

FOWLER FUMBLES

Originally at one-over-par for the tournament, Rickie Fowler was destined to make bogey on the 16th before missing a two-foot putt. He walked off with a double-bogey six and is now at three-over with just 17 and 18 to play. Fowler's championship is fading fast.

The cut line *might* fade out to two-over, but three-over isn't going to get it done. As it stands, one-over is the cut line.

ELSEWHERE

Matt Fitzpatrick recovers incredibly from a tricky position close to the base of a tree in the rough on the 15th, leaving his second shot pin high on the green. Ryan Fox bags a birdie at the last to sign for a 71 and stay at four-under for the week. Meanwhile, Smalley has work to do to save his par at the par-3 17th after missing the green to the right.

CUT MOVES TO TWO-OVER

The cut has officially moved to two-over, meaning the likes of Jordan Spieth, Shane Lowry and Sepp Straka have new life. The good news continues for McIlroy, too, as he rolls in a 10-12 foot birdie putt at the 14th. McIlroy is now at even-par again. Scheffler knocks in his own birdie chance after whipping his ball out of the bunker to a matter of inches, but Schauffele has to make do with a par following a clumsy effort from the sand.

GREEN MILE TAKING ITS TOLL

Alex Smalley is finding out exactly what the Green Mile can do to you. After a two-putt bogey at the 17th, his drive down 18 sailed left and seems to have finished right behind a stone bridge on a down slope in the rough. That's got to be drop territory, unless Smalley can somehow pitch back into the fairway. I don't see how, though. A really tough situation for the American.

Smalley takes a drop and sends his ball to just short of the green with his third.

SI WOO KIM ACE!

Si Woo Kim has just aced the 252-yard par-3 sixth hole! The Korean found the front of the green with his first bounce before watching it scuttle out and roll gently into the hole. He quickly threw his club up into the air and ran off down the fairway before turning to celebrate with his group. Amazing scenes!

SCOTTIE ON THE CHARGE

Two birdies in a row, the latter of which arrived at the par-5 15th, catapults Scheffler up into the top-five. He's really moving now. Meanwhile, McIlroy lays up out of the rough with his second stroke and chips to three feet before following suit and reaching one-under. He was over a dozen strokes behind at the start of the day. The difference is now *only* seven.

CUT LINE SHIFTS BACK TO ONE-OVER

As Schauffele completes the hat-trick of birdies at 15, the cut line shifts up one stroke. It's following the World No.3. Luckily, he's on the right side of it as things stand.

16 SAFELY NAVIGATED

All three players in that marquee group write a four on their scorecards at the 530-yard par-4 16th and move on to the par-3 17th. They were never in any real trouble, either, with a couple of half chances for birdie being waved on.

Elsewhere, Si Woo Kim moves up to six-under after a four at his 16th hole (Quail Hollow's 7th). The Korean is ripping it up towards the end of day two.

One man who was trying his best to cook late on was Min Woo Lee, but the Australian makes a costly bogey late on and slips back to three-over.

SCHEFFLER CLOSING IN

McIlroy is unable to find the putting surface at 17, but Scheffler and Schauffele can. The former even has a pretty straightforward birdie putt incoming - it's less than six feet away. Scheffler could well be about to move within two strokes of the lead with two rounds still to play. Ominous for those inexperienced closers around the World No.1...

RAHM SIGNS FOR A 70

Another battling one-under round for Jon Rahm, who has made a lot of great par-saving putts throughout Friday. His playing partner, Matt Fitzpatrick will be in either the final group or the penultimate pairing on Moving Day after sealing a three-under 68. The 2022 US Open champion looked really impressive today, it must be said.

SHOCKER FROM SCHEFFLER AND MCILROY

Left with a four-foot putt at 17 - the third-closest tee shot of the day - the World No.1 lips out and has another four-foot putt from 90 degrees to his left. Scheffler looked visibly shocked, putting his hand to his mouth after the ball stayed up.

Moments later, McIlroy does the exact same thing after chipping close. However, it's a bogey for McIlroy and a par for Scheffler. Schauffele is also in for par.

LUCKY BREAK

I say it's lucky, it is in respect that McIlroy's ball isn't in the stream down 18. But the Northern Irishman might not feel that way. McIlroy pulled his drive towards the fans and it bounced off the hospitality tent before ricocheting into the upslope of the rough right next to the water. McIlroy does have a stance and can propel his ball down the hole, but the chances of going for the green have been greatly reduced.

Schauffele and Schauffele, meanwhile, have produced A1 drives down the middle of the fairway.

THREE SHOTS TO PLAY THE WEEKEND

McIlroy fires his ball out of the rough but out to more long grass to the right of the green. Given he is at level par for the tournament, the World No.2 knows he effectively has three shots to make the cut, which is at one-over. He will be desperate to get up and down, though.

Meanwhile, his playing partners have birdie putts up coming.

MCILROY MAKES THE CUT

He needed all three shots, as it turns out, but Rory McIlroy will play the weekend at Quail Hollow. He signs for a 69, but it could have been even better today. In the end, the current Masters champion squeezed through on the dotted line.

DEFENDING CHAMPION THROUGH

After Scheffler wrapped up his round of 68 which has propelled him towards the top of the leaderboard, Xander Schauffele holds his nerve to roll in a three-footer and stay at one-over, alongside McIlroy.

Other big names to edge through to the weekend include Tom Kim, Sergio Garcia and Brian Harman.

JOINT-LOW ROUND OF THE DAY

Finishing up in the closing stages of round two is Si Woo Kim. Helped by the longest-ever ace in Major championship history earlier on, the South Korean carded a seven-under 64 to vault himself up into T2nd and lay the foundations for a real shot at Major championship glory come Sunday.

Max Homa, also among the top-five, was the other player to shoot a seven-under score during round two.

LAST-GASP CHARGE FOR THE CUT LINE

Former LIV golfer, Eugenio Chacarra is making a desperate run for the line, carding a birdie at the par-4 14th and an eagle at the par-5 15th to return to level par for the day and two-over for the championship.

Elsewhere, Max Greyserman has produced a heroic last-gasp birdie at 18 to reach one-over and sneak a weekend tee time. For Greyserman, it was all about his approach as he was left with a four-foot birdie putt to seal his fate.

BIG-NAME EXITS

As the final few players finish up their second rounds, it appears as though there will be no more heroics from those outside the cut line and only those with a total of one-over or better will play the weekend.

That means names like Shane Lowry, Jordan Spieth, Hideki Matsuyama, Ludvig Aberg, Patrick Reed, Jason Day, Patrick Cantlay, Cameron Smith, Justin Rose, Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson are all out of the 2025 PGA Championship.

GOODBYE FROM PGA CHAMPIONSHIP DAY TWO

We'll wrap up today's action here and say thank you for tuning in on what has been a fascinating day at Quail Hollow. We had Max Homa and Si Woo Kim shooting seven-under rounds of 64 as the Korean also recorded the longest-ever ace at a Major championship.

There was Rory McIlroy's successful charge to recover his untidy first round and Xander Schauffele's positive quest to make up for his own disappointing Thursday.

But the final word should go to halfway leader, Jhonattan Vegas who bounced on to 10-under before giving two strokes back at the last and being forced to settle for a two-shot advantage heading into Saturday.

The Venezuelan was never likely to feel comfortable anyway, given the nature of the championship, but the emergence of names like Scottie Scheffler, Matt Fitzpatrick, Max Homa and Robert MacIntyre from the pack should set the nerves jangling even more.

Join us again tomorrow as we bring you all of the action from Moving Day at the 2025 PGA Championship. Plenty more reaction is to come on the Golf Monthly website in the meantime, so stay tuned to keep across all of the biggest storylines from Quail Hollow. See you soon!

GOOD MORNING

Happy Saturday to you all. We have a fascinating day in store at Quail Hollow - although we may be delayed as play has currently been suspended.

PGA of America statement:

Play has been SUSPENDED at 8:15 AM due to dangerous weather in the area. Please seek shelter immediately. Further updates to follow.

SCHEFFLER NOW CLEAR FAVORITE

Odds via William Hill UK

• Scottie Scheffler – 21/10
• Bryson DeChambeau – 8/1
• Matt Fitzpatrick – 11/1
• Jhonattan Vegas – 12/1
• Rory McIlroy – 28/1

WEATHER FORECAST AS PLAY SUSPENDED

How is the weather looking today? Not great this morning for sure, but hopefully should be fine in the afternoon. No announcement on play resuming just yet.

Official PGA Championship weather forecast from 6am:

Severe Thunderstorm Watch Until 12pm! A line of strong to severe thunderstorms will weaken as is it approaches the Charlotte area this morning. Showers and a few thunderstorms will be likely by 7am and will weaken further to scattered showers as they exit the area around 10AM. Once the precipitation exits, skies will be come partly cloudy this afternoon with highs warming into the mid-80s. A southwest breeze will increase and shift out of the west 14-18 gusting 25-28 mph as well.

ROUND THREE TEE TIMES DELAYED

Tee times have been delayed and play will now be in three balls off of two tees. Here's what the PGA of America said:

Due to dangerous weather in the area, Round 3 starting times will be a split tee off of #1 & #10 tees in groups of 3 from 11:43 AM - 1:55 PM.

RORY MCILROY'S REACTION TO SUSPENSION:

MICHAEL KIM GIVING A HINT OF TEE TIME WINDOW... NOT IMPRESSED

UPDATED PGA CHAMPIONSHIP TEE TIMES

1st tee

• 11.43am: Joaquin Niemann, Tyrrell Hatton, Wyndham Clark
• 11.54am: Keegan Bradley, Marco Penge, Lucas Glover
• 12.05pm: Viktor Hovland, Tommy Fleetwood, Jon Rahm
• 12.16pm: Cam Davis, Adam Scott, Joe Highsmith
• 12.27pm: Tony Finau, Ben Griffin, Eric Cole
• 12.38pm: Davis Riley, Alex Noren, Ryo Hisatsune
• 12.49pm: Taylor Pendrith, Bryson DeChambeau, Richard Bland
• 1pm: Garrick Higgo, JJ Spaun, Aaron Rai
• 1.11pm: Sam Stevens, Denny McCarthy, Ryan Gerard
• 1.22pm: Alex Smalley, JT Poston, Robert MacIntyre
• 1.33pm: Michael Thorbjornsen, Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Ryan Fox
• 1.44pm: Si Woo Kim, Max Homa, Scottie Scheffler
• 1.55pm: Jhonattan Vegas, Matthieu Pavon, Matthew Fitzpatrick

10th tee

• 11.48am: Rafael Campos, Matt Wallace, Tom McKibbin
• 11.59am: Beau Hossler, Luke Donald, Corey Conners
• 12.10pm: Nicolai Hojgaard, Harry Hall, Austin Eckroat
• 12.21pm: Byeong Hun An, Collin Morikawa, Cameron Young
• 12.32pm: Daniel Berger, Brian Campbell, Taylor Moore
• 12.43pm: Nico Echavarria, Harris English, Stephan Jaeger
• 12.54pm: Rasmus Hojgaard, Thorbjorn Olesen, Maverick McNealy
• 1.05pm: Justin Lower, Tom Kim, Sergio Garcia
• 1.16pm: Brian Harman, Elvis Smylie, Kevin Yu
• 1.27pm: David Puig, Bud Cauley, Michael Kim
• 1.38pm: Chris Kirk, Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele
• 1.49pm: Max Greyserman, Sam Burns

HELLO AND WELCOME TO ROUND 3

Michael joining you here, taking over from Elliott for a short while. I don't know about you, but I quite like two tee starts. You don't want this happening on a Sunday when the tension rises as each group tees off on one, but it's going to make today interesting.

WHY THE WAIT?

In case you've just joined us, play is currently suspended. Due to dangerous weather in the area, the players will now be teeing off on 10 & 1. Not too long to wait now. To be fair, it does look pretty gloomy out there. Fingers crossed any storms and electricity stay well away.

DOES THE PGA CHAMPIONSHIP HAVE AN IDENTITY PROBLEM?

We've been discussing this a fair bit this week. What do you think? Was it better in its August slot as the last Major of the season? Would it be better if the PGA Championship visited other countries? What about a change in format, making it a matchplay event?

Or is it just fine the way it is? Personally, I think it's Ok. I think it would be good for the game if there was another men's Major played outside of the United States, however. If it feels like 'just another regular PGA Tour event' doesn't that say something about the rest of the year and the other tournaments.

NOT LONG NOW

We've had a suspension in play but it's not long now until we're underway on Saturday for the third round. A reminder that it'll now be threeballs today and the players will be teeing off the 1st and the 10th holes.

OFF WE GO

The 11.43am group is off the 1st. Niemann stripes one down the middle. Hatton tops one and snaps his driver over his knee (only joking) - the Englishman also smokes one. Wyndham Clark, the former US Open champ, loses one to the right - that wasn't a good swing. Lets the team down.

COURSE LOOKS AMAZING

There might have been a lot of rain at the start of the week but Quail Hollow looks a picture today. If there's dangerous weather in the area, I can't see any yet. Hopefully there are no further delay and we get the third round completed today.

Talking of things that look amazing, Niemann's approach to the 1st there from over 200 yards is a beauty - straight at the flag. However, best shot of the day, and it is early, goes to Marco Penge. The Englishman leads SG Off the Tee so far, and that drive was smoked.

RAHM WITH AN EARLY MOVE

The Spaniard moves to -3 with a birdie on his first hole of the day. His performances in the Major championships haven't been that great since he moved to LIV. He's got that look in his eye at the moment...

STRIPE SHOW

No one hitting it better right now than Niemann. The man from Chile has been playing well on LIV but it's good to see him playing in a top field. He's missed a couple of decent birdie chances already and he'll have another good look at one at the par-3 4th.

A WEEKEND FOR THE UNDERDOG?

Might we see one of the outsiders win this week? Crystal Palace are beating Manchester City 1-0 at Wembley in The FA Cup Final. Just saying.

GOOD STARTS

Rahm and Hovland are both one under early on and sit at -3 for the tournament. Wyndham Clark also birdied the 2nd. After two bogeys, Lucas Glover picks one up at the 3rd. Finau opens with a par.

MUD BALL UPDATE

A cry of mud ball there from Jon Rahm as his ball dives left into a bunker. I think the players shout "mud ball" to let spectators and viewers at home know there's no way they'd have played that poor shot had they not had mud on the ball.

Conditions look tough. It's blowing a bit and the greens look pretty firm. Whether that's good news for Rory and some of the players further down the leaderboard, I'm not sure. I think he'll see it as a positive, and that the leaders are less likely to get away.

Bryson has teed off, safety iron... Obviously I'm joking. Loooooong tee ball. And, after having a mud ball, Rahm chips in to get to -4, just four shots back.

BOGEY FOR FLEETWOOD

Tommy bogeys the 3rd. We think a mud ball was to blame. Keegan Bradley gets into the red, nice birdie there for the US Ryder Cup captain after a fine approach.

WALLACE MAKES EAGLE

Matt Wallace has struggled for form in 2025 but, at the par 4 14th, he holes a beautiful bunker shot to move from level-par to two-under. Excellent work from the Englishman!

BRYSON AND RAHMBO LOOKING DANGEROUS EARLY ON

It's Moving Day here at Quail Hollow and, early doors, it's Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm who are making the early moves.

Rahm birdied the opening hole and, after another birdie at the third, he is now two-under for his round and four-under for the championship.

DeChambeau, meanwhile, birdies the first hole after two great shots. What's more, he has just crushed a 348-yard tee shot down the fairway at the second.

SOLID START FROM BRYSON

After a huge drive at the second, DeChambeau plays a nice shot from 85-yards to 11-feet. His birdie putt looks in all the way but, at the last second, it dives to the left and grazes the hole. It's a tap-in par and strong start for the two-time Major winner.

Up ahead, Rahm's birdie putt at the fifth comes up a few rolls short, with the Spaniard remaining four-under. Alongside Rahm on that score is Alex Noren, who is one-under for his day, after birdieing the second hole.

BIRDIES EARLY ON

Tony Finau needs a big day today and, currently sitting at two-under, he plays a superb approach at the par 3 fourth that almost falls in for an ace. He taps-in for birdie and gets back to level-par for the round and three-under for the championship.

Behind the American, DeChambeau has pulled his tee shot miles left at the par 4 third. It's unclear as to where it has finished, but it could well be on another fairway...

CAPTAIN FANTASTIC

Luke Donald is enjoying a great week at Quail Hollow and, at the par 5 15th, the European Ryder Cup captain plays a nice wedge shot from 70-yards that finishes five-feet away. Donald is level-par for the tournament and one-over for the day, but has a great chance to get back under-par.

McILROY GETS UNDERWAY

McIlroy has had a long wait, but he gets his third round underway on the 10th hole. He is alongside Xander Schauffele and Chris Kirk, who are all one-over-par for the championship.

Kirk is first up at the par 5, with his tee shot going right and into the trees. McIlroy's up next and, needing a fast start, he pounds his tee shot to the right side of the fairway, with Schauffele following him with a near identical tee shot. Both will be able to have a go at the green.

RAHM BOGEYS, SCHEFFLER GETS HIS THIRD ROUND UNDERWAY

The two-time Major winner has made a great start but, at the par 3 sixth, Rahm plays a poor chip that finishes well short of the hole. He is unable to convert his par putt, with the Spaniard dropping back to three-under for the championship.

Now on the first tee is Si Woo Kim, who made history with the longest hole-in-one in a Major on Friday. His tee shot goes right and into the rough. Playing alongside Max Homa and Scottie Scheffler, both men manage to find the short grass and will have a great chance to attack the flag.

RORY DRIVER UPDATE

McIlroy was forced to change out his driver prior to the PGA Championship after it was found to be non-conforming.

Now, in a statement by Kerry Haigh, the Chief Championships Officer of the PGA of America, it reads: “We can confirm that the USGA was invited to do club testing at the PGA Championship, at the PGA of America’s request.

"That testing program is consistent with the same level of support that the USGA provides to the PGA Tour and other championships, as part of their regular programs for driver testing. The standard process is for about a third of the field to be randomly tested under the program. That was the case at Quail Hollow this week.

"Finding driver heads that have crept over the line of conformance is not an unusual occurrence, especially for clubs that are hit thousands of times over a long period of time. The results are kept confidential to protect players, who are unaware the club has fallen out of conformance and not responsible for it falling out of conformance other than hitting the club thousands of times.

"Players are simply asked to change heads if necessary, and all do without issue. To publicly identify players whose club did not conform can lead to that player being questioned unnecessarily. Neither the USGA nor the PGA of America have any concerns about player intent.”

DOUBLE CROSS FROM SCOTTIE

Scheffler is on the fairway at the first, albeit 220-yards away. He's been fighting a double cross all week and, with a 5-iron in hand, the approach goes left after the World No.1 was playing for a cut. He will have a tricky up-and-down coming up.

In terms of Scheffler's group, Kim finds the left greenside bunker, while Homa goes right and into the other bunker. All three will have up-and-downs to contend with.

LEADERS ARE OFF

The final group are off and the third round is underway here in Quail Hollow! Leader, Jhonattan Vegas, is up first and he carves his drive well right and into the trees, similar to where Kim finished in the group in front.

Matthieu Pavon is next on the tee and the Frenchman's drive is perfectly down the right side. Last up is Matt Fitzpatrick and, with driver in hand, he pummels it to the center of the fairway. Excellent start for the Europeans.

BOGEYS FOR HOMA AND SCHEFFLER

After poor second shots at the opening hole, both Homa and Scheffler are unable to make up-and-downs. The pair had been in the middle of the fairway, but open with bogey fives to drop to four-under. Kim, who was in the worst shape off the tee, manages to make a good par to remain level.

SCHAUFFELE BIRDIES THE 10TH

Beginning their rounds on the par 5 10th, McIlroy's birdie putt from 15-feet slides by the left side. Seeing the five-time Major winner's attempt, Schauffele knows the line and manages to roll in his birdie to begin his day perfectly.

LEADER BOGEYS THE OPENING HOLE

Vegas was in big trouble off the tee, but does well to find the fairway with his second. Now playing his third, he has an awkward stance and, striking the chip, it comes out dead. Unable to convert from 20-foot, he makes bogey and drops back to seven-under.

In his group, Fitzpatrick's birdie putt is always high and finishes on the lip. It's an easy par, though, for the Englishman. Finally, Pavon plays an average pitch, but his par putt from eight-foot never looks anywhere else but in. The lead is now down to one.

LEADER IN TROUBLE

It's been a nervy start for Vegas, who pulls his tee shot at the par 4 second. The lie isn't too bad, though, and the Venezuelan is able to get club to ball and pitch out on to the fairway.

In his group, Pavon's approach spins off the front of the green, while Fitzpatrick follows up his huge drive with a hugely unlucky pitch shot that strikes the pin and rolls out to 20-foot.

After that, Vegas doesn't cover himself in glory, with his third landing on the slope before the green and stopping instantly. He still has work to do for his par!

BOGEY FOR VEGAS

Vegas can't hole his par putt at the second and makes back-to-back bogeys to fall to six-under.

To make matters worse, Pavon pars to remain at the same score, while Fitzpatrick also pars to sit six-under, with a four-way share of the lead now in place.

McNEALY EAGLES THE 13TH

EXCELLENT FROM KIM

Kim made an ace yesterday and, at the par 3 fourth, he puts it to just a few feet for birdie. He is in a share of the lead and, if he holes that, will move to seven-under and outright first. Superb from the South Korean.

Not to be outdone, Scheffler puts his tee shot on the same hole to just a foot, with that birdie moving him to five-under. It's starting to hot up here at Quail Hollow!

PAVON HOLING PUTTS FOR FUN

He's had to work hard, but Pavon has just holed another mid-range putt for par at the par 4 third, with the Frenchman remaining at six-under-par. In his group, Fitzpatrick also tidies up for par, while Vegas also pars to steady the ship.

Up ahead, we have a new PGA Championship leader! Following a classy tee shot at the fourth, the South Korean holes his birdie attempt to get to seven-under.

YOUR NEW LEADER AT QUAIL HOLLOW

HOW CLOSE FOR SCHEFFLER?!

UNDER THE RADAR

Ryo Hisatsune has been under the radar this week, but the Japanese player has the current best round on the course this Moving Day.

Birdieing the fourth, he has made back-to-back birdies on the seventh and eighth to get to three-under for the day and six-under for the championship. He's just one shot back.

RAHM AND BRYSON BIRDIE THE PAR 5s

Rahm has produced two big blows at the par 5 10th and, from the greenside bunker, he is able to get up-and-down for a birdie to get to five-under.

Behind Rahm, his fellow LIV golfer, DeChambeau, finds the green in two on the seventh and two-putts for birdie. At the eighth, he pulls tee shot left, but is the near the front edge, setting up another potential gain.

WIND IS GUSTING

Conditions are getting tough out here in Quail Hollow, with the wind causing havoc in terms of club selection.

At the par 4 11th, Rahm's approach catches a gust and is very left but, somehow, it strikes a fan and bounces across the green. The fan is okay and, fortunately for Rahm, he will have a relatively straightforward up-and-down coming up.

FITZPATRICK MAKES BOGEY, SCHEFFLER AND BRYSON MAKE BIRDIE

Playing the par 3 fourth, Fitzpatrick goes left of the green and, from the fringe, is unable to get up-and-down. He drops a shot and moves back to five-under.

It's a different story for World No.1 Scheffler, who drains an 18-footer for back-to-back birdies to get within one of Kim at seven-under. He's not the only one, as DeChambeau also goes back-to-back on the seventh and eighth to get to six-under.

HISATSUNE MAKES PAR

The pars are just as important as the birdies and, at the ninth, Hisatsune rolls in a par putt from eight-foot for a big save to remain at six-under, one back of the leader, Kim.

After striking a fan with his approach at the 11th, Rahm plays a poor chip, by his standards, and fails to hole his putt for par. He drops back to four-under.

One player we haven't heard much from is McIlroy, who is playing the back nine. The five-time Major winner has arrived at the 13th and, at the drivable par 4, he finishes on the fringe and two putts for birdie. He moves to level-par for the championship.

PARS FOR THE FINAL GROUP

The final group are still going along well at Quail Hollow and, at the par 4 fifth, Vegas and Pavon make par to remain six-under, while Fitzpatrick gets up-and-down to stay at five-under, two back of the leaders.

PACE OF PLAY

As expected, being a Major and having reshuffled tee times, the pace of play has been slow today at the PGA Championship. Case in point being at the par 3 sixth, where we have two groups waiting on the tee box.

McNEALY DROPS A SHOT

The American has been the hottest player out of the traps this Saturday, with Maverick McNealy producing an eagle and three birdies on the back nine.

However, at the par 3 17th, he is unable to get up-and-down, with McNealy's par putt remaining on the lip and not dropping. That's his first bogey of the day and puts him back to four-under-par.

HUGE DRIVE FROM BRYSON

Only the big hitters are getting to the par 5 10th in two and, with his tee shot, DeChambeau pounds his driver 330-yards down the fairway. He will be able to have a go at the green with his second, with the American currently six-under for the championship.

McILROY'S WOES CONTINUE

McIlroy's driver continues to be uncooperative and, at the par 5 15th, the easiest hole on the course, his tee shot is right and finishes out of bounds.

Although he makes a birdie with his second golf ball, the bogey now means he is one-over-par and eight shots back of the leader, Si Woo Kim.

PAVON DROPS A SHOT

It's a first dropped shot of the day for Pavon. In fact, it's his first dropped shot in nearly 30 holes! Going long of the green at the par 3 sixth, his putt from off the putting surface is almost perfect, but comes up short, with the par putt never looking in.

In his group, both Vegas and Fitzpatrick produce great up-and-downs, with Vegas now six-under and Fitzpatrick and Pavon five-under.

SCHEFFLER FINDS THE GREEN AT THE PAR 5 SEVENTH

Scheffler has been going about-his-business quietly this front nine and, at the par 5 seventh, he strikes a fairway wood into the heart of the green.

It sets up a great chance to share the lead, with the World No.1 looking to one putt for eagle, or at least two putt for birdie.

WHAT A SHOT FROM RAHMBO

Rahm is still in this, certainly after his incredible tee shot at the drivable par 4 14th. Striking 3-wood, the ball bounces just short of the green and rolls up to around eight-foot. He will have a great look at eagle to move to six-under.

PAR FOR BRYSON

DeChambeau will be disappointed by that five at the par 5 10th. Striking 3-wood from 280, it clears the green and lands up against the grandstand behind the putting surface.

Taking free relief, DeChambeau plays an average chip to around eight-foot and, with a putt to share the lead, he pulls it left and settles for a par. Feel that's a dropped shot for the two-time Major winner there.

SCOTTIE SHARES THE LEAD

After hitting the green in two at the par 5 seventh, Scheffler hits a poor first putt but makes up for it with his second. Finding the center of the cup, he now shares the lead with playing partner Kim at seven-under-par.

SCOTTIE SHARES THE LEAD

EAGLE JUST MISSES FOR RAHM

Following his exceptional shot at the par 4 14th, Rahm's eagle putt just misses on the left side. It's a tap in for birdie, though, with Rahm now five-under and two back. He does also have the par 5 15th coming up to make another gain.

LUCKY BREAK

These are the kinds of bounces you get as World No.1... Stood on the tee at the driveable 316-yard par-4 eighth, Scheffler ripped one which hung a wicked right and veered towards the trees. Heading so far out of bounds, it would never have been seen again, the ball crashed off a branch and ricocheted back into the fairway. A simple pitch and putt later, and this could be the best birdie of Scheffler's week.

CONTRASTING FORTUNES

McIlroy sends his tee shot to the back of the par-3 17th - the opposite side of the surface to the flag - but can't get up and down for par and drops back to two-over.

At the same time, Scheffler can't take advantage of his lucky break and walks away with par at eight when the solo lead was calling. But his playing partner, Homa, is able to hole out in three, chipping close to the hole before knocking it in for a birdie. The Californian is back to five-under.

DRIVE FOR SHOW

DeChambeau rockets a drive 366 yards down the 12th and only has 95 yards to the hole, but his second shot is a bit tame. With the flag at the back, the LIV man fails to catch enough of his wedge and leaves his ball on the lower tier. A tough two-putt up the hill incoming.

PGA CHAMPIONSHIP PRIZE MONEY

Bob Harig has stated on social media that the PGA Championship prize money has increased by $500,000 for 2025. The total prize money payout is set to be $19 million with $3.42 million heading the way of the winner. Almost $1.3 million for third and at least six figures for finishing inside the top-32. Nice work if you can get it...

LIV GOLFERS GET GOING

Remember Jon Rahm? He's well in this now. Another birdie at 15 takes him to six-under and a tie for fourth. DeChambeau had just shoved his birdie putt at the 12th to kick-in range and now he's got a real birdie chance at the par-3 13th thanks to a superb iron off the tee.

Elsewhere, Jhonattan Vegas had a chance of eagle at the eighth but ultimately walks off with a par after missing a short birdie putt.

KIM DROPS OUT OF THE LEAD

The ninth was a poorly-played hole by Kim. Left off the tee and pushed right from pine straw into rough with his second, Kim was left with an awkward chip. He found the putting surface to stand a chance of saving par, but the Korean couldn't take it and he falls back to six-under.

DECHAMBEAU LIPS OUT

Oh, so close for DeChambeau at 13! Left with maybe five feet for birdie, the Crushers captain rolls it really nicely but sees his ball do a 270-degree turn around the back of the hole and stay above ground. That's rough.

RAHM MAKING A RUN

The 16th is one of the top-three toughest holes, is it? Try telling that to Jon Rahm. The Spaniard drops a sublime second into a matter of inches from 166 yards and will imminently join the leaders.

RAHM INTO A TIE

The Spaniard finishes off his fantastic run down 16 and is into a share with two more holes left. A birdie at 16 is gaining over a shot on the average score there, so that could be vital for a deep run at this Major championship.

WASTED CHANCES

Si Woo Kim went driver-driver at the 606-yard par-5 10th and was maybe 20 feet away in the rough after two. But then a poor chip and wayward putt means he walks off with a par. That is a missed opportunity. Meanwhile, Scheffler also walks off 10 having failed to make a gain.

THREE BECOMES FOUR

Bryson DeChambeau finds a tough spot on the driveable par-4 14th, up on the bank in the rough off the tee. Yet, a sublime second sets up a four-foot birdie putt, which he takes. The four-way tie for the lead now features Scheffler, Rahm and DeChambeau as well as halfway table-topper, Vegas.

TWO MORE COMING UP THE RAIL

After a mistake at the ninth, Matthieu Pavon birdies the 10th and returns to six-under. Meanwhile, Alex Noren has birdied two in a row and joins the packed cluster in a tie for fourth. That group now also contains Rahm after the Spaniard missed his putt coming back on the par-3 17th.

RILEY INTO A SHARE

Davis Riley has not been mentioned all that much today, but the American is about to have much more of the spotlight shined on him after consecutive birdies at 14 and 15. He's railed in five birdies in his past eight holes as well. Welcome to the party, Davis.

SCHEFFLER SLIPS UP

Mark this one down. A rare slip-up from Scheffler at the 11th. He was just short of the green with his second and left himself too much to do after chipping. Two putts later and the World No.1 is behind the leaders once again. DeChambeau, Vegas and Riley are the men in front now.

BRYSON MAKING A MOVE

At the par-5 15th, DeChambeau finds the front green-side bunker on a slight downslope with his second shot. "If anyone can do this, you can" shouts one fan. As it turns out, he was almost right. DeChambeau splashed his ball out of the sand and towards the front hole location, but it just missed the hole when an eagle appeared likely. Still, a birdie - and the lead - is calling for DeChambeau.

THE DECHAMBEAU SHOW

Here we go, then. DeChambeau rolls in the birdie putt and gives a few fist pumps on his way off the green. The crowd responds with more noise, and that causes the man at the centre of attention to give more back to those supporting him. Whipping the fans up into a frenzy, DeChambeau positively bounces towards the Green Mile.

DON'T COUNT HIM OUT

Scheffler was temporarily two behind DeChambeau, but no longer after some vintage play at the 12th. Drive down the fairway, stick the approach close, roll it in for birdie. Problem solved and that bogey at 11 is quickly forgotten.

RAHM SIGNS FOR A 67

Jon Rahm is right in this PGA Championship thanks to a brilliant four-under score today. Here is his scorecard from Saturday.

SOUR 16

DeChambeau almost rescued a par from a difficult position on the 16th, but he couldn't quite pull off another magic act. The trouble began off the tee when his drive sailed into the right rough, and then the approach was too far left. A chip close gave DeChambeau a great chance to save par, but he lipped out once again and is now in a five-way tie at the top.

Speaking of which, Davis Riley saves par at the 17th via a clutch up-and-down while Alex Noren birdies the penultimate hole to join the fun.

There are 18 players within three strokes of the lead as it stands.

DECHAMBEAU IN THE DRINK

Oh Bryson, what have you done?! At the par-3 17th, DeChambeau can't quite cover the green and watches his ball hit the rough guarding the front edge before being rejected back into the water. A sorry splash greets the American as he stares out into the distance...

WHAT IS GOING ON?

The big names are stumbling all of a sudden! At the par-3 13th, Scheffler misses his par putt and records his second bogey in three holes. Meanwhile, DeChambeau is on board from the drop zone but will do really well to only lose one stroke...

At the same time, Noren and Riley are hunting pars at the 18th.

GLORIOUS

People sometimes say Scheffler isn't that entertaining because he never makes mistakes. Well, he's proving two parts of that sentence to be incorrect today. After his latest bogey, the World No.1 rifles a 3-wood at the par-4 14th to a matter of inches and will shortly assume the solo lead.

Going in the opposite direction is DeChambeau following a bogey and a double-bogey over the first two thirds of the Green Mile.

NOREN GETS HIS NOSE IN FRONT

Alex Noren makes birdie at the 18th thanks to a wonderful closing putt. The Swede cards a sublime 66 on Moving Day and has temporarily taken the lead on his own. Scheffler will join him, you'd expect, but that is a fantastic position to be in - especially for a man who has missed a lot of this season with a neck injury.

In the same group, Davis Riley signs for a 67 (-4) and will start Sunday on seven-under.

SCHEFFLER INTO A SHARE

It's not been smooth sailing on this back nine, but Scheffler is back into a share of the lead alongside Alex Noren on eight-under. Who would you rather be at this point? Alex Noren, who is in the clubhouse with dinner, or Scottie Scheffler with a chance to extend but also slip back?

BRYSON STOPS THE BLEEDING

After a really tough run down the Green Mile, it looks as though DeChambeau will finally write a par score down. His second shot came up short at the 18th, but a classy chip has left a tap-in for par. Not long ago, DeChambeau was buzzing around Quail Hollow, but this finish has slightly taken the wind out of his sails.

HEAR FROM RAHM

Following his third-round fightback, a four-under 67, Rahm spoke of his burning desire to add a third Major to his cabinet and how he feels his game is right where it needs to be in order to make that happen.

Rahm said: “I mean, hard to express how hungry I may be for a Major, about as hungry as anybody can be in this situation. Very happy to be in position again.

"Don’t know where I’ll be. I’m assuming I’ll be at least one shot back starting tomorrow but that’s a great position. This golf course is tricky and one shot is nothing on 18 holes.

"Very happy with the state of my game. I think today was the round that I knew I was capable of. Those first two rounds felt very confident, and just did everything a little bit better. So just very excited again to be in this position and looking forward to hopefully having a good Sunday tomorrow.”

CHANGES KEEP COMING

Michael Thorbjornsen, who is on five-under, misses a birdie putt at the par-5 15th and remains on the score that Bryson DeChambeau will start tomorrow. DeChambeau taps home at 18 and walks off with a 69 - a score that could have been at least two strokes better.

A few holes behind, Fitzpatrick makes a real mess of the 14th and walks off with a five. Both of his playing partners, Vegas and Pavon, are picture perfect, though. Vegas jumps back into a share of the lead while the Frenchman is just a stroke back. Try keeping up with this leaderboard, I tell you...

VEGAS IN THE DRINK

Jhonny Vegas has made a really big error at the 15th. Trying to draw his tee shot to match the shape of the fairway, the Venezuelan started his ball way too far left and watched it sail towards the drink. It didn't even touch the bank as it dropped into the penalty area. Good luck making par from there, Jhonattan...

SCHEFFLER OUT ON HIS OWN

Another one, as DJ Khaled would say. Scheffler makes a mockery of the par-5 15th and comfortably records his latest birdie. He's now up to nine-under with only three holes to play.

Desperate to stay in touch, Si Woo Kim makes his own move and shifts up to seven-under - two strokes back.

POSTON COULD DELIVER

Another name not to be ignored is JT Poston, who has just rubberstamped his credentials via a 190-yard dart into the par-3 17th. The American could be just the fourth player to make a birdie here today on a hole which is playing a little more than half a shot over par.

SMALLEY CHIPS IN

A tough day for Smalley, who was the final man in this week and had fallen back to one-under, but there will be a sweet end as he chips in for birdie from the other end of the 17th green. The American clenches both fists and raises them to the sky. I know the feeling, Alex. But a great moment to end the day.

VEGAS DROPS A SHOT

That penalty drop ends up costing Vegas dear as he walks away with a bogey. It wasn't a tidy hole overall, and the second-round leader must now take on the Green Mile knowing he has just made a costly error.

Shortly before that, Pavon moved in the opposite direction thanks to a birdie putt that took a full 360-degree tour of the hole before dropping.

RARE PAR

Scheffler set up yet another birdie chance at the 16th but was fooled by the break and pushed his effort wide right. That par was only his second out of seven holes on the back nine. It's been a rollercoaster ride for the World No.1 Si Woo Kim follows suit to remain two behind.

Elsewhere, Rory McIlroy holes a par putt from miles away on the seventh hole - his 16th. He's two-over for the tournament and well out of contention, you would think. It's not been his week at all.

CLASS ON GRASS

As Scottie Scheffler safely lands his tee shot in the heart of the 17th green, Jhonattan Vegas looks as though he will escape with par at 16 following a beautiful little one-hop-and-stop chip which rests right next to the hole.

Speaking of the 17th, Ryan Fox recently made a rare birdie there after sending his ball to within four feet off the tee. Class all round.

DELIVERY MADE

Poston rolls home a fantastic birdie putt at the 18th to reach seven-under and sign for a 68. At the same time, Pavon has just dropped a shot at the 16th.

RUNNING AWAY WITH IT

Scheffler is pressing the gas pedal now. With 15-20 feet left at the 17th, the World No.1 shows exactly why he is the best by confidently pushing his golf ball into the hole. The roars that met it were emphatic, and it feels as though only one man is likely to win the 2025 PGA Championship now...

DIVOT TROUBLE

Scheffler finds the centre cut down 18, but unfortunately for him, it seems to have finished in an old divot. We'll see very soon how much that affects his approach.

Back on 17, Fitzpatrick and co. are all battling to make par. Pavon and Vegas are in the group on seve-under and must stay there, you feel, to have any chance of clawing back the difference over the final 19 holes.

MCILROY AND SCHAUFFELE IN THE CLUBHOUSE

Both Major champions wrap up disappointing days on the ninth hole and walk away on two-over for the tournament. Not the week they would have wanted, certainly, but they will be back.

CHAMPION ELECT

It turns out that Scheffler's ball had come to rest on the left crease of an old divot which had been replaced. It wasn't ideal and would have likely got in the head of many an amateur, but Scheffler is built oh so different.

Taking an 8-iron from 166 yards, the World No.1 drifts one up to hole-high and has maybe six feet left for yet another par. The Green Mile is supposed to be the hardest stretch. If this goes in, Scheffler will have played the final five holes in five-under...

Scheffler is running away with it.

SCHEFFLER OUT TO 11-UNDER

Is it too early to start engraving the trophy? Scheffler seems set for Major no.3 after sinking another birdie putt. That's five-under through the final five holes and two-under through the Green Mile. If this round was a race, the World No.1 has timed his kick to perfection. Scheffler has burned away from the chasing pack on the final lap and now has clean air behind him. Can anyone catch him tomorrow? I sincerely doubt it, especially in this form.

SCOTTIE'S THIRD ROUND

Let's take a deeper look at how Scheffler put his third round together. A score of 65 still saw three bogeys but - more importantly - seven birdies and an eagle. It was sublime and he becomes the only player in the field to have three rounds in the 60s.

CHALLENGERS WILT

Pavon was eight-under stood on the 16th tee. That would have been good enough to see him into the final group tomorrow. But three bogeys in the final three holes have put paid to that and the Frenchman will go off at five-under on Sunday.

Vegas also cards a closing five and drops back to six-under for the championship. So many players fell away towards the sharp end of the PGA Championship, but not Scottie Scheffler - he will begin his quest for a first PGA Championship three shots ahead when we come back tomorrow.

SCHEFFLER STAT

Per PGA Tour Comms: "Scheffler holds the 54-hole lead/co-lead for the 16th time on the PGA TOUR and is 9-for-15 to date converting to victory. He has won in his last five attempts with the 54-hole lead."

WHAT SCOTTIE SAID

Reacting to his third round, and in particular the closing stages, Scheffler kept reiterating that he was just committed to trying to hit really good shots and the results would take care of themselves. And that was very much true.

Asked how he pulled that stunning end to his round out of the bag, the PGA Championship leader said: "I mean, I executed really well. Pretty much after hole 11 I feel like I hit a lot of really good shots. 13 I got a weird wind gust and then hit a poor bunker shot, but outside of that, I felt like I executed really well on back nine and hit the shots that I was trying to hit and was able to get some results from those.

"Birdieing the last two was definitely two extra shots. I mean, I would assume those holes are playing over par, and so I definitely stole a couple shots there, and it was nice momentum towards the end of the round."

HOW SCHEFFLER EXPECTS SUNDAY TO PLAY OUT

Casting an eye towards Sunday's final round, Scheffler believes at least one player will post a really good round and force him to work for the Wanamaker Trophy, so it will be business as usual for the World No.1, who isn't taking anything for granted.

Asked initially what it would mean to add Major No.3 to the cabinet, he said: "It would mean a lot. You know, these tournaments are very important to us, and you work your whole life to have a chance to win Major tournaments, any tournament for that matter, and tomorrow I have a good opportunity to go out there and try and win the golf tournament.

"But it's going to take another really good round. There's a lot of great players chasing me on the leaderboard and someone is going to put up a great round and it's up to me to go out there and have another really good round and finish off the tournament. Looking forward to the challenge."

ROUND FOUR TEE TIMES

Here is how it's scheduled to play out on Sunday. The leading pair are due to begin at 2:40pm ET (7:40pm BST).

All start times ET

8:10am: Chris Kirk, Sergio Garcia

8:20am: Bud Cauley, Byeong Hun An

8:30am: Brian Campbell, Elvis Smylie

8:40am: Austin Eckroat, Brian Harman

8:50am: Tom Kim, Michael Kim

9:00am: Nicolai Hojgaard, Stephan Jaeger

9:10am: Justin Lower, Kevin Yu

9:20am: Daniel Berger, Rasmus Hojgaard

9:30am: Tommy Fleetwood, Collin Morikawa

9:40am: Xander Schauffele, Sam Burns

9:50am: Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Rory McIlrou

10:10am: Richard Bland, Sam Stevens

10:20am: Tom McKibbin, Corey Conners

10:30am: Luke Donald, Thorbjorn Olesen

10:40am: Marco Penge, Beau Hossler

10:50am: Max Homa, Wyndham Clark

11:00am: Harris English, Aaron Rai

11:10am: Eric Cole, Nico Echavarria

11:20am: Rafael Campos, Cameron Young

11:30am: Michael Thorbjornsen, Tyrrell Hatton

11:40am: Harry Hall, Taylor Moore

11:50am: Joaquin Niemann, Viktor Hovland

12:10pm: Robert MacIntyre, David Puig

12:20pm: JJ Spaun, Alex Smalley

12:30pm: Taylor Pendrith, Maverick McNealy

12:40pm: Ben Griffin, Ryo Hisatsune

12:50pm: Ryan Fox, Max Greyserman

1:00pm: Denny McCarthy, Ryan Gerard

1:10pm: Lucas Glover, Cam Davis

1:20pm: Joe Highsmith, Garrick Higgo

1:30pm: Matt Wallace, Adam Scott

1:40pm: Matthieu Pavon, Matt Fitzpatrick

2:00pm: Tony Finau, Bryson DeChambeau

2:10pm: Jhonattan Vegas, Keegan Bradley

2:20pm: Jon Rahm, Si Woo Kim

2:30pm: Davis Riley, JT Poston

2:40pm: Scottie Scheffler, Alex Noren

WHO CAN STOP SCOTTIE?

No one. That's my opinion. However, there are some big names that can apply some pressure today if they get off to a good start:

Rahm: 5 back
DeChambeau: 6 back
Fitzpatrick: 6 back

See what I mean? It's for this reason that Scheffler is priced at 2/9 to win his third Major title at Quail Hollow. That finish yesterday was Tiger-like. The chasing pack are going to need Scheffler to get a few mud balls, and even then that might not be enough.

SCOTTIE STATS

Allow us to share some impressive Scottie Scheffler statistics with you before we turn our full attention to the final day's play at Quail Hollow.

Only Rory McIlroy has carded more Major rounds in the 60s (26) than Scheffler (25) since 2022.

Yesterday marked the first time in Scheffler's Major Championship career that he shot the outright best round of the day (65).

MORE SCOTTIE STATS

I mentioned earlier that I couldn't see Scottie getting beaten on Sunday, what with him being three shots clear and World No.1 etc.

Scheffler has been the 54-hole leader in a Major two previous times (2022 and 2024 Masters). He won both.

ONE MORE STAT (FOR NOW)

The only Major in which Scottie Scheffler, Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm all were among the top 10 on the leaderboard entering the final round was at the 2021 US Open at Torrey Pines.

Rahm won that one and it's great to see the Spaniard back to somewhere near his best on the Major stage - let's hope he can apply some pressure today. It's a big ask but Rahm and DeChambeau are the two chasers who have that X factor. It's hard to see Scheffler getting passed, though, even if these two shoot a round in the 60s - they're going to need some help from the leader.

MCILROY'S QUEST FIZZLING OUT

It fizzled out a while ago, in truth. He came into this week's PGA Championship with high hopes after finally winning The Masters and completing the career Grand Slam last month.

He was out early today, earlier than he's used to in Majors and is currently sitting at +3. Onto the US Open for the Northern Irishman and then The Open at Royal Portrush in July.

RORY BACK TO +2

A nice birdie for McIlroy on 8 after a disappointing par on the par-5 7th. Lovely touch from just off the green - just not been accurate enough with the driver this week, which is something we don't say very often.

MATT FITZPATRICK ARRIVES

Carrying his Trackman. Of course he has his Trackman with him. No one loves numbers more than Fitz.

I went to visit the intelligent people at Trackman in Copenhagen recently. Look out for that feature on golfmonthly.com soon or pick up the mag - it's a fascinating story.

The Englishman will no doubt have a good record of his numbers this week. I'm sure he hit one drive over 360 yards yesterday - very long even if it did have a bit of wind assistance.

Just checking, yes, 362 yards. He's also averaging 305.9 off the tee (ranked 35).

OUT ON THE COURSE

Morikawa is at +3. Richard Bland rolls in a birdie to get back to the same score. Sam Burns is at -2 halfway through his final round. McIlroy is out in 35 (+2).

The defending champion is playing the par-5 10th. It's not been his week, either. I think both McIlroy and Schauffele will feel a little frustrated this week - the former because of his driving problems and the latter because he's not hit the same heights as last season yet.

Early days, of course, and he still has his defense of the Claret Jug to look forward to at Royal Portrush in July. I booked my flight yesterday and cannot wait for that one.

THE MAJOR WINNERS CHASING SCOTTIE

Ryder Cupper Alex Noren is a ten-time winner on the DP World Tour. He's Scottie Scheffler's closest challenger going into the last round.

The Swede hasn't won a Major but there are several Major champions in Scottie's rear view mirror - they're just quite far back.

Can Jon Rahm produce something special like Scheffler did over the closing stages on Saturday? Or can one of these Major champs mount a challenge?

NO FIREWORKS YET

It's still a bit early to start talking about players shooting up the leaderboard and mounting a challenge, so plenty of time to get snacks and beverages in.

Here are the later starters:

12.50pm: Ryan Fox, Max Greyserman
1.00pm: Denny McCarthy, Ryan Gerard
1.10pm: Lucas Glover, Cam Davis
1.20pm: Joe Highsmith, Garrick Higgo
1.30pm: Matt Wallace, Adam Scott
1.40pm: Matthieu Pavon, Matt Fitzpatrick
2pm: Tony Finau, Bryson DeChambeau
2.10pm: Jhonattan Vegas, Keegan Bradley
2.20pm: Jon Rahm, Si Woo Kim
2.30pm: Davis Riley, JT Poston
2.40pm: Scottie Scheffler, Alex Noren

GARCIA SHOOTS 69

Garcia after a final-round 69 (+7 overall): "A couple of shots that make you want to puke a little bit," he says of his own performance.

Says the course is "as easy as you're going to get it".

Hopeful of being in the conversation for a Ryder Cup place later in the year and says countryman Jon Rahm will need to shoot 8, 9 or 10-under to win today.

EAGLE FOR PENGE

The huge-hitting Penge makes eagle on 8 to get to -1. Lovely stuff from the Englishman - he's really enjoying his first PGA Championship.

BDC IN THE HOUSE

Bryson looks relaxed as he arrives at Quail Hollow. The two-time US Open champ is off in about an hour-and-a-half.

He'll need to be at his best with the driver and take advantage of those par 5s and short par 4s.

"Hopefully, I'll be able to give Scottie a run for his money," he says. His strategy, as it usually is, will be to grip it and rip it.

BURNS & SCHAUFFELE GOING WELL

A tidy 98 ft 10in two-putt birdie for Sam Burns (-5) there at the par-5 15th. That's his fourth birdie of the day and he also eagled the 7th.

Schauffele also makes birdie. A case of what might have been for the defending champion.

CAN ALEX NOREN MAKE A CHARGE?

SERGIO REACTS

Garcia fires a two-under 69 and finishes strongly at Quail Hollow. However, speaking after his day, the Spaniard isn't confident about a potential Ryder Cup appearance, stating: "Obviously the way I’m playing, even if Luke offered me a pick right now, I would tell him no.

"So obviously I need to get better. I need to get more where I was just before the Masters. You know, just show myself and show everyone that my game is solid, and it can help the Team Europe. It’s as simple as that.

"The good thing is that there’s still, you know, two or three months until the team is finalized. So you know, I’ll have time to gain some confidence and improve a little bit on my game."

GRIFFIN MAKING A MOVE

Ben Griffin has enjoyed an excellent start on Sunday and, with birdies at the second, fourth and fifth, he is three-under through five holes.

The American recently claimed the Zurich Classic of New Orleans alongside Andrew Novak and, with a strong performance, he may well claim a top 10 here at Quail Hollow.

RORY FINISHES HIS ROUND

McIlroy needed to go low on Sunday and, following three birdies and four bogeys, he finishes with a one-over-par 72 on Sunday.

The five-time Major winner carded a 74 and 69 to sit one-over going into the weekend, with back-to-back 72s meaning McIlroy finishes three-over-par for the tournament and down, currently, in solo 55th place.

BRYSON GETS HIS ROUND UNDERWAY

Bryson DeChambeau is on the first tee and, at the opening hole, the two-time Major winner finds the center of the fairway with his tee shot.

He will need to go low on Sunday but, given his round yesterday, he has the chance to make an impact. Last year, DeChambeau just missed out on victory and, in 2025, is playing some incredible golf, so expect him to make a charge on Sunday.

BRYSON PARS THE FIRST

Finding the fairway with his tee shot, DeChambeau pulls his approach left but, after an easy pitch, the American gets up-and-down for par to remain five-under.

GRIFFIN CONTINUES CHARGE

The American has made a hot start on Sunday and, after birdies at the second, fourth, fifth and seventh, he is now six-under for the championship and into the top five.

RAHMBO UNDERWAY

Jon Rahm starts his final round and, with driver in hand, he stripes his tee shot into the middle of the fairway. Playing alongside Si Woo Kim, the South Korean's drive is perfect, finding the right side of the fairway.

VEGAS BOGEYS THE FIRST

Jhonattan Vegas led the championship after 36 holes and, following a two-over 73 on Saturday, he remained in contention. However, at the first hole, the Venezuelan has made bogey to fall to five-under.

Elsewhere, Griffin is now four-under through eight holes and six-under for the event, while Matt Fitzpatrick makes back-to-back birdies at the third and fourth to get to five-under.

FINAL GROUP IS OFF

Scottie Scheffler is now on the tee and, with his opening tee shot, the World No.1 finds the fairway safely. Teeing it up alongside Scheffler is Alex Noren, with the Swede also finding the fairway. The final round is underway!

OPENING DRIVE FOR SCHEFFLER

BOGEYS FOR THE FINAL GROUP

Scheffler and Noren both bogey the first hole, with Noren failing to get up-and-down from the bunker. Scheffler, meanwhile, sees his six-foot putt for par slide by, with both men making a five.

Noren is now seven-under and Scheffler is 10-under. Speaking of Scheffler, he pulls his tee shot well left at the second, with the drive deep in the trees, with Noren following the American with a similar tee shot.

HUGE BIRDIE FOR SCOTTIE

Scheffler receives a huge slice of luck off the tee after pulling his drive left and, after locating his ball, the World No.1 plays a great wedge shot on to the green.

Faced with 15-feet for birdie, Scheffler's putt doesn't look anywhere else, with it dropping into the center of the cup. He is now 11-under, four shots clear of Noren, who is seven-under after a solid par.

XANDER BACKS SCOTTIE

Scheffler leads by four shots and, following his round, Schauffele had nothing but praise for his Ryder Cup teammate.

Speaking after his three-under 68, Schauffele stated: " I played with him, and he didn’t hit it great. He finished strong, which he always does, gives himself some sort of momentum.

"He goes and practices after his rounds, does his thing with his team, and he rinses and repeats. He’s in a spot where it would be shocking if he didn’t win today."

SUPERB FROM SCHEFFLER

There's a chance of a two-shot swing at the par 4 third but, following a superb bunker shot from Scheffler, Noren's birdie putt misses on the low side, with the Swede tapping-in for a par.

Noren remains at seven-under and, after Scheffler's bunker shot, he pars to remain 11-under and four shots clear of his playing partner.

BIRDIE FOR BRYSON

DeChambeau's short game has been superb this week and, at the par 5 seventh, he plays a delightful chip to five-feet, with the birdie putt dropping to get him six-under-par.

Behind the American, Scheffler pars the fourth to remain at 11-under. Alongside him is Noren, who bogeys to fall back into a 12-way tie for second place!

SLAM DUNK FOR RILEY

The American short-sides himself at the 250-yard par 3 sixth and, with a lob wedge in hand, Davis Riley plays an incredible shot that slams into the hole for an unlikely birdie.

He is now outright second at seven-under-par, four shots back of Scheffler at 11-under. If he maintains, it would be Riley's best finish at a Major championship.

SWISH

SCHEFFLER MAKES A HUGE PAR SAVE

The World No.1 is in trouble at the par 4 fifth and, after going long of the green, Scheffler manages to hole an 18-footer for par to remain at 11-under.

Adding to the positive news, Riley, who birdied the fifth, makes bogey at the sixth to drop to six-under, with Scheffler now leading by five strokes.

SIX-UNDER IS THE SCORE

Scheffler drops a shot and now leads at 10-under, but there are a number of players lining up at six-under behind him.

Not only are DeChambeau and Tony Finau sitting six-under, but the likes of Harris English, Alex Noren, Riley, Jon Rahm, Jhonattan Vegas and Adam Scott are also at the same score.

RAHM BIRDIES THE EIGHTH

The Spaniard puts his tee shot through the back of the par 4 eighth and, following a great pitch shot, Rahm holes his short putt for birdie to get to seven-under-par.

Rahm is outright second and, behind the Spaniard, Davis Riley makes a triple bogey eight at the par 5 seventh to fall to three-under. That's his championship run at Quail Hollow.

SCHEFFLER PARS THE SEVENTH

The par 5 seventh has yielded plenty of birdies but, after a two putt par, Scheffler remains at 10-under. He is now three clear of Rahm and Noren, who birdies the hole following an excellent approach.

ANOTHER PAR FOR SCOTTIE

After a great pitch shot at the par 4 eighth, Scheffler's birdie putt misses on the left side, with the American tapping-in for a par to remain at 10-under.

Scheffler has not been great over the front nine but, with the chasing pack struggling, he remains three shots clear. Certainly, if he gets on a good run, he will pull away from those behind him!

RAHM ON A CHARGE

The chasing pack are struggling, unless your name is Jon Rahm! Playing the par 5 10th, the two-time Major winner plays a delightful chip to three-feet, with Rahm holing the birdie putt to get to eight-under.

For Rahm, the good news continues, as Scheffler comes up 50-yards short at the par 4 ninth. He will have a tough up-and-down coming up for par, with the World No.1 10-under.

BOGEY FOR SCOTTIE

Scheffler plays a poor pitch shot from 50-yards and, facing a putt from 20-foot, he leaves it short, tapping-in for a bogey five. He is now nine-under heading into the back nine, just one ahead of Rahm.

RAHM SHARES THE LEAD

This is getting interesting! Rahm moves into the scoring part of the golf course and, after birdies at the eighth, 10th and 11th, the Spaniard birdies the 12th to move into a share of a lead with Scheffler.

Rahm is on a charge and, at the par-4 12th, he pounds his tee shot down the center of the fairway. Rahmbo is fired up!

SCHEFFLER BACK AHEAD

It wasn't vintage at the par-5 10th from Scheffler, but the World No.1 navigates it successfully via a greenside bunker and rolls home a 12-foot birdie putt to re-establish his earlier lead.

Moments before, Rahm had failed with a mid-range birdie try of his own at the 12th. It was a good effort from the Spaniard, though, who is yet to make a mistake and is still breathing down and out-of-sorts Scheffler's neck.

Even further ahead still, DeChambeau makes a gain at the driveable 14th to reach six-under. You do feel his race might well be run either way...

LIP-OUT PAIN

Rahm is desperately unlucky not to rejoin Scheffler at the top after finding the left side of the green off the tee at the par-3 13th and and drifting a wonderful-looking putt in from left to right down the slope. It looks in all the way, only to take a detour around the back of the hole and stay up. I honestly don't know how that hasn't fallen.

CLOSE BUT NO CIGAR

Scheffler looked to kick on after a birdie at 10, finding the centre of the fairway off the tee and then leaving his ball 13 feet away with a stock 8-iron. Yet, the putt just drifted left at the end of its journey and it'll be a four for the leader.

Flicking over to Rahm at the par-4 14th - playing 330 today - the Spaniard sends his ball on a lovely line off the tee, but it takes a horrible bounce right into the bunker rather than down towards the flag. That might not be the worst break, though, as these greens are baking up now and there is a chance that wouldn't have stopped before the rough otherwise.

BRYSON NOT GIVING UP

Following a bogey at the par-3 13th, DeChambeau has responded in the ideal way. Birdies at 14 and 15 have pushed him to just three back as he enters the Green Mile - the location of his demise on Moving Day.

OUTSIDE CHANCE

Rahm has a chance at birdie on the 14th, but it's not from as close as it perhaps should have been. The two-time Major winner perhaps caught the sand a little heavy and saw his ball limply crawl along the putting surface. The way Rahm is rolling the rock, though, I wouldn't doubt him for a second.

MISSED OPPORTUNITY

Rahm pushes his birdie putt at 14 to the right of the hole and then looks perplexed and what occurred. To walk away with a par at this hole is losing strokes to the field, so that won't help the chaser's cause.

Behind him, Matt Fitzpatrick misses a really short putt to fall back from seven-under to six-under and Scheffler plays some extremely conservative golf at the 12th to post another par. The nerves are really starting to take effect now, it seems...

TEAM USA CAPTAIN FIGHTING HARD

Team USA's Ryder Cup captain, Keegan Bradley rolls in a fantastic eagle putt at the 15th to reach five-under for the tournament. He's back to level par for the day after two consecutive birdies before that. He couldn't join the party, could he?...

Meanwhile, Scheffler has found the heart of the 13th and has a chance to extend his lead.

SHOOTING FOR THE STARS

At the 16th, DeChambeau found a fairway bunker down the right off the tee before taking a short iron and sending it to an apex of 149 feet. 149! His ball still doesn't end up staying on the green, though - that's how fast they're becoming.

GOING FOR IT ALL

Rahm sent his approach into the 15th through the back of the green and was forced to putt up the slope on his way back. The Spaniard was a little too aggressive with the eagle shot, however, and has a pretty awkward 10-foot birdie chance to contend with.

Two holes behind, Scheffler pars the 13th.

RUNNING OUT OF GAS?

Is Rahm's charge coming to an end? He's missed two or three chances to put the pressure on a conservative Scheffler in recent holes, and the latest one was pretty tame. The heavy-handed eagle chance left him too much to do and his birdie return was pulled to the left. He'll have to make do with par.

On the 14th, Scheffler has found the green-side bunker but could be on the down slope. That won't be fun, down-wind.

SCHEFFLER PULLS AWAY

It's a birdie for Scheffler at 14! The World No.1 splashed a brilliant bunker shot out to eight feet and finished the job to reach 11-under.

Meanwhile, DeChambeau is on the 18th having failed to make any gains down 16 or 17 and Rahm is struggling at the 16th. The Spaniard went left off the tee and put his approach into the green-side bunker out to the right. It'd be a genius up and down from there.

Could that be the moment that Scottie Scheffler needed to settle the nerves and close this one out?

RAHM BOGEYS 16

That was a bit of a mess from Rahm. Left off the tee, then into the right green-side bunker. The sand shot didn't roll out anywhere near as far as he'd wanted and the par putt missed on the low side, burning the edge. Rahm composes himself and taps in for bogey, but he's three strokes back and looking like a beaten man.

BEGINNING OF THE END

Scheffler finds the fairway at 15 and hammers a wood towards the flag. It's tracking really nicely but just has a little too much power behind it, so the ball rolls off the back and into an almost identical spot that Jon Rahm putted from earlier.

If the World No.1 can make birdie here, the engraver might as well get to work...

RAHM IN THE WATER AT 17

That really might be that now. Rahm aggressively draws his tee shot towards the flag at the 17th but it bounces close to the pin - which is cut on the left side of the massive green - before skipping through the rough and into the drink.

At the 15th, Scheffler leaves his third stroke at kick-in range. The gap to second might be about to reach five at least. Start the party.

SCHEFFLER TO 12-UNDER

The World No.1 taps in at 15 and has a four-stroke lead, just like that. Not long ago, he was level with Rahm, but three birdies down the back nine and a lack of momentum for Rahm has put paid to that duel.

FIVE-STROKE GAP

Rahm has a go at making bogey from 30 feet at the 17th but drills it five feet past. The fifth does drop, though, and he falls back to six-under. Now, the closest man to Scheffler is J.T. Poston on seven-under. Awesome for him and Scheffler, but not so for neutrals hoping for closing drama.

VICTORY LAP

Scheffler finds the sand off the tee at 16 but whips his ball out dead straight to the apron close to the pin.

Up ahead at the 18th, Rahm drills his drive left towards the water. It takes one hop out of the rough and then lands smack bang in the middle of the stream. The Spaniard knew his chance had gone anyway, but this is just adding salt to the wound.

WHO WANTS SECOND PLACE?

J.T. Poston is in the prime spot for second and a huge check as it stands, but the American is struggling to make his par at the par-3 17th. Well right off the tee, his chip towards the flag is still some 15-20 feet short. Poston misses his par putt but taps in for bogey. Four players are currently sharing second as it stands.

Meanwhile, Rahm takes his third from the rough at 18 and flies it through the back, If he can miraculously chip in from there, that will likely wrap up at least a share of second. That's quite a big ask, however.

SAFE AND THEN SOME

Scheffler wants *nothing* to do with the water at 17 and almost aims for the hospitality tent rather than taking his chances of going for the pretty wide green. Still, when you're five strokes clear, that is a really smart and easy play.

One of his former challengers, Rahm, has just double-bogeyed the last and finished at four-under for the week. That is still enough for a top-10, but certainly not the finale the Spaniard wanted.

TOUCH OF CLASS

That is a very nice chip across the green from Scheffler, dribbling his golf ball to maybe six feet under the hole. He could easily finish bogey-bogey and still win this by a mile, but the competitor in him will want to end the day under par and with as big a winning margin as possible.

Thanks to a successful par putt at 17 and a bogey just now from Poston, the gap to second remains six.

ROUGH ENDING

Scheffler errs on the side of caution off the 18th tee and peels one towards the right side of the fairway, only for his ball to just drift into the second cut. If the lie is good and he can access the back of the ball, this should be game, set and match. To be honest, he could put it in the water down near the green and it wouldn't make much difference.

OFF THE POST-ON

Poston bogeys 17 and 18 to slip back into a tie for fifth when second on his own was within touching distance not long ago. His playing partner, Davis Riley, rolls home an eight-footer to remain alongside DeChambeau and Harris English. A really tough day for the penultimate group.

CHIP OUT

There will be no heroic finish from Scheffler, and why would there be? He doesn't need to tempt fate. The World No.1 chips out sideways and will attempt to get up and down for par from 137 yards.

SUPER SCOTTIE

That is so good. So so good. Scheffler ices the game by dropping a wedge right next to the flag and watching his ball hop, skip and stop some six feet behind the hole. An emotional Scheffler and Scott side-hug on their way towards the green. They know the title is unquestionably theirs now.

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER WINS THE 2025 PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

Scheffler waits for Noren to clear the way and steps up to his ball, hoping that it will only take one more stroke before he can celebrate. As it turns out, the World No.1 misses left, but that only delays the inevitable as Scheffler taps in to clinch the 2025 PGA Championship.

Congratulations to Scottie Scheffler - that was a masterclass.

THE CHAMPION CELEBRATES

EMOTION ESCAPES

A typically cool Scheffler tapped in the winning putt before raising his arms to acknowledge the huge crowd gathered at the 18th. Shortly after, the three-time Major winner allowed the built-up emotion to flow from him, slamming his cap into the green and letting out a huge roar.

A NOD TO 2024 FROM NIKE

Referencing Scheffler's arrest midway through the 2024 PGA Championship, Nike released a funny congratulatory post this evening...

WORDS OF CONGRATULATIONS

In the immediate aftermath of Scheffler's PGA Championship win, a couple of big names have posted messages of congratulations.

SCHEFFLER FOLLOWS MORIKAWA AND CO.

Lifting the Wanamaker Trophy aloft for a second time earlier on, Scheffler saw the lid drop off the cup and hit the ground. That lid has really been through it over the years...

TO THE SCHEFFLERS

The last word of this week's PGA Championship blog should go to the Scheffler family as a whole. Scottie's win was his first since Meredith gave birth to their son, Bennett - making it an extremely special one for all concerned. And, of course, a shout out to Scottie's wife, Meredith who is always in attendance to support her husband.