Xander Schauffele is continuing his impressive form by tying the record for the lowest round at a major championship for the second time in less than a year. The third-ranked player in the world shot an opening-round 62 at the PGA Championship, featuring nine birdies and no bogeys, breaking the Valhalla Country Club course record of 63 set by José María Olazábal in 2000.

“I can’t nitpick,” Schauffele said when asked to compare his record rounds. “I’ll take a 62 in any major any day.”

Schauffele’s record-setting round gave him a 3-shot lead over the field. Tony Finau and Sahith Theegala both carded 65s, while Rory McIlroy and Collin Morikawa, among others, finished at 5 under with 66s. McIlroy’s round marked his return to the site of his last major win in 2014. Two-time major winner Morikawa had seven birdies in his last 12 holes, showcasing a strong performance in the afternoon wave.

Scottie Scheffler returned to the course after a three-week hiatus for the birth of his son, starting with an eagle but ending with a mixed round of 67, placing him five shots behind Schauffele. Defending champion Brooks Koepka also carded a 67, with an eagle and a birdie in his final three holes.

Tiger Woods struggled, finishing with consecutive three-putt bogeys, leaving him 10 strokes behind Schauffele.

Schauffele, starting on the 10th hole, birdied five of his first nine holes and continued his birdie streak on the front nine, opening a 3-stroke lead. His 33-foot birdie putt on the final hole missed, but he maintained his dominant position.

“When you’re playing with one of the easiest 9 unders you’ve ever seen, it makes you feel like you’re shooting a million,” said Justin Thomas, who shot a 2-under 69. “Xander, he’s such a complete player. … He’s playing really, really great golf right now.”

For Schauffele to convert his lead into a victory, he must overcome his struggles in the second round, where he is historically over par. Despite having the lowest career first-round scoring average among players with at least 25 majors, Schauffele has yet to secure a win. His previous record-setting round at the U.S. Open last year resulted in a tied-for-10th finish after a final-round 72.

Schauffele, known for his consistent top-10 finishes, is looking to break his winless streak. He acknowledged the challenge of maintaining high performance over time. “I feel there’s spurts, moments in time where you feel like you can control the ball really well, you’re seeing the greens really well, you’re chipping really well. But over a prolonged period, it’s tough to upkeep high performance,” he said.

Schauffele’s performance at Valhalla showcases his strength with long irons, an essential skill for the 7,600-yard course. He leads the PGA Tour in approach shots over 200 yards, gaining 2.5 strokes on the field on Thursday. Highlights of his round included a challenging two-putt par on the 498-yard, par-4 No. 6 and an impressive pitch shot on the par-3 eighth.

Meanwhile, Scheffler showed resilience but missed several short putts, reminiscent of his earlier putting struggles. McIlroy, despite hitting balls into the water on Nos. 9 and 18, managed a scrappy but effective round, reflecting his experience and skill.

With 54 holes remaining, Schauffele must sustain his performance to secure his first major victory. The dramatic course at Valhalla promises further twists and turns as the tournament progresses.