Xander Schauffele backs up Scottie Scheffler at PGA Championship: "It sucks"

Defending champion Xander Schauffele says it was 'kind of stupid' the PGA of America did not permit preferred lies on day one of the PGA Championship. 

Tournament officials made a bold call on Wednesday by announcing golfers in the field at the second men's major of the year would not have the option to lift, clean and place. 

The decision was particularly surprising given torrential downpours heavily impacted practice at Quail Hollow Club earlier in the week. 

Schauffele and reigning World No.1 Scottie Scheffler were undone by mud balls on the par-4 16th. 

Both players found the fairway with their tee shots but ended up 'whipping' their approaches into the water. 

They each trudged off the green with double bogeys. 

Scheffler managed to card a 2-under 69 whereas Schauffele signed for a 72. 

The third player in their group, Masters champ Rory McIlroy, struggled on day one and carded a 74 after only hitting four fairways. 

Former European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley questioned if the Irishman was in the right mindset as he 'no longer has anything to prove'. 

"Had a ridiculous mud ball there on 16 with Scottie," Schauffele told reporters in the immediate aftermath of his first round.  

"We were in the middle of the fairway, and I don't know, we had to aim right of the grandstands probably. I'm not sure. 

"I aimed right of the bunker and it whipped in the water and Scottie whipped it in the water, as well.

"It is what it is, and a lot of guys are dealing with it, but it's just unfortunate to be hitting good shots and to pay them off that way. It's kind of stupid."

Schauffele acknowledged he wasn't the only one to suffer.

"I wouldn't want to go in the locker room because I'm sure a lot of guys aren't super happy with sort of the conditions there," he added. 

"I feel like the grass is so good, there is no real advantage to cleaning your ball in the fairway. The course is completely tipped out.

"It sucks that you're kind of 50/50 once you hit the fairway."

Schauffele predicted the mud balls are 'only going to get worse'. 

"They're going to get in that perfect cake zone to where it's kind of muddy underneath and then picking up mud on the way through," he said. 

Asked how he planned to deal with the issue, Schauffele said he was going to hit lower shots off the tee. 

"But then unfortunately the problem with hitting it low off the tee is the ball doesn't carry or roll anywhere, so then you sacrifice distance," he said.  

"It's a bit of a crapshoot."

The aforementioned Scheffler spoke at length on the topic after his opening round.

Scheffler said he wasn't surprised at the decision, but was still unimpressed.

"But I don't make the rules," Scheffler explained.  

"I just have to deal with the consequences of those rules."