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.

Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele all double-bogeyed the same hole Thursday at PGA Championship in Charlotte as “mud balls” caused chaos.

Scheffler, Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele were supposed to be the marquis group to watch on Thursday at the PGA Championship. It didn’t look like it

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.

Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas turned in good weeks at the Truist Championship to hold onto the top spots on the PGA Tour money list.

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