#225 PGA Championship Opens with Vegas Lead and “Mudball” Controversy

The opening day of the 107th PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club delivered both standout performances and sharp controversy. Jhonattan Vegas surprised many with a commanding 64 (-7), taking the solo lead in a field that saw several lesser-known players rise to the top. Meanwhile, tournament officials faced criticism for their decision not to allow "preferred lies" (Model Local Rule E-3), despite over five inches of rain falling in the days leading up to the first round.

This decision had a significant impact on play and sparked widespread frustration among many of the sport’s top players.

• Jhonattan Vegas led the field with a bogey-free 64, marked by five birdies over his final six holes. His round was described as stable, tactical, and controlled—ideal for the demanding layout of Quail Hollow.

• A number of lesser-known players, including Ryan Gerard, Cam Davis, Ryan Fox, Alex Smalley, Harry Hall, and Parker Pence, performed exceptionally well. While many of these players lack elite driving distance, their accuracy, discipline, and short game skills gave them an advantage under the wet conditions.

• Hole 16, a 535-yard Par 4, proved to be the most difficult of the day with a scoring average of 4.410. Despite hitting the fairway off the tee, several top players recorded double bogeys on this hole.

• Rory McIlroy (+3), Scottie Scheffler (+1), and Xander Schauffele (+2) all had disappointing starts. Each player double-bogeyed the 16th hole, with both Scheffler and Schauffele blaming the poor outcomes on "mudballs"—golf balls affected by clinging mud that alter flight, distance, and direction unpredictably.

• Xander Schauffele remarked on the difficulty of approaching the 16th green, saying:

  "We had to aim right of the grandstands probably. I aimed right of the bunker and I whipped it in the water, and Scottie did the same."

• Scottie Scheffler delivered a particularly impassioned statement:

  "I don’t think hitting the ball in the middle of the fairway should be punished. When you get a mudball, you can lose complete control of distance and direction. That’s not what a fair test of golf should look like."

  He added that one mudball likely cost him two strokes and nearly derailed his round, but he was proud of maintaining his composure.

Despite soggy fairways, the PGA of America chose not to apply the preferred lies rule. This triggered a debate that extended beyond the players and into media and fan circles. Many players expressed disappointment, arguing that the conditions warranted the use of at least Model Local Rule E-2 ("Lift, Clean, and Replace"), which would have permitted cleaning the ball without repositioning it.

Critics of E-3 argue it can be abused, allowing players to significantly improve their lie under the guise of cleaning. Others believe that professional golfers have become too reliant on rules that mitigate natural course conditions.

Former PGA Champion Lanny Wadkins weighed in with a blunt text read live on Golf Channel:

"Show some damn talent. Drive the ball lower where it won’t pick up mud and it skids."

The first day at Quail Hollow highlighted the contrast between those who adapted to the difficult, unpredictable conditions and those who were derailed by them. While Jhonattan Vegas and several emerging players thrived by staying precise and focused, many of the favorites struggled—not due to major swing flaws, but due to an uncontrollable variable: mud.

This created a major talking point in what was otherwise a relatively calm day weather-wise, with warm and sunny conditions. As the championship moves forward, the debate about “preferred lies” will remain central—not just for rules officials, but also for players who must balance fair play with mental resilience.

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Key Highlights from Round OneStruggles of the FavoritesThe Preferred Lies DebateSummary and Takeaways

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