'That'll make dinner taste nice' - Lowry sits one off lead at PGA Championship
THAT'S THE STUFF: Shane Lowry of Ireland celebrates on the seventh green during the first round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on May 14, 2026 in Newtown, Pennsylvania. Pic: Carl Recine/Getty Images
Shane Lowry's last round at a major championship left a sour oul taste that proved hard to wash out of the mouth. It was understandable then that the Offaly man was eager to savour an opening round at the PGA Championship which was much more palatable.
Among the afternoon wave at Aronimink Golf Club in Pennsylvania on Thursday afternoon Lowry survived an early wobble before settling superbly into his work, carding a two-under 68 highlighted by a spectacular pitch-in eagle at the turn, all of which left him just one shot off a seven-strong throng of leaders at the year's second major.
EAGLE AT 9 FOR SHANE LOWRY 🦅#PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/frQ5MDvVx2
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) May 14, 2026
Lowry had watched close friend Rory McIlroy and the other two Irish challengers, Padraig Harrington and Tom McKibbin, all labour heavily among the morning starters as the venerable old north Philadelphia parkland proved a fitting test for the world's best. All three had been left outside the top 100 after scoring identical 4-over 74s.
When his opening hole resulted in birdie, Lowry admitted nerves kicked in. But playing alongside Ryder Cup teammate Viktor Hovland and American Collin Morikawa in a marquee afternoon grouping Lowry found his feet and thrived amid the swirling winds and testing greens to keep the leaders, including world No.1 Scottie Scheffler and veteran Martin Kaymer, well within reach. Closing with a birdie helped Lowry's mood all the more.
"I hit a 7-iron in and obviously [hit it] a little bit further right than I would have liked in the air," explained Lowry, who hit a few superb irons throughout Thursday. "I don't know where it pitched. There was a pitch mark beside the hole, I don't know if it pitched beside the hole or not, but, yeah, I was pretty happy with that one. That will make dinner taste nice."
After his Ryder Cup heroics last year, Lowry has started 2026 with some wildly mixed fortunes, throwing away a couple of victories that appeared within his grasp before turning in three excellent days at Augusta. But again he closed his Masters with a horror show 80. Thursday in Pennsylvania provided a little of that but much more to feel good about. After his opening blemish, Lowry carded four pars before a gorgeous wedge on the sixth left him with a kick-in birdie to get back to even-par. He bunkered his tee shot to the short eighth and it proved costly as a bogey four put him back in black numbers.
But the 39-year-old, who undoubtedly has the short game to thrive around Aronimink, gave a spectacular affirmation of just that on the next. From 40 yards back on the fringes of the huge ninth green he sent a perfect pitch and run bounding towards the hole. It dropped for an eagle which left Lowry turning under par and in positive mood.
"I just managed my way around the course. It got tricky. You know everyone was intrigued to see what the course was going to be like and what it was going to play like. And as you see, it's playing quite difficult. There's no low scores. 3-under is the best score at the minute.
Shane Lowry with a magnificent wedge into the 6th 🪄#PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/y3Ge6t8RcH
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) May 14, 2026
"I felt like when you get out of position, you need to try and get back in position, and you need to take your chances when you get them. I felt like I did a good job of that today."
His back nine featured just one bogey, surprisingly at the par-3 14th but birdies on 11 and 18 more than offset that. Lowry will head back out early on Friday and look to build on his promising opening.
At times Scheffler, the reigning champion who is seeking a fifth major before his 30th birthday next month, threatened to break clear of the park at the top. Instead he ended it in the pile on 3-under, part of a seven-way group at the top of a congested leaderboard which featured German Kaymer, 12 years on from the last of his two major wins.
A record 33 players are within two shots of the lead, eclipsing the previous high of 28 at the 1993 Open, including 12 major champions.
Scheffler started steadily but dropped a shot at the fifth. He made his move with back-to-back birdies at six and seven before salvaging par after chipping out of the greenside bunker at the monster 245-yard par-three eighth.
A third birdie came with a 28-foot putt on 10 to move two under and he joined the leading pack with another at 11.
Scheffler, in his 156th consecutive week as world number one, had cut a frustrated figure across the front nine but his move up the leaderboard had an air of inevitability.
A birdie on 16 cancelled out a bogey on 14 and ensured the four-time major winner held at least a share of the lead after the first round of a major championship for the first time.
The defending champion was in a strong trio alongside world numbers four and seven Matt Fitzpatrick and Justin Rose.
Rose bogeyed three and six but dug in and got his reward with a birdie at 13 followed by another at 14 as he chipped in from the bunker to delight the gathered crowds. Fitzpatrick started with 13 straight pars before a bogey and a birdie also left him at even par.
In hitting 13 of 14 fairways Scheffler provided a stark contrast to McIlroy who managed to find the short stuff just five times off the tee earlier in the day. The Holywood man will be at least pleased that no one did pull clear and post a very low round. Scheffler's 67 was enough to help the Texan into an altogether new position — in the lead of a major after an opening round. Although he was quick to point he wasn't alone up top.
"I think the emphasis would be share of the lead. I think there's like six or seven guys up there. I mean, it's a really tight leaderboard. At this moment, it's anybody's tournament," said Scheffler.
"Like you said, it's nice to get off to a good start. Get some rest tonight and wake up and do more of the same tomorrow."
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