The big 3 grouping of Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele and Scottie Scheffler at the 107th PGA Championship was more like the flat 3.

The world's top three players were grouped together, and only one — No. 1 ranked Scottie Scheffler — finished under par. Scheffler survived a pair of bogies and a double to card a 2-under 69. Rory McIlroy, meanwhile, had a rough go of it, carding a 3-over 74. Defending champ Xander Schauffele was one better at 2-over.

The PGA of America smartly created a mega group for the first two rounds of the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, putting together Scheffler, the World No. 1, with the next two men in the rankings, Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele.

The super-grouping of the Nos. 1, 2 and 3 players in the world may have a difficult time finishing that way on the final leaderboard at the PGA Championship.

And now, here Rory McIlroy is this week, about to play the PGA Championship, which begins Thursday at Quail Hollow, without stress or questions that need to be answered about his career or his game.

Other players express concern that the win at Augusta last month will free him up from a lot of pressure at the PGA Championship.

Ryan Gerard reeled off four birdies and chipped in for eagle from nearly 60 feet on the back nine to seize a one-stroke clubhouse lead in Thursday's first round of the PGA Championship.Gerard started a four-birdie run at the 10th hole then made his sensational eagle chip-in at the par-five 15th to lead by three but closed with back-to-back bogeys,