This post compares the actual 2024 PGA Tournament results for round 1 with those for my replay. A previous post describes an overview of the actual event and my replay setup.
With the Valhalla Golf Club back in the spotlight, once again the Bluegrass brute proved ready to separate contenders from pretenders. Jack Nicklaus’s championship-built design, last seen hosting a major in 2014, returned as the stage for a replay of the 2024 PGA Championship—recreated using Game Caddie 7.0 with “Modern” distance settings to mirror today’s power-driven game.
Measuring 7,609 yards at par 71, Valhalla looked every bit the heavyweight: more than 60 bunkers, water in play on multiple holes, and a closing stretch that dared players to be bold. Yet once play began, the scoring told a different story, with numbers noticeably better than pre-tournament expectations.
Rain leading into the week had softened fairways and greens, stripping away much of the course’s intended bite and allowed players to attack pins with confidence. Fairways proved more forgiving, approach shots consistently held the smaller-than-average greens, and calm winds kept long irons and fairway metals under control. The result was a tightly packed leaderboard and scores well below what the setup suggested on paper.
That unexpected ease underscored the purpose of the replay: to show how modern shot distances, receptive conditions, and smart strategy can turn a feared major venue into a scoring opportunity–where separation comes from consistency rather than survival.
Actual Results
In round 1, Xander Schauffele wasted no time making history at the 106th PGA Championship. He ripped up Valhalla Golf Club with a bogey-free 62, the lowest round in PGA Championship history and tied for the lowest in any major.
Schauffele’s blistering start included nine birdies with perfect iron and putting work that left the Louisville crowd buzzing. It gave him a comfortable three-shot lead over a trio of challengers at 6-under par after Thursday’s play. The California native’s remarkable 9-under effort wasn’t just about the number–it was a statement that one of the game’s most consistent ball-strikers is ready to add a major trophy to an already sterling résumé.
Trailing Schauffele were Tony Finau, Mark Hubbard, and Sahith Theegala, each carding 65’s to sit tied for second at 6-under. Finau, known for his length off the tee and imposing presence around the greens, quietly built momentum with steady ball-striking in the softened conditions, while Hubbard–a veteran Tour grinder yet to break through in a major–showcased precision and patience to put himself firmly in the mix. Theegala’s performance continued his rise as one of the sport’s most intriguing young contenders, blending creativity and touch around the greens that boded well for the weekend.
With Day 1 scoring figures well below what many had expected and a host of major stalwarts just a stroke or two behind the leaders, the stage was set for an electrifying Friday as pressures and pin placements ramped up. The top of the round 1 leaderboard for the actual event is shown in the table below.
Replay Results
Viktor Hovland put on a back-nine clinic at Bluegrass on Thursday, turning a solid start into a statement finish that set the tone for a star-studded opening round. Hovland made the turn at just 1-under, steady but unspectacular, then flipped the switch. He carved up the inward nine at 6-under par, punctuating the surge with an eagle on the par-5 18th to post a 7-under 64 and grab the early clubhouse lead.
Solid off the tee and ruthlessly efficient through the green, Hovland found 79 percent of fairways and hit 83 percent of greens in regulation, repeatedly giving himself clean looks and staying out of trouble on a course that quietly penalized misses. By the time he walked off 18, Bluegrass felt less like a test and more like his personal scoring playground.
Scottie Scheffler wasn’t far behind, delivering a composed, workman-like round of his own. Scheffler went 3-under on both the front and back nines to finish at 6-under 65, leaning into a conservative game plan that emphasized control over raw power.
Among the four top players on the leaderboard, Scheffler averaged the shortest drives at 273 yards–well below the field average of 289 yards—but it paid off. He hit 78 percent of greens and rarely put himself in stressful positions, keeping constant pressure on Hovland.
One shot further back, Tony Finau and Collin Morikawa shared third at 5-under. Finau’s round was built on resilience, as he managed his way to 72 percent of greens hit and converted enough chances to stay firmly in the hunt. Morikawa, meanwhile, reminded everyone why he’s one of the game’s elite iron players, pairing crisp ball-striking with the hottest putter of the group. His 25 putts were the fewest among the top four, allowing him to maximize scoring even without a barrage of birdies.
With low scores attainable but precision clearly at a premium, the opening round made one thing clear: the round 1 replay setup for Bluegrass is rewarded discipline and execution. Hovland set the bar with a blistering back nine, but with Scheffler lurking and proven winners stacked just behind, the race heading into round 2 is very much on.
The top of the first round leaderboard for the replay is shown below.
Highlights and Lowlights
Round 1 at Bluegrass wasn’t just about the numbers at the top of the leaderboard—it was about how players attacked a gettable but demanding layout, and the moments that swung momentum across the course. From eagles flying in on multiple par 5’s to eye-popping driving stats and extremes on the greens, the round 1 replay produced a statistical snapshot that underscored just how dynamic the day was.
Here’s a look at some of the standout notes and superlatives from the opening round:
- Justin Rose, Matthieu Pavon, Rory McIlroy, Brooks Koepka, Viktor Hovland, and Chris Gotterup eagled No. 18 (a 570-yard Par 5).
- Rory McIlroy and Rickey Fowler eagled No. 7 (a 590-yard Par 5).
- Thriston Lawrence eagled No. 13 (a 350-yard Par 4).
- Wyndham Clark and Viktor Hovland hit 15 of 18 greens in regulation (Avg. = 10.5).
- Si Woo Kim hit the fewest greens at 4.
- Joaquin Niemann hit 12 of 14 fairways (Avg. = 8.6).
- Peter Malnati hit the fewest fairways at 4.
- Byeong-Hun An led all players in average driving distance (two holes) at 348 yards (Avg. = 300).
- Jake Knapp led all players in average driving distance (all drives) at 309 yards (Avg. = 289).
- Will Zalatoris had the longest drive of 390 yards.
- Russell Henley and Rasmus Højgaard sunk the longest putts at 48 feet.
- Shane Lowry had the longest total distance of putts made at 132 feet (Avg. = 79).
- Sungjae Im and Jon Rahm had the fewest putts at 23 (Avg. = 28.3).
- Austin Eckroat took the most putts at 34.
- Jake Knapp 4-putted No. 18.
Together, the stats tell the story of a course that rewarded boldness in spots, punished lapses in others, and left plenty of room for movement heading into the next round. Complete statistical results for round 1 of the replay can be viewed by clicking in the upper righthand corner of the PDF below: