Scheffler and Schauffele slam tournament rules after muddy mayhem at PGA Championship

Competing in the marquee group alongside the world's top three players, Scheffler carded a two-under 69, Schauffele posted a 72, and Rory McIlroy - playing his first major round since winning the Masters - struggled to a 74.

The PGA of America had announced on Wednesday that it would not implement preferred lies, despite more than five inches of rain soaking the course in recent days. As a result, players were unable to lift, clean, and place their balls even when landing in the fairway.

Frustration boiled over at the par-four 16th hole, where both Scheffler and Schauffele found mud on their golf balls. Their compromised approach shots each ended up in the water, leading to costly double bogeys and rubbing both players the wrong way.

"Had a ridiculous mud ball there on 16 with Scottie. We were in the middle of the fairway and we had to aim right of the grandstands," said Schauffele.

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

"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."

Scheffler was similarly frustrated.

"It's frustrating to hit the ball in the middle of the fairway and get mud on it and have no idea where it's going to go," he said.

"I understand it's part of the game, but there's nothing more frustrating for a player – you spend your whole life trying to learn how to control a golf ball – and due to a rules decision all of a sudden you have absolutely no control over where that golf ball goes.

"But I don't make the rules. I just have to deal with the consequences of those rules. I did a good job of battling back and not letting a bad break like that, which cost me a couple shots, get to me."

McIlroy made double bogey as well but avoided the media after his round.

Schauffele expects more trouble for the next three days due to the tournament's decision and said he and Scheffler were far from the only players disgruntled by the decision.

"The mud balls are going to get worse as the place dries up," he said.

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

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

"I got lucky three or four holes in a row where it ended up sort of on the top of my ball and then you're kind of guessing how much spin it's going to take off," he added.

READ MORE: Jhonattan Vegas grabs first-round lead at PGA Championship as big guns fail to ignite