Rory McIlroy leads the PGA Championship after day 1.
The Irishman shot his lowest opening-round score in a major since the 2011 U.S. Open at Southern Hills to take the lead in the PGA Championship.
McIlroy, who teed off during the morning wave alongside Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth, recorded an impressive 5-under 65.
Hot on his heels are Americans Will Zalatoris and Tom Hoge both shot 4-under 66 and sit tied in second.
Matt Kuchar, Abraham Ancer, and Justin Thomas sit two back after shooting rounds of 67 each.
All the players tied inside the top five had morning tee times except for Thomas.
His 67 on Thursday was the lowest opening-round score he has at the PGA Championship.
Woods struggled on the course where he won the title last time the tournament was played posting a 4-over 74 in just his second major appearance since his car accident in February 2021.
Jordan Spieth shot a 2-over 72 to fall seven shots back as he continues to chase a career Grand Slam this week.
The group of McIlroy, Woods, and Spieth, who hold 22 major championship titles combined, started on the course’s back nine Thursday.
The Northern Irishman got out in front quickly with four straight birdies between Nos. 12 and 15.
McIlroy finished with two bogeys and three birdies on his final nine holes en route to 65.
It’s the first time McIlroy opened a major with a score in the 60s since the 2019 U.S. Open.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, fresh from the Masters win last month, opened the PGA Championship with a 1-over 71.
He was in a group with World No. 2 Jon Rahm and World No. 3 Collin Morikawa, who shot 73 and 72, respectively.
All three had to tee off in the afternoon.
McIlroy will tee off alongside Spieth and Woods in the afternoon for the second round today.
