Scottie Scheffler grabs share of US PGA lead while Rory McIlroy struggles

Scottie Scheffler claimed a share of the first-round lead at the US PGA Championship as Rory McIlroy finished a difficult first day seven shots back.

Scheffler was one of the last groups out at Aronimink Golf Club in south-west Philadelphia, on a day where low scoring had proved elusive.

He ended it three under, part of a seven-way group at the top of a congested leaderboard which featured German Martin Kaymer, 12 years on from the last of his two major wins.

A record 33 players are within two shots of the lead, eclipsing the previous high of 28 at the 1993 Open, including 12 major champions.

Scheffler started steadily but dropped a shot at the fifth. He made his move with back-to-back birdies at six and seven before salvaging par after chipping out of the greenside bunker at the monster 245-yard par-three eighth.

A third birdie came with a 28-foot putt on 10 to move two under and he joined the leading pack with another at 11.

Scheffler, in his 156th consecutive week as world number one, had cut a frustrated figure across the front nine but his move up the leaderboard had an air of inevitability.

Scottie Scheffler drains a 28-foot birdie putt to move within one shot of the lead.