The PGA Championship first round tee times are locked in for the 108th edition of the event, and the headline act is impossible to ignore — Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, and Jordan Spieth go out together at 1:40pm BST from the 10th hole at Aronimink Golf Club in Pennsylvania. If you’re watching one group all day, that’s the one.
PGA Championship First Round Tee Times: The Groups That Matter
With 156 players descending on Aronimink, organisers have opted for a two-tee start to get the field through. Just ahead of the marquee trio, Xander Schauffele — defending champion from 2024 — tees off at 1:29pm alongside three-time major winner Brooks Koepka and Tyrrell Hatton. That group alone carries enough firepower to light up a weekend, never mind a Thursday.
Meanwhile, world number one Scottie Scheffler draws the evening shift, stepping onto the course at 7:05pm with Matt Fitzpatrick and Justin Rose as he looks to retain the title he claimed twelve months ago. It’s a fascinating assignment for Scheffler, who arrives at this major in the form of his life.
There’s a lovely subplot in the early tee times too. Alex Fitzpatrick — who secured his tour card alongside brother Matt with victory at the Zurich Classic last month — gets the honour of teeing off first at 11:45am, paired with Americans Braden Shattuck and Ben Griffin. Not a bad way to announce yourself on the major stage.
Bryson DeChambeau, a two-time major champion, heads out at 1:18pm from the first hole with Rickie Fowler and Ludvig Aberg, while Tommy Fleetwood joins fellow Ryder Cup man Robert MacIntyre and Chris Gotterup at 6:43pm. Full tee times and live scoring are available on the PGA Tour website.
McIlroy Chasing History at Aronimink
Beyond the theatre of the draw, the real story building around this championship is Rory McIlroy. The Northern Irishman is hunting his third Wanamaker Trophy, having lifted it in both 2012 and 2014. Furthermore, a victory here would make him the first player to win the Masters and the PGA Championship in the same calendar year since Jack Nicklaus pulled off that exact double back in 1975. That is the scale of what’s on the line.
Ultimately, the draw has handed fans exactly the kind of first round they want — elite groupings, high stakes, and a narrative that writes itself. BBC Sport will have live coverage and updates throughout the week. Don’t sleep on Thursday. This one starts with a bang.