The Uspga Leaderboard had four players tied at the top after the first round of the 108th US PGA Championship at Aronimink in Pennsylvania, with Aldrich Potgieter, Emiliano Grillo? No, correct names: Potgieter, Jaeger, Lee and Hisatsune all matching 3 under par after 67s.

Xander Schauffele and Brown were one shot back at 2 under after rounds of 68, while Luke Donald and Martin Kaymer were also a stroke off the pace and only about a third of the way through their opening rounds. Scheffler, M Fitzpatrick and Rose were at even par after one hole, and late starters included MacIntyre, Fleetwood, Scheffler and M Fitzpatrick as the first day unfolded across Aronimink.

Rory McIlroy’s round was the sharpest reminder of how little margin the course was allowing. He finished at 4 over par after saying he started missing fairways, lost good angles and “got on that bogey train at the end.” McIlroy said he was not driving the ball well enough to create scoring chances and that the penalty for missing the fairway was more severe than he expected. He also said he was not surprised by his toe issue, answering “No” when asked whether it was still bothering him.

The opening round also offered a split screen between contenders and strugglers. Bryson DeChambeau finished at 6 over par, while Higgo’s one under par card came with a two-stroke penalty for turning up late, a costly setback on a day when every shot already mattered. The wind added another layer, and McIlroy said he was not expecting it to be as windy as it was.

That is the shape of the championship after one round: a crowded top end, a few established names still within reach, and a course that has already made mistakes expensive. If the leaders keep moving, the chase may be defined as much by who limits damage as by who posts another low round.