Schauffele gets another major scoring record, sets the pace at PGA Championship

Xander Schauffele is playing some of his best golf without a trophy to show for it. He at least put his name in the PGA Championship record book Thursday with a 9-under 62, and gave himself another entry to the record book for all majors.

Schauffele seized on the rain-softened conditions at Valhalla with a bogey-free 62, the lowest round in PGA Championship history. On this day, it was only good for a three-shot lead over Tony Finau and Sahith Theegala.

Schauffele, a 30-year-old who oozes California chill, kept this one in perspective.

"It's just one day," he said. "Very happy with how I played. I can't think much more of it. I have to tee it up tomorrow."

And the opening round was only half over. Still to play in the afternoon was Masters champion Scottie Scheffler, who began his round by holing out with a 9-iron from 167 yards for eagle on the opening hole.

Even so, this was a special round. Schauffele one-putted 12 times — two of them for par that he considered crucial to his round — and he didn't go more than one hole without a birdie until the very end when he finished par-par for the record.

Schauffele had plenty of attention, playing alongside Louisville native Justin Thomas and in the group ahead of Tiger Woods, who was followed by Rory McIlroy. Thomas rallied late for a 69 that required some perspective of his own.

"When you're playing with one of he easiest 9 unders you've ever seen, it makes you feel like you're shooting a million," Thomas said.

Finau closed with four pars for his 65. Theegala had 65 by finishing with three straight birdies. McIlroy, back on the course where he won his last major 10 years ago, ran off three birdies late in his round for a 66 that left him tied with Robert MacIntyre of