LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Justin Thomas wasn’t playing poorly.

The 31-year-old hometown favorite from Louisville was on his way to shooting a respectable 2-under 69 in Thursday’s opening round of the PGA Championship at Valhalla.

Thomas’ problem in terms of self-evaluation was the company he was keeping.

Thomas’ problem was Xander Schauffele, one of his playing partners for the first two rounds.

On a day when the course was vulnerable because of rain-softened fairways and greens and no wind, Schauffele scorched long and brawny Valhalla with a record-tying 9-under 62 to take a three-shot lead into Friday’s second round.

“You feel like you’re not playing that well, but when you’re playing with one of the easiest 9-unders you’ve ever seen, it makes you feel like you’re shooting a million,’’ Thomas said.

Schauffele is just days removed from watching Rory McIlroy snatch the Wells Fargo Championship from his grasp with a 6-under final round that not only erased Schauffele’s 54-hole lead but turned the final round into a route.

“It’s a great start to a big tournament, one I’m obviously always going to take,’’ Schauffele said. “[But] it’s just Thursday. That’s about it.’’

Schauffele is trailed by Tony Finau, Sahith Theegala and Mark Hubbard, who all shot 65.

Rory McIlroy, who won his last major championship 10 years ago at Valhalla, is 5-under par after shooting 66 and is tied with Robert McIntyre, Tom Hoge, Tom Kim, Collin Morikawa, Maverick McNealy and Thomas Detry four shots behind Schauffele.

Defending champion Brooks Koepka, a three-time winner of this major, put himself in great position with a 4-under 67.

No one, however, could touch Schauffele on this day.

His 62 tied the lowest score ever shot in a major championship. Schauffele, along with Rickie Fowler, were the last to do it. Both shot 8-under 62 to begin the U.S. Open last year at Los Angeles Country Club.

Schauffele, ranked No. 3 in the world, failed to capitalize on that big start at the U.S. Open, though, finishing 10th in LA.

Asked after this round which was better, Schauffele said, “I don’t know. I can’t nitpick. I’ll take a 62 in any major any day.’’

So, here we are again with the 30-year-old Schauffele, who’s been a contention machine but has yet to win a major and whose last win came in 2022.

He has the lowest career first-round scoring average in majors among the players in the field who have appeared in at least 25 majors. Of this year’s field, only Fowler has more top-10 finishes at a major without a win (13) than Schauffele (12).

Schauffele has finished inside the top 10 in three of the past five majors. He’s missed only three cuts at majors since 2017. The reigning Olympic gold medalist has eight top-10 finishes in 12 events this season.

The beauty of Schauffele is how dogged he’s been in his pursuit of more victories — particularly in majors. Sure, Sunday as Quail Hollow, where he managed a mere even-par round while McIlroy was tearing the place up, ticked him off.

But you’d never know it by speaking to him, because he just quietly goes about his business.

“I think not winning makes you want to win more, as weird as that is,’’ Schauffele said, referring to Sunday’s disappointment. “For me … I react to it and I want it more and more and more, and it makes me want to work harder and harder and harder.

“The top feels far away, and I feel like I have a lot of work to do. But just slowly chipping away at it.’’

Thomas was adamant that Schauffele didn’t beat himself Sunday.

“It sucks not winning, but he didn’t lose,’’ Thomas said. “He got beat. You can hang your head and really take it into next week when you lose a golf tournament. But I think when you’re right there and playing well and you just get beat, it is more motivation, I’d say, and just kind of stick with what he’s doing.

“Xander is such a complete player. This year he’s hitting it even further. As good as he drove it, now he’s doing the same, just 15 yards further and faster.

“He’s smart. I’ve always thought he has one of the best demeanors out here, which is obviously something that you can’t necessarily just change overnight. He just has no quit in him, and he’s always hanging in there and staying patient. He’s playing really, really great golf right now. So, you feel like he’s one of those guys every time he tees it up right now, he’s going to be in contention.’’