PGA Championship: Xander Schauffele dominates, units a number of information

Xander Schauffele appeared unstoppable on the PGA Championship on Thursday.

He went on an absolute tear, carding a 9-under 62 at Valhalla, the bottom rating ever recorded in a PGA Championship. His 62 additionally matches the perfect rating in main championship historical past, which three gamers have shot earlier than.

Humorous sufficient, Schauffele carded a 62 on the U.S. Open a yr in the past on the Los Angeles Nation Membership. As such, he turns into the primary male golfer to shoot a number of 62s in a significant.

His record-setting spherical comes days after Rory McIlroy raced previous him to win the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hole, the place Schauffele opened with a three-shot lead after the primary spherical.

Regardless of one other disappointing end final week, Schauffele believes he’s enjoying the perfect golf of his profession at this level.

“Most likely, yeah. I really feel there’s spurts, moments in time the place you are feeling like you’ll be able to management the ball rather well; you’re seeing the greens rather well; you’re chipping rather well,” Schauffele mentioned.

Picture by Christian Petersen/Getty Photographs

“However over a chronic interval, it’s powerful to maintenance excessive efficiency.”

Schauffele has performed admirably on quite a few events earlier than, together with main championships. To this point, he has recorded a dozen top-10s in majors however has but to seize that elusive title.

“I feel not successful makes you wish to win extra, as bizarre as that’s,” Schauffele added.

“For me, not less than, I react to it, and I would like it an increasing number of and extra, and it makes me wish to work tougher and tougher and tougher. The highest feels far-off, and I really feel like I’ve plenty of work to do. However simply slowly chipping away at it.”

The previous San Diego State Aztec started with a par on the simple par-5 tenth, as he did not rise up and down for birdie. However issues acquired rolling on the powerful par-3 eleventh, the place Schauffele caught a 6-iron to 2 ft away. He tapped in for birdie after which made a troublesome par save at 12.

Extra birdies adopted on the thirteenth, fifteenth, and sixteenth holes, and out of the blue, Schauffele discovered himself atop the leaderboard due to a sizzling putter.

He capped off his entrance 9 with a birdie on the par-5 18th, traditionally the simplest gap on the course. He turned with a 5-under 31, as his electrical play continued on his closing 9 holes.

Schauffele made a birdie on the troublesome par-4 2nd. He then got here near driving the 351-yard par-4 4th, which led to his seventh birdie of the day.

Two extra par-breakers adopted on the fifth and seventh holes, and Schauffele walked to the eighth tee on the precipice of historical past.

Picture by Maddie Meyer/PGA of America by way of Getty Photographs

No participant has ever shot a 61 in a significant, however Schauffele had an opportunity to develop into the primary to take action. He wanted to make one birdie over his ultimate holes to etch his title additional into the report books, however he got here up a tad brief.

Regardless of that, Schauffele nonetheless achieved a lot on Thursday. His 62 not solely set a event report but additionally established a brand new course report at Valhalla.

“I don’t actually function that manner,” Schauffele mentioned when requested if he may go decrease.

“When it comes to desirous to go observe proper now, there are at all times pictures you’ll be able to decide aside or chips you can decide aside that you just felt like you can have hit higher, however I’m very content material with how I performed.”

Schauffele ought to really feel happy after Thursday however won’t really feel utterly happy except he grabs the Wanamaker Trophy late Sunday night.

It’s solely Thursday and a ton of golf stays, however Schauffele has put himself in a superb place to lastly break by means of.

Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Taking part in By means of. Remember to try @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You possibly can observe him on Twitter @jack_milko as effectively.