Big boys struggling at Quail Hollow

Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA is proving to be quite a struggle for the greatest players in the world as they put their golf to the test in the 107th US PGA Championship (15-18 May).  After two rounds, the surprise leader is from Venezuela and answers to the name of Jhonattan Vegas.  The 40-year old professional shot two amazing rounds to get to 8-under par leaving Frenchman Matthieu Pavon, Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick and Si Woo Kim (South Korea) trailing two shots behind.

 

Born in Maturin, Venuzuela, Jhonattan Vegas actually snatched the lead in the second Major of the year after day one where he scored a wonderful 7-under par 64.  He started at the 10th hole, which he bogeyed, but he maintained his concentration and secured five great birdies down the back nine for a delightful start at the par-71, 7,626 yard course at Quail Hollow.

 

Ranked as number 70 in the world, Vegas has made six PGA appearances with a tie for 22nd being his best performance so far.  In 16 Majors he has missed 10 cuts and never had a top-20 finish, until now.  Yes, the player from Venezuela is leading the 2025 PGA Championship with a staggering 8-under par.  Can he keep-up his good form at the weekend?  Let’s hope so!

 

The South Korean Si Woo Kim made an incredible ace at the longest par 3 at Quail Hollow on his way to a 7-under par 64.  A delighted Kim hit a 5-wood on the 252-yard sixth hole to secure the longest hole-in-one in Major championship history.

 

Big boys are struggling

 

Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy was tipped to do well here this week.  The organisers thought so too which is why they planned for the top three players on the planet, World Number One, Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy and defending champion, Xander Schauffele to play in one featured group.

 

McIlroy has won the US PGA on two occasions (2012 and 2014) and, after winning the Masters in April, the multi-Major winner is, as always, exuding confidence.  However, on day one, he bogeyed the 1st and the 9th before making birdie at the 10th, bogey at the 11th, birdie at the 15th and a double-bogey at the 16th.  And so, alas, has the week progressed for McIlroy.  On Friday, he added a 2-under par 69 to his opening 74 to take a share of 62nd place along with Xander Schauffele who carded a 72 and a 71.

 

    

 

American Schauffele opened with a one-over par 72 with birdies on the 8th and 10th but he made bogey on the 14th hole and a double-bogey on the 16th after his second shot plunged into the water near the green.  On Friday, Schauffele played level par.

 

Interestingly, the biggest win in the strokeplay era of the PGA Championship was that of Xander Schauffele last year.  He won with a score of 21-under par at Valhalla GC.  Well, if you open with an awesome 62, what do you expect?

 

Good news for World Number One golfer Scottie Scheffler who started this year’s event with a 2-under par 69 which earned him a tie for 20th.  He followed on day two with a round of 3-under to gradually climb back up the leaderboard for a share of 5th spot with fellow-American Max Homa.

 

You win some, you lose some

 

Thirteen players share the 62nd spot which is a huge sigh of relief as one shot more then these golfers would have all missed the cut by one shot.

 

There was big disappointment for multi-Major winner Jordan Spieth (USA) who was also looking to create a Grand Slam this year.  Alas, the American was one of the 82 players who narrowly missed the cut which came at one-over par.

 

Justin Thomas missed the cut too.  The American won the US PGA at Quail Hollow in 2017 after opening with a 2-over par 73 which he followed with rounds of 66, 69 and 68 to win the championship on 8-under par.

 

Sweet dreams

 

Jhonattan Vegas will hopefully sleep soundly after his brilliant opening rounds in Charlotte.  The weekend will see his game put under pressure again by the wealth of talented golfers who are still looking to stamp their mark on the 107th PGA Championship.  Keep your cool, Jhonattan!

 

Enjoy the golf at Quail Hollow – it’s going to be an exciting weekend!

 

 

Wendy Hoad

Editor

 

MAIN PHOTOGRAPH: Venuzuelan golfer Jhonattan Vegas is the surprise leader in the PGA Championship.  MINIS (l-r): Rory McIlroy, Matt Fitzpatrick, Ryan Fox, Scottie Scheffler.