Seven golfers are tied for the lead at the PGA Championship after Day 1, each at -3. The article ranks these players from most to least likely to win based on their past performances.
Key points
Seven golfers are tied for the lead at the PGA Championship after Day 1
All leaders are at -3
The group includes both inexperienced and experienced players
Ranking is based on previous performance
Tournament outcome depends on scores throughout the event
No golfer stood out on the first day of the PGA Tour, with a group of golfers clustered at the top instead.
The leaders, who are all tied at -3, are a combination of inexperienced players and players with much major tournament history. While the winner is never decided during the first round, these golfers find themselves right in the mix at Aronimink.
Still, some of these contenders likely have a better chance at winning than others based on previous performance, but the only thing that matters is what they score during the tournament. Here's a ranking of which golfers are most, and least, likely to win among the co-leaders.
Ranking the players tied for the PGA Championship lead
1. Scottie Scheffler
The favorite entering the tournament, Scheffler got hot with a stretch of birdies to secure his place among the leaderboard. The No. 1 player in the world and defending champion won the first tournament of the year and entered the PGA Championship coming off of three-straight second-place finishes.
Q&A
Who are the seven players tied for the PGA Championship lead after Day 1?
The seven players tied for the lead at the PGA Championship after Day 1 are all at -3, but their specific names are not provided in the excerpt.
What factors determine which golfers are most likely to win the PGA Championship?
The likelihood of winning is based on previous performance and major tournament history, as well as their current scores during the tournament.
How does the first round of the PGA Championship affect the overall tournament outcome?
While the first round is important, it does not determine the winner, as golfers must maintain their performance throughout the tournament.
What is the significance of being tied at -3 after Day 1 of the PGA Championship?
Being tied at -3 indicates a competitive start, but it also means that many players are in contention, making the tournament outcome uncertain.
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As long as Scheffler is near the top of the leaderboard, he is the clear cut favorite to win. A victory would give him five majors, two-striagh PGA Championships and further cement his place in golf's history.
2. Min Woo Lee
Lee is having a strong season thus far with three top 10 finishes and just one missed cut. Lee's strength around the green showed up on Thursday, as he produced four birdies to just one bogey in his round and was at one point in the solo lead.
Lee's issue will be a lack of experience in major tournaments, as he has just one top-five finish and eight missed cuts in his career. Thus will be a good test for Lee to compete with the game's best on a major weekend.
3. Aldrich Potgeiter
The longest driver on the tour is Potgeiter, who posted a 67 early in the morning to set the pace for the day. Potgeiter has minimal major experience, missing the cut four times in five chances, but this is his first opportunity at the PGA Championship.
If Potgieter remains in contention, it will be because his driver gets him there. The South African golfer does have a win on the PGA Tour and has contended for a few tournaments as a professional despite being just 21.
4. Martin Kaymer
Kaymer is a two-time major champion who has spent the last few years on the LIV Golf tour, making his performances in majors more of a question mark. Kaymer hasn't finished better than 64th in a major since 2019, and he has missed the cut at five of his last six PGA Championships.
Still, Kaymer's major experience makes him an interesting name in the mix this weekend if he can find his game again. However, even on the LIV tour, Kaymer's results are pretty uninspiring.
5. Alex Smalley
Smalley is a quality all-around player who is still searching for his first PGA Tour victory. The No. 78 player in the world, Smalley has played well in the lead-up to this tournament as he has five-straight finishes at 21st-or-better.
This is Smalley's fourth-straight PGA Championship, which essentially constitutes his entire major tournament experience. He still probably needs more reps at high-level golf before he has a chance to win a major.
6. Stephen Jaeger
Jaeger's major championship history leaves much to be desired, as he has only finished in the top 30 once since his first major in 2015. However, the 36-year-old has worked hard to get into majors consistently, since he has only played in all four majors during the same season twice, once in 2024 and again in 2025.
Jaeger's lone PGA Tour win was in 2024, and he doesn't have a win on the DP World Tour. Therefore, it's hard to imagine this is the year Jaeger puts it all together in a major tournament.
7. Ryo Hisatsune
Hisatsune has only appeared in four majors in his career, but he made the cut at each of the last two PGA Championships. The Japanese native has had a ton of success on the Japan Challenge Tour, but has yet to secure a win on the PGA Tour.
Therefore, it's unlikely that Hisatsune would produce his first win on American soil at a major championship with such big names in contention. A Hisatsune win would be one of the more unlikely results in recent major tournament memory.
