Xander Schauffele stormed into a huge lead at the PGA Championship, breaking the Valhalla course record with an incredible nine-under-par 62 on Thursday.
The American took to the course early for the first round and quickly birdied his second hole without looking back as he extended a lead over his rivals.
He was five under par on the turn and continued to shine only on the back nine, eventually posting a nine-under par round of 62, one better than Jose Maria Olazabal’s course record at the 2000 PGA Championship.
Heading into the clubhouse, Schauffele held a four-shot lead at the top of the very early championship, ahead of Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre, Tony Finau and the embattled Rory McIlroy.
Perhaps more impressively, Schauffele also became the first player to score 62 in a major since… himself, at last year’s US Open.
Xander Schauffele was smiling – and for good reason – during his PGA Championship round
The American shot an eight-under-par 62 on Thursday, breaking the course record in Valhalla
Schauffele became the first player to score 62 in a major championship since last year
Only three players have ever shot 62 at a major championship, with South African Branden Grace becoming the first to do so at the 2017 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.
Rickie Fowler became the second man to do so at last year’s US Open at LACC, before Schauffele equaled him just minutes later on June 15 last year.
Incredibly, Schauffele has now achieved this feat for the second time.