Venezuela’s Jhonattan Vegas used a late birdie blitz to grab his first career lead in a major after the first round of the PGA Championship on Thursday while Rory McIlroy struggled in his first major since completing the career Grand Slam.

Vegas stormed up the leaderboard with five birdies over his final six holes for a seven-under-par 64 at North Carolina’s Quail Hollow Club that left him two shots clear of Australian Cam Davis and little-known American Ryan Gerard.

The 40-year-old Vegas felt the course, which was saturated by heavy rain this week, dried up as the day went on and allowed him to take advantage of better scoring conditions.

“I got lucky that I was able to tee off very late and the course obviously is drying very quick,” Vegas said after becoming the first Venezuelan to hold the lead or co-lead in a major.

“So I was able to take advantage a little bit of those conditions at the end of the day today. But obviously a solid round from beginning to end. Good way to start.”

Vegas, a four-times winner on the PGA Tour, snatched the outright lead with an 18-foot birdie putt at his penultimate hole, the par-four eighth, and then padded his lead when he drained a 26-footer at his final hole.

Much had been made about McIlroy’s chances this week given his past success at Quail Hollow and because he ended a near 11-year drought at majors with a Masters win last month that freed him from the burden of chasing the career Grand Slam.

But the Northern Irishman struggled mightily off the tee and did not address the media after posting a disappointing three-over-par 74 that left him well off the pace.

Davis, who earlier this year missed five consecutive cuts, started his round before Vegas and was the outright leader before a bogey at his final hole left him level with Gerard.

“I haven’t been having the best results on course lately over the last few months and been working really hard to turn that around,” said Davis.

“And to see the first real sign that it’s turning around happen in the first round of a major, it’s very encouraging.”

UNHAPPY SCHEFFLER

Sitting three shots back of Vegas in a share of fourth place is a group of five players that included 47-year-old European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald and New Zealand’s Ryan Fox.

While some familiar players are in contention, there were no top-10 golfers in the world among the top 10 on the leaderboard which, according to Elias Sports Bureau, is only the second time that has happened dating back to 1994.

When it comes to some of the game’s bigger names, twice major winner Scottie Scheffler carded a 69, U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau shot an even-par 71 while Jordan Spieth opened his bid to complete the career Grand Slam with a 76.

Following his round, Scheffler expressed displeasure with tournament organisers for their not allowing preferred lies after the course was hammered by rain this week.

“You spend your whole life trying to learn how to control a golf ball, and due to a rules decision all of a sudden you have absolutely no control over where that golf ball goes,” said Scheffler.

“But I don’t make the rules. I just have to deal with the consequences of those rules.”

Xander Schauffele, looking to become the first repeat winner since Brooks Koepka in 2019, was one over while Justin Thomas, who won the 2017 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow and arrived in solid form, posted a 73.

Gerard, a Raleigh native and graduate of the University of North Carolina, was cruising along and at one point led the field by three shots clear until bogeys on his final two holes.

“You know, I feel very comfortable here. There’s a lot of people here that I know and I’ve been fortunate enough to play this golf course a few times,” said Gerard.

“It’s a fantastic place. North Carolina in general, they show out for their guys in light blue. I heard so many ‘Go Heels’ today and just appreciate everyone that’s supporting.”