The PGA Championship 2025 at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina promised a spectacle – and delivered, albeit not in the way many expected. Almost quietly and unnoticed, Jhonattan Vegas made his way to the top of the 2025 PGA Championship leaderboard, teeing off in one of the final groups. The Venezuelan seized his chances on the wet course at Quail Hollow Club and took the lead at seven under par. And what was expected to be a showcase of golf’s elite turned into a struggle with the course, the weather – and themselves. The world’s top ten? Nowhere to be seen among the best ten of the day.
PGA Championship 2025: Scheffler, McIlroy, and Schauffele Struggle Together
Teeing off in the featured morning group, the world’s top three players set out to make an early statement. But on a damp and demanding Quail Hollow, Scheffler, McIlroy, and Schauffele encountered trouble – and plenty of it – particularly at the notorious par-4 16th hole, the gateway to the punishing finishing stretch known as the “Green Mile.” This marks the first time in at least three decades that not a single player from the top 10 of the world rankings is among the top ten of a major – after the first round.
All three carded double bogeys at the 16th, each falling victim to a mix of errant tee shots, muddy lies, and mistimed putts. “I kept the honor with making a double on a hole, and I think that will probably be the first and last time I do that in my career unless we get some crazy weather conditions,” Scheffler quipped after salvaging a respectable 69. McIlroy struggled with accuracy and posted a 74, while Schauffele’s 72 leaves him chasing going into Friday.
Vegas takes advantage of late tee time and pulls ahead
While much of the morning spotlight was on McIlroy, Scheffler, and Schauffele, it was ultimately Jhonattan Vegas who made the headlines. Starting in the penultimate group, the Venezuelan played a flawless round with seven birdies in total. He saved five of them for his final six holes, including one from over 20 feet on the difficult par-4 ninth – his final hole of the day. It was the best round of his major career – in his 45th attempt. Vegas hadn’t qualified for the PGA Championship in three years. Now, he’s in the lead.
Strong starts from Gerard and Davis
Trailing Vegas in a tie for second are Ryan Gerard and Cam Davis. For Ryan Gerard, this week marks his PGA Championship debut. But as a North Carolina native, Quail Hollow is hardly unfamiliar territory. A former UNC standout, Gerard has played this course since his college days and even attended events here as a junior fan – watching legends like Tiger Woods.
That comfort translated to a composed and confident 66, highlighted by four consecutive birdies on the back nine and a stunning chip-in eagle at the par-5 15th. Though bogeys on holes 16 and 17 denied him solo possession of the lead, Gerard drew strength from the local support.
Joining Gerard as second in the leaderboard is Cam Davis, who displayed a textbook performance on the greens. The Australian notched seven birdies and needed just 24 putts – the fewest of any player in the field.
Davis kept his composure throughout the round, only faltering with a bogey on the 18th after a poor approach from the rough. Still, his 66 was enough to secure a share of the overnight lead and send a clear message: the 2025 PGA Championship is wide open.
