Lowest round in a major: How Xander Schauffele, Shane Lowry matched history with scores of 62 at PGA Championship

The first round of the 2024 PGA Championship was expected to be low-scoring thanks to soft conditions at Valhalla Golf Club.

A light Wednesday rain softened the greens and fairways at Valhalla and prevented balls from skittering out of control near the hole. That created ideal scoring conditions, and many of the world's best golfers were able to take advantage of those.

None had more success in doing so than Xander Schauffele. The No. 5-ranked golfer in the world got off to a torrid start in his bid to win his first major, carding nine birdies and no bogeys during his first-round action.

Schauffele not only finished his day as the tournament's leader. He also broke a longstanding course record with his 9-under scoring and tied for the lowest-scoring round in major championship history.

Shane Lowry saw Schauffele's stellar round Thursday and matched it two days later. He shot 9-under at Valhalla as well, etching his name into the history books with his third round Saturday.

Here's what to know about Schauffele's and Lowry's record-setting rounds and how their feats beat the previous Valhalla course record.

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Lowest round at a major tournament

Schauffele's 62 and Lowry's 62 are tied for the lowest-scoring rounds in major history. Schauffele's was the fourth in PGA history — and impressively, he has done it twice. The number was bumped up to five when Lowry added his name to the record book.

Each of Schauffele's major 62s has come over the last calendar year. His first came at the 2023 U.S. Open and his second at the 2024 PGA Championship. Branden Grace and Rickie Fowler are the other golfers who have reached that impressive mark.

Below is a look at when each achieved it:

Strangely enough, players who have shot a 62 in a major have never won the event. Schauffele will look to buck that trend in 2024 after his stellar first-round showing.

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Valhalla course record

Schauffele and Lowry now share the course record at Valhalla Golf Club thanks to Schauffele's first-round 62 at the 2024 PGA Championship followed by Lowry's same showing in the third round.

Jose Maria Olazabal entered play Thursday as the owner of the Valhalla Golf Club course record The 1994 and 1999 Masters winner shot an 8-under 63 during the third round of the 2000 PGA Championship when it was held at the venue.

Olazabal used his strong third-round performance to catapult himself into a three-way tie for sixth place. He was four shots off the lead, then held by Tiger Woods. Olazabal ultimately finished tied for fourth in the PGA Championship after shooting 4 under during the tournament's final round.

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Lowest PGA Championship scores of all time

Jason Day has the lowest PGA Championship score to par of all time. He carded a 20-under during his win at Whistling Straits, good enough to earn him a three-stroke win over Jordan Spieth.

Tiger Woods also carded two 18-under scores during his career while Steve Elkington, Rory McIlroy and Brooks Koepka all carded 16-under scores or better in their wins. Notably, one of Woods' 18-unders and McIlroy's 16-under came at Valhalla, so Schauffele may aim for those records if he stays hot over the ensuing three rounds.

Below is a look at the lowest PGA Championship scores to par since the tournament officially switched to stroke play for the 1958 major.

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Has Xander Schauffele won a major?

Schauffele has not yet won a major event, but he has come close to taking several major titles. Notably, he finished as the runner-up at The Open Championship in 2018 and the Masters in 2019, events that he lost by two strokes to Francisco Molinari and one stroke to Tiger Woods respectively.

The 30-year-old Californian has 12 top-10 appearances in his 27 major appearances to date. He seems poised to break out eventually, and that may happen at Valhalla if he continues his impressive weekend.