What began as a showcase of the world’s elite talent at the PGA Championship quickly turned into a collective misstep on Thursday, as Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, and Xander Schauffele each carded a double-bogey on the treacherous 16th hole at Quail Hollow.
Grouped for the opening round of golf’s second major of the year, the trio—all ranked in the top three globally—stumbled on the longest par-4 on the course, unraveling in front of thousands of fans and millions more watching one of the most anticipated groupings of the tournament.
One Hole, Three Costly Mistakes
The 535-yard 16th played far tougher than its yardage might suggest. Each golfer—Scheffler, McIlroy, and Schauffele—walked away with a six on the scorecard.
Scheffler, currently ranked No. 1 in the world, entered the hole riding momentum after an eagle on the 15th. But his second shot, marred by a muddy ball thanks to recent rain, sailed left and found the water behind the green. He would eventually two-putt from seven feet to salvage a double-bogey.
“I don’t make the rules,” Scheffler said afterward, referring to the PGA of America’s decision to play the course without preferred lies. “But when you can’t control the ball flight due to mud, it’s extremely frustrating.”
McIlroy’s Misadventure from the Rough
Rory McIlroy, fresh off completing the career Grand Slam at the Masters last month, saw his round spiral out of control on the same hole. His 331-yard drive veered into thick rough on the left, narrowly avoiding water thanks to the lush conditions. A slip during his second shot left him with just 65 feet of progress and a difficult third from a downslope. After a missed green and a two-putt, he too signed for a six.
The four-time Wells Fargo champion, known for his dominance at Quail Hollow, hit just four of 14 fairways and lost over two strokes to the field with his putter. He finished his round at three-over, tied for 85th—a surprising start for one of the PGA’s brightest stars.
Schauffele Shares the Same Fate
Defending PGA Championship winner Xander Schauffele was the third to fall victim to the punishing hole. His 323-yard drive split the fairway, but like Scheffler, his approach shot found the water. After a drop, his chip ran 39 feet past the cup, and he settled for a two-putt double-bogey.
“We were dead center in the fairway and had no shot,” Schauffele said. “You’ve got to aim right of the grandstands—it’s ridiculous. Scottie and I both hit what we thought were solid shots, and we end up wet. It’s just kind of stupid.”
He ended the day at one-over, tied for 60th.
PGA’s Decision on Course Conditions Raises Eyebrows
Players voiced concern over the PGA of America’s call to proceed without lift-clean-and-place rules despite the course soaking up nearly four inches of rain earlier in the week. That left balls caked in mud, particularly in fairways, adding unpredictability to what should be controllable shots.
In a statement released Wednesday, the PGA stated: “The playing surfaces are outstanding and are drying by the hour. We are mowing the fairways this evening.”
But for players like Scheffler and Schauffele, that assurance did little to ease the sting of a rule that arguably altered their rounds—and potentially the tournament.
Leaderboard Update and Who’s Climbing
While the star trio struggled, 24-year-old Ryan Gerard surged to the top of the leaderboard at 5-under midway through Thursday’s action. European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald, 47, found vintage form, joining a group tied for second at 4-under.
With three days to go, the PGA Championship remains wide open. But if Thursday’s chaos on the 16th is any indication, weather, mud, and course conditions may have just as much say in who lifts the Wanamaker Trophy as raw talent.
Looking Ahead: More Turbulence Expected
As temperatures rise over the weekend, Schauffele warned the mud problem could worsen.
“They’re going to dry just enough to get tacky underneath,” he said. “That’s the perfect storm for more mud balls, and the PGA will need to take a hard look at how it’s impacting play.”
Despite the early stumble, none of the top three are out of contention—yet. Each will need to regain composure and adapt to the elements if they want to stay in the hunt.
With the PGA spotlight burning brighter and the leaderboard tightening, Quail Hollow’s 16th hole may end up as one of the defining tests of this year’s major championship.