Charlotte, N.C. - Jhonattan Vegas saw almost no one in the best golf balls in the PGA Championship Thursday.

After three days of rain, the brilliant sunshine brought a complete audience, looking forward to a wonderful performance. They just didn't get it from the people they were looking at - Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele - most of them had disappeared when Vegas worked on magic late afternoon.

Two good savings. Two short birds. Another standard preserves. Then, the three birdies ended up in a 64-under 7 game, which gave the 40-year-old Venezuela the best in the professional 45 rounds and a two-stroke lead in the opening surprise.

"Incredible," said Vegas when asked to sum up his round. “It’s always great that you have the chance to shoot 64 in the Big Championship.”

It is also incredible that for at least 30 years, this is the top ten players in the world ranked in the top 10 behind the Major’s 18 holes.

The largest crowd falls into the top three in the world, and it is not as inspiring as four of the past five majors to win.

The first major since winning the Masters to complete a professional Grand Slam, McIlroy hasn't birdie in the last 12 holes and has nothing to say in three games over 74.

Scheffler, the world's No. 1, defending PGA champion Schauffele has a lot to say about mud balls on the T-shirt, especially on the 16th hole, which were given double bogeys. Scheffler shot at least two shots from the green greens - one birdie and one from Eagle, who sent him into the 69 with six-shot 6-iron from 215 yards to 9 feet.

“I did a great job in the day and kept the level of effort, and there were certainly some challenging aspects,” Scheffler said. “I posted a number on a day when I didn’t have the best stuff and did a great job.”

Vegas rose from behind the green on the par 7 green and tied with a lead. He hit a birdie putt on the eighth pole eighth pole. On the solid ninth hole, his tee was lifted up on the grass where the bunker was insufficient. He put it to 25 feet and ended his own wonderful day with the third consecutive birdie.

He has never finished the top 20 in the professional top 20 nor has he qualified for this in three years. He is the first player representing Venezuela to gain a lead or co-leading leadership after any round of Major.

Vegas took a two-stroke lead at PGA Tour rookie Ryan Gerard, who grew up in North Carolina and was the only other player to row in his last two holes. Australia's Cam Davis joined the 66-year-old.

They aren't the only players who might need an introduction to casual golf fans.

Alex Smalley, the first replacement, found himself on the court about 15 hours before he drove it away, rolling on a 70-foot hawk putt until he was 67. New Zealand's Ryan Fox of New Zealand, who qualified for the Myrtle Beach Classic, is also 67 years old.

They joined a large group that included Luke Donald, the 47-year-old Ryder Cup captain in Europe, who is the only player without bogey. Captain America Keegan Bradley is behind again.

"It's always fun, and in a big tournament, bogey-free in a course, which is ideal for me," Donald said.

Considering the championships produced by professionals in recent years, the ranking is more like a classic at Myrtle Beach. None of the top eight players won the major and never seriously argued.

Gerard looked comfortable, facing the family crowd. He scored tough par on the solid ninth hole and then ran four consecutive birdies on the back nine link, with seven of his game after the 60-foot-high Eagles at 15-5 5-15. Since becoming a stroke in 1958, his 66 tied for the third highest score in his first round with any golfer in his first round.

Davis had seven birdies and missed a 10-foot par putt on his last hole. Not bad for those who have recently ended their five straight winning streaks, those who haven't ranked in the top 10 since early February.

"It's just a constant attempt to get back to something that works, trying to keep the head in a place that doesn't feel like you've been hitting the wall all the time," Davis said. "It makes it come organically - good process, good routines, all those little percentage points that end up adding up to be good golf."

The others at 67 are Stephan Jaeger and Aaron Rai, who became their first PGA Tour champions last year.

Scheffler's 69-year-old is the best result for anyone in the world's top ten.

McIlroy, a four-time winner of Quail Hollow, competed in the PGA title, and they believe last month’s stimulating Masters champion won a career grand slam, and whatever he does from here, his career will be a highlight of his career.

A sloppy round, especially on the tee, won't change that. It was just as surprising to see his fight at Quail Hollow, the highest leg since 76 rounds in the second round of the 2018 Wells Fargo Championship.

Schauffele ended the match with a score of 72 in the PGA Championship.

Jordan Spieth may have to wait until next year to try out a professional grand slam at Aronimink. The three-time main champion lacked only the Wanamaker trophy, earning his main collection, running a three-link run in the last nine games and shooting 76.

Bryson DeChambeau ended with an even number of shots, and his circle highlighted one on the par-1 hole of the 3rd 17. He didn't birdie in 4 and 4, just the second time in his career happened in PGA.

The game finished 171 in the "Green Mile" hole in Quail Holles (No. 16-18), and the 16th hole was the strongest in the course (Plus-64). There are 29 birdies in the stretching, and 27 water polos in the opening round.

Information from ESPN Research and Associated Press are used in this report.