The 2026 PGA Championship is underway at Aronimink Golf Club, and it's shaping up to be an exciting tournament with a few surprises. The early buzz was that the course might not be able to defend itself against the pros, but so far, it's proven itself. The wind is blowing, and the hole locations are not for the faint of heart. The best players in the world are getting pummeled by this place.
One of the headlines from Thursday's first round was Garrick Higgo being punished with a two-stroke for being late to his tee time. Despite that setback, the South African ended the day under par thanks to three birdies and only one dropped shot. But the punishment proved to be very costly as his struggles on day two left him at 5 over par, one shot above the cutline.
The early week buzz around the PGA Championship was that the course may not be able to properly defend itself against these pros and 190 mph drives. The bomb-and-gouge method wasn’t just predicted, it was guaranteed — even by Rory McIlroy himself. That foresight could not have been more wrong, at least looking at yesterday and today here at Aronimink. The best players in the world are getting pummeled by this place.
The leaders at 4 over par, realistically anyone coming at the weekend at 2 over or better has a chance of lifting the Wanamaker Trophy. There are 44 players within five strokes of the lead after 36 holes, and several past major champions are hot on the chase. The two surprising 36-hole leaders are Maverick McNealy and Alex Smalley, both at 4 under.
McNealy had never finished in the top 20 at a major until doing so at the Masters last month. As for Smalley, he’s also taken an unorthadox road to get to this point, outside the top 40 in strokes gained from tee to green over the first two rounds. The common denominator between McNealy and Smalley? Their putting, which has provided a massive advantage among the tricky sloping greens at Aronimink.
Last year's champion, Scottie Scheffler, won at Quail Hollow in the 2025 PGA Championship. His brilliant golf across the first three days allowed him to card an even-par 71 final round to win the tournament on 11-under. The course is returning to the major championship arena for the first time in more than 60 years, and it's proving itself.
The PGA Championship action is available to watch or stream on ESPN+, ESPN, CBS, and Sky Sports in the UK. The broadcast begins on ESPN+ at 8 a.m. ET and will have several alternate streams focusing on select holes and featured groups available all day. Main coverage will be on ESPN+ from 8-10 a.m. ET before shifting over to ESPN from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET. CBS will then take over main coverage from 1 p.m. through 7 p.m. ET.
In my opinion, the PGA Championship at Aronimink is shaping up to be an exciting tournament with a few surprises. The course is proving itself, and the best players in the world are getting pummeled by it. The leaders are in a strong position, but several past major champions are hot on the chase. It's going to be a thrilling finish, and I can't wait to see who comes out on top.
