Jhonattan Vegas Takes Lead at Major Championship with Stellar 7-Under 64

In an impressive display at the Major Championship in Charlotte, Jhonattan Vegas shot a remarkable 7-under 64, leading the tournament by two strokes. Indian golfer Akshay Bhatia also made headlines with a solid performance, while Sahith Theegala withdrew due to injury. The competition featured top players like Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, with Vegas's stellar finish marking a significant moment in his career. Discover more about the tournament's highlights and player performances.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 17, 2025, 01:55 IST

Vegas Shines at Major Championship

In Charlotte, US, Venezuelan golfer Jhonattan Vegas achieved his best-ever score in a Major tournament, shooting a remarkable 7-under 64. This performance has placed him two shots ahead in a competitive field featuring 98 of the top 100 players globally.

Indian golfer Akshay Bhatia finished the day with a score of 1-under 70, landing him in a tie for 29th place. Unfortunately, Sahith Theegala had to withdraw just before the tournament began due to a neck strain that hindered his play. Both Bhatia and Theegala, along with Rai, participated in last year's Tour Championships and were ranked in the Top-30 worldwide. They are also recognized as Hero Global Ambassadors.

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler managed a score of 2-under 69, while World No. 2 Rory McIlroy struggled with a 3-over 74. Indo-British golfer Aaron Rai performed admirably, finishing with a score of 4-under 67, tying for fourth place with Luke Donald, the European Ryder Cup captain, who recorded the only bogey-free round of the day at 67. US Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley shot a solid 68.

Defending champion Xander Schauffele ended his round with a 72 as he aimed for consecutive wins at the PGA Championship.

Three-time major winner Jordan Spieth, seeking to complete his career Grand Slam, faced challenges with three consecutive bogeys early in his back nine, finishing with a score of 76.

Rai started strong with a birdie on the tenth hole and added three more from the 14th to the 16th, reaching 4-under after eight holes. Despite a bogey on the 18th, he managed another birdie on the seventh hole during his second nine, parring the rest.

Vegas concluded his round impressively, making five birdies in his last six holes, including an 18-footer on No. 8 and a 25-footer on the ninth, achieving a score of 64 in this Major after three years.

He leads by two strokes over rookie Ryan Gerard, who was the only other player to reach 7-under until he faced bogeys on his final two holes, finishing with a score of 66 alongside Australia's Cam Davis.

McIlroy struggled to find a birdie in his last 12 holes and quickly headed to the practice range after his round.

Both Scheffler and defending champion Schauffele discussed the impact of mud balls on their tee shots, particularly on the 16th hole, where both incurred double bogeys. Nonetheless, Scheffler managed to sink two shots from off the green, one for birdie and another for eagle.