The second main of the season will get underway at Aronimink Golf Membership in Pennsylvania on Thursday, and as standard, there are a number of fascinating storylines heading into the 108th PGA Championship.
Aronimink final hosted a PGA Championship in 1962, when Gary Participant received by one stroke. 64 years later, it returns, extra harmful than ever.
Gil Hanse’s decade-long restoration of the Ross structure has remodeled the course. The bunker depend has risen from 74 to 176.
The fairways have been narrowed to round 32 yards on the touchdown zones, the tough grown out to shut to 4 inches, and new tee containers have added over 100 yards to the general structure.
The course performs as a par 70 at 7,394 yards, with 4 par threes, two par fives and twelve par fours that kind the central check of the week. The greens are giant on common however brutally contoured, with Ross’s turtleback profiles creating steep fall-offs on each facet. Gamers who miss greens on the improper facet shall be scrambling from not possible angles.
The favorite: Scottie Scheffler
Scottie Scheffler heads to Pennsylvania because the clear favorite. The world primary is the defending champion, having received final yr’s PGA Championship at Quail Hole by 5 strokes.
He leads the PGA Tour this season in strokes gained complete, scoring common and birdie common. He has completed second in three straight tournaments.
Scheffler has been relentlessly sensible and has not received since February. However on a course that rewards iron play and scrambling – two areas during which Scheffler ranks among the many greatest on this planet – he’s the participant to beat.
Rory McIlroy chasing historical past
Rory McIlroy arrives within the type of a person who has lastly discovered the peace he spent years in search of. His second Masters title in April, sealed only a month in the past, was the twenty sixth main of his profession.
Now he’s focusing on one thing that has not been achieved since Jack Nicklaus in 1975 – successful the Masters and PGA Championship in the identical calendar yr.
McIlroy is a two-time PGA Championship winner, most just lately at Valhalla in 2014, and whereas his main file since that win has been a supply of huge public dialogue, he silenced most of it along with his efficiency at Augusta.
He has made solely six begins this season. He’s contemporary, motivated and taking part in the very best golf of his life. If Aronimink rewards management, creativity and iron play, it’s exhausting to think about a greater match for his recreation.
The challengers: Younger, Rahm and Schauffele
Cameron Younger has been the quiet revelation of the season. Three wins since August, together with a wire-to-wire six-stroke win on the Cadillac Championship and a Gamers Championship title in March, have carried him to huge momentum.
He can not win a significant on repute – he doesn’t have one but – however he’s a real contender.
Jon Rahm might also be up there after what has been an advanced week for the Spaniard. He confirmed earlier within the week that he’s unable to exit his LIV Golf contract except the circuit folds – and with Saudi Arabia’s Public Funding Fund saying on April 30 that it’s going to not fund LIV past this season, his future is unsure.
He has received 4 occasions within the LIV League this season however his final PGA Championship problem led to a back-nine collapse.
Xander Schauffele deserves some consideration as effectively. The 2024 PGA Championship winner has performed a few of his greatest golf in latest months, has climbed again into the world prime 10, and considerably has a robust file at Donald Ross designs.
He tied for third within the 2018 BMW Championship at Aronimink itself. Scrambling ranks third on tour in his profile – the ability the course will demand most.
Fleetwood one to observe
Tommy Fleetwood represents one of many extra compelling propositions within the subject. The FedEx Cup champion has 5 top-10 finishes this season and his ball-striking off the tee is among the many greatest within the recreation.
The weak point that has value him – his placing – will nonetheless want to enhance, however Aronimink’s greens are a special proposition to most.
Matt Fitzpatrick on kind
Matt Fitzpatrick is quietly having the season of his life. Three wins on tour – the Valspar Championship, RBC Heritage and Zurich Basic alongside his brother Alex – have lifted him to fourth on this planet rankings.
He’s a previous main winner with the 2022 US Open at Brookline. Extra relevantly, he’s a exact iron participant with a classy brief recreation, precisely the profile Aronimink will reward.
When is the 2026 PGA Championship?
The 108th PGA Championship begins on Thursday, Might 14 and concludes on Sunday, Might 17. Apply rounds are going down at Aronimink Golf Membership from Monday, Might 11, with the aggressive motion operating throughout 4 days.
The place to observe the PGA Championship
Protection of the PGA Championship is obtainable on Sky Sports activities Golf, which can carry dwell motion throughout all 4 rounds all through the week. Sky Sports activities will start its protection from the early afternoon on Thursday and Friday, with protection operating into the night as the sector completes their rounds given the time distinction between the UK and the East Coast of america.
For these with no Sky Sports activities subscription, NOW TV provides day passes and month-to-month passes that embrace entry to the Sky Sports activities Golf channel.
Highlights packages can even be out there on the Sky Sports activities web site and app all through the week for these unable to catch the dwell protection.
101GreatGoals prediction: Scottie Scheffler
The case for the world primary is robust, and Scheffler is the favorite. Even with McIlroy chasing historical past, and another sturdy contenders within the subject, this course and second really feel suited to Scheffler, notably after his sturdy weekend displaying on the Masters.
