Rory McIlroy Trails Early Leaders at PGA Championship

Rory McIlroy is five shots behind early leaders Luke Donald and Stephan Jaeger at the PGA Championship.

Luke Donald holds the early lead at the PGA Championship, with Masters champion Rory McIlroy trailing by five shots. Donald, the European Ryder Cup captain, is four under par through 14 holes.

McIlroy, seeking to complete a career Grand Slam, is currently five shots behind Donald. Stephan Jaeger is tied with Donald at four under, with eight holes remaining to complete his round.

Rory McIlroy began his PGA Championship campaign alongside Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele, the world's top three players, and carded a 37 over the first nine holes, one over par.

The high-profile group encountered trouble at the par-three 16th hole, part of the challenging Green Mile stretch, and all three players recorded double-bogeys, struggling to navigate the demanding layout.

Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele struggled at the 16th hole, hitting approach shots into the water behind the green from the fairway, resulting in double-bogeys for both players. Rory McIlroy also had a tough time, hitting from heavy rough, his leg slipped during the swing, barely advancing the ball.

A day to forget for Masters champion Rory McIlroy at Quail Hollow, where he found just two of 14 fairways on his way to a 74 (+3) pic.twitter.com/rNIm6Is8Fr

— Golf Monthly (@GolfMonthly) May 15, 2025

At the 17th hole, McIlroy nearly chipped in for birdie from 20 feet, the ball stopping so close to the hole that he tapped it in with his wedge, securing par without needing his putter.

World number one Scottie Scheffler reached the turn at even par for the day. Meanwhile, Xander Schauffele, who is seeking to become the first repeat winner of the tournament since Brooks Koepka in 2019, was two over par.

Early starters Luke Donald and Stephan Jaeger maintained their composure, avoiding any dropped shots. The morning's sunny skies contrasted with the soggy fairways, a lingering effect of the rain that hit the course earlier in the week and limited practice time before the major.

The PGA of America decided not to implement preferred lies, despite the wet conditions. This rule would have allowed players to lift, clean, and replace their balls in designated areas.

Late starters include Jordan Spieth, who is chasing his first career Grand Slam victory in nine attempts, and Justin Thomas, the 2017 PGA Championship winner at Quail Hollow.

Other notable players with late tee times include Bryson DeChambeau, the US Open champion, Justin Rose, the 2025 Masters runner-up, and Collin Morikawa, currently ranked fourth in the world.