PGA Championship Round 1 Review: Leaderboard and Round 2 Tips | May 2026

Major

Scheffler Storms Clear At TPC Craig Ranch

Scottie Scheffler has seized pole position at the PGA Championship with a clinical opening round at TPC Craig Ranch. The world number one fired 67 to lead by a stroke, sharing the summit with six others who all carded matching rounds. Min Woo Lee, Alex Smalley, Ryo Hisatsune, Aldrich Potgieter, Stephan Jaeger and Martin Kaymer sit in the chasing pack at 3-under, keeping this tournament wide open after 18 holes. Behind them, a cluster of established names lurk at 2-under, waiting to strike.

Our Pre-Tournament Pick

Xander Schauffele opened with a 68 to sit 2-under par, one shot behind the leaders and in genuine contention. Our pre-event tip is comfortably placed and very much in the hunt heading into Round 2. He’s currently available at 9/1, a price that reflects his strong position but also acknowledges the competitive nature of this field.

Who’s in Contention

Scottie Scheffler has done what he does best, starting with authority and putting the heat on the field. At 1.75/1 to win outright, he’s the clear favourite and the market is saying he’s the one to beat over the next three days. His 67 represents a round of control rather than fireworks, exactly what you’d expect from a player of his calibre in a major.

Min Woo Lee at 12/1 sits alongside Scheffler at 3-under. Lee’s a player who thrives when given daylight on the leaderboard early, and he’ll fancy his chances if he can back up this opening performance. Alex Smalley (33/1) is another name in the mix at the top, though he arrives as less of a household name than some of his peers in the lead group.

The second tier is where it gets interesting for punters. Patrick Reed, Shane Lowry, Sahith Theegala and Corey Conners are all at 2-under, just a stroke off the pace. None of them are prohibitively long odds to close this gap quickly over the next 54 holes.

Round 2 Betting Angles

The leaderboard is congested at the top, which means scoring will be the weapon on Friday. Players who can post another low round and reach 5-under or better will put genuine pressure on Scheffler’s lead. Keep an eye on the leaders’ tee times and back any of them to card a 66 or better if the course is playing receptive.

Conversely, this is a major championship. Pressure mounts when you’re chasing the lead, and not everyone in that pack will handle it equally. Watch for Scheffler to extend rather than relinquish, and consider laying some of the longer-odds leaders if they’re facing tricky conditions.

Xander Schauffele’s position at 2-under is exactly where you want your pick to be. One shot back with 54 holes remaining in a crowded field means there’s room to move without panic.

Our Updated Pick