The season’s second major golf championship gets underway this week with the 108th edition of the PGA Championship.
Contested at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, the always-underrated major promises to be a table setter for the final four months of the season, culminating with the Presidents Cup matches at Medinah Country Club.
The 156-player field features most of the world’s top players including the world’s top four needle movers in world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, the two-time reigning Masters champion, and LIV Golf’s box office superstarsBryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm.
Storylines include: Scheffler’s bid for back-to-back PGA titles; McIlroy’s continued major surge after completing the Grand Slam; and all eyes on LIV Golf’s superstar tandem of DeChambeau and Rahm (or DeRahmbo), who enter off a month of chaos and good golf.
Other storylines include: Jordan Spieth‘s attempt to complete the career grand slam for the tenth straight year. The now 32-year-old Texan enters seeking his first top-10 finish of the 2026 campaign (not a good sign). Although he does seem close (five top-20s). Or can former world No.1 Brooks Koepka end his humiliation tour and claim major number 6?
Or what about Cam Young — he seems rock solid and is easily the best player right now without a major. Can Tommy Fleetwood finally close the deal and win a major?
Additional storylines are many and overflowing. Will the winner be one who’s historic or a one-time supernova who was part of history?
Since 2000, the list of players to hoist golf’s biggest trophy include longshots and journeymen such as Rich Beem, Shaun Micheel, Y.E. Yang, Keegan Bradley, Jason Dufner and Jimmy Walker. But it’s also included top-ranked stars like Tiger Woods and Koepka three times; McIlroy, Thomas and Mickelson twice; as well as Scottie Scheffler, Jason Day, and Collin Morikawa once each.
Here’s more on what to expect this week in Pennsylvania for the 108th PGA Championship.
PGA Championship At-a-Glance
2026 PGA Championship
Dates: May 14-17, 2026
Where: Newtown Square, PA
Course: Aronimink Golf Club
Distance: 35-35–70 / 7,394
Architect: Donald Ross (1928)
Renovation: Ron Prichard (2003)
Renovation: Gil Hanse & Jim Wagner (2018)
Field: 156 players
Format: 72 holes stroke-play, 36-hole cut
Purse: TBD
Winning Share: TBD
Trophy: Wanamaker Trophy
2025 Champion: Scottie Scheffler
How to Follow the PGA Championship
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PGA Championship History
Today’s PGA Championship can be credited to the work of business mogul Rodman Wanamaker 110 years ago in New York City, who gathered a collection of golf professionals, which led to the formation of the PGA.
The first winner of the iconic tournament was Englishman Jim Barnes, who beat the great Scotsman Jock Hutchison, 1 up, in 1916 at Siwanoy Country Club in Bronxville, New York. Barnes walked away with the Wanamaker trophy, a check for $500 and a diamond-studded gold medal donated by Wanamaker, a department store owner.
The next two editions were canceled due to the first world war, but Barnes returned n 1919 to successfully defend his PGA title.
Barnes, who has been called the ‘Great Forgotten Champion,’ would go on to win the 1921 U.S. Open and 1925 British Open. (The Masters was not founded until 1934.)
The PGA Championship was a match play event for its first 39 editions, but by the late 50s, due to the advent of TV and many of the big names (Snead, Hogan) no longer dominating, the PGA was pressured by network television broadcasters to switch to stroke play.
For most of the modern stroke-play era, the championship was played in mid-August on the third weekend before Labor Day, serving as the fourth and final major of the golf season, using a tagline of “Glory’s Last Shot.”
In 2013, the tagline had been dropped in favor of generic “The Season’s Final Major”, as suggested by PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem who felt the slogan weakened the stature of its season-ending money grab: the FedEx Cup playoffs.
Beginning in 2019, the tournament was moved to May to provide a better flow to the golf season — with the PGA Tour’s two flagship events: The Players Championship (Mar.) and The Tour Championship (Aug.) bookending four consecutive months of majors (April: Masters, May: PGA, June: U.S. Open, July: British Open).
The Wanamaker Trophy stands nearly 2.5 feet tall and weighs 27 pounds. The trophy was lost, briefly, for a few years until it showed up in 1930 in the cellar of L.A. Young and Company. Ironically, this cellar was in the factory which made the clubs for the man responsible for losing it, Walter Hagen.
Hagen claimed to have trusted a taxi driver with the precious cargo, but it never returned to his hotel. There is a smaller replica trophy that the champion gets to keep permanently, but the original must be returned for the following years tournament.
Notable winners of the Wanamaker Trophy in the match-play era include Hagen, Gene Sarazen, Sam Snead, Byron Nelson, and Ben Hogan. Legends who won the PGA in the stroke-play era include Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino, Gary Player, Lee Trevino, Tiger Woods, and Phil Mickelson, who won his second in 2021 at the age of 50, becoming the oldest major winner in history.
Winners of the PGA Championship from today’s generation include a who’s who of superstars: Jason Day, Collin Morikawa, Xander Schauffele, Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, and Brooks Koepka, who has claimed three PGA Wanamakers.
Hagen and Nicklaus share the record for most PGA Championships with five apiece. Two surprising names missing from the winner’s list are Arnold Palmer and Tom Watson, who had close calls, but were never able to claim victory and close the door on the career grand slam.
History: Recent Winners
2025: Scottie Scheffler (-11)
2024: Xander Schauffele (-21)
2023: Brooks Koepka (-9)
2022: Justin Thomas (-5)*
2021: Phil Mickelson (-6)
2020: Collin Morikawa (-13)
2019: Brooks Koepka (-8)
2018: Brooks Koepka (-16)
2017: Justin Thomas (-8)
2016: Jimmy Walker (-14)
2015: Jason Day (-20)
2014: Rory McIlroy (-16)
2013: Jason Dufner (-10)
2012: Rory McIlroy (-13)
2011: Keegan Bradley (-8)*
2010: Martin Kaymer (-11)*
* Won in playoff
History: Records
Scoring
263 – Xander Schauffele (2024)
264 – Brooks Koepka (2018)
To-Par
-21 – Xander Schauffele (2024)
-20 – Jason Day (2015)
Winning Margin
8 – Rory McIlroy (2012)
7 – Jack Nicklaus (1980)
Youngest
20 – Gene Sarazen (1922)
Oldest
50 – Phil Mickelson (2021)
Wins
5 – Walter Hagen (1921, 1924-27)
5 – Jack Nicklaus (1963, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1980)
4 – Tiger Woods (1999-00, 2006-07)
3 – Brooks Koepka (2018-19, 2023)
3 – Sam Snead (1942, 1949, 1951)
Runner-Ups
4 – Jack Nicklaus (1964, 1965, 1974, 1983)
The Course: Aronimink Golf Club
Founded in 1896, the club moved to its current 300-acre site in 1926. Legendary architect Donald Ross designed the course, which opened in 1928; he later called it his masterpiece, saying, “I intended to make this my masterpiece, but not until today did I realize that I built better than I knew.”
The layout embodies classic Ross principles: strategic bunkering, rolling fairways, and complex greens that reward precision, shot-making, and course management over raw power.
It originally featured over 190 bunkers (many in clusters, somewhat unique for Ross). Later modifications by other architects simplified it, but restorations by Ron Prichard (2003) and especially Gil Hanse (with Jim Wagner, around 2018) returned it close to Ross’s vision using original drawings and old photos.
Key features include 18 original, unaltered Ross greens with bold spines, ridges, and tricky contours; strategic doglegs; elevation changes; and a routing that dips in and out of a central bowl for variety. It tests long irons, accuracy, and creativity while remaining playable for different skill levels.
It features a strong mix: demanding par 4s, reachable par 5s for big hitters (with risk), and precise par 3s. The front nine builds with uphill/downhill challenges; the back nine ramps up difficulty with water in play (notably on 10 and 17) and a tough finishing stretch.
Aronimink ranks among the top U.S. courses (e.g., high in Golf Digest and Golfweek classic lists) and is praised for excellent conditioning and strategic depth. It has hosted several big league evvents, including the 1962 PGA (won by Gary Player), 2010 AT&T National (Justin Rose), 2018 BMW Championship (won by Keegan Bradley, who beat Rose in a playoff), and the 2020 Women’s PGA.
For the 2026 PGA, expect a premium on accuracy and iron play rather than bombing it. Restorations have brought back Ross’s intended challenge, making it a fitting “supreme test” for the world’s best.
In short, Aronimink is a restored Donald Ross gem — elegant, strategic, and full of character — that should deliver an exciting, shot-making-focused major championship.
Course Data
Name: Aronimink Golf Club
Website: Aronimink.com
Locale: Newtown Square, PA, USA
Type: Private
Owners: Membership-owned (equity)
Stats: 18 Holes, Par 70, 7394 yards
Elevation: 450 ft
Architect: Donald Ross (1928)
Reno: Ron Prichard (2003), Gil Hanse & Jim Wagner (2018)
Club Established: 1896
Course Record: 62 – Nick Watney 2011, Tiger Woods 2018, Rory McIlroy 2018, Kevin Na 2018, Tommy Fleetwood 2018 (2x)
Storylines: 2025 PGA Championship
The 108th PGA Championship tees off this week at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania. It’s the first time the Wanamaker Trophy has been on the line at this Donald Ross-designed classic since Gary Player won here in 1962. Par-70 and roughly 7,394 yards, Aronimink rewards precision over raw power.
Expect wide fairways, thick rough, massive sloping greens, and nearly 180 bunkers. It’s a supreme test that demands long-iron control, shot-shaping, and elite short-game recovery in a stacked 156-player field.
Here are the five biggest storylines heading into what promises to be one of the most compelling majors of the year.
1. Scottie Scheffler’s bid for back-to-back PGA titles
The world No. 1 and defending champion arrives as the clear favorite after his dominant performance at Quail Hollow in 2025. A repeat would mark just the fifth successful PGA title defense in the stroke-play era.
Scheffler’s generational ball-striking aligns perfectly with Aronimink’s demands for accuracy and iron play. Even with occasional putting questions, he remains the player to beat.
2. Jordan Spieth’s quest to complete the career Grand Slam
Spieth has this event circled for years. With the Masters, U.S. Open, and Open Championship already secured, only the PGA remains. He’s posted five straight top-20s in the event and thrives on strategic, creative courses like Aronimink.
The pressure will be high, but the narrative payoff of a Grand Slam-clinching win at a classic Ross venue would be enormous.
3. Rory McIlroy’s continued major surge after completing the Grand Slam
Fresh off back-to-back Masters victories and his career Grand Slam, McIlroy brings renewed confidence and hunger. He already owns two PGA titles (2012, 2014), and Aronimink’s layout suits his all-around game and experience on Donald Ross designs.
A third PGA win would further cement his legacy among the all-time greats.
4. Cameron Young’s breakout major moment
The 29-year-old New Yorker has been one of the hottest players in golf, with a Players Championship win and a rise to No. 3 in the world rankings. His elite ball-striking has been complemented by improved putting.
A Northeast native on a Northeast Ross track feels fitting. Young’s game profiles ideally for Aronimink’s demands — if he claims his first major here, few will be surprised.
5. All eyes on LIV superstars Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau amid a month of chaos
This major also serves as a high-stakes spotlight on the LIV Golf contingent — particularly Rahm and DeChambeau — as the Saudi-backed league navigates significant turbulence.
Reports in April 2026 revealed that the Public Investment Fund (PIF) plans to end its funding after the 2026 season, following years of massive investment (reportedly over $5 billion). This has triggered intense media scrutiny, questions about player guarantees, event adjustments, and the league’s long-term viability, with CEO Scott O’Neil confirming operations through the end of the year while seeking new investors.
Rahm (2023 Masters champion) and DeChambeau (two-time U.S. Open winner) headline an 11-player LIV group at Aronimink. Both have been vocal and visible amid the uncertainty, with their performances carrying extra weight: success here could bolster their cases for future opportunities or stability, while the off-course drama adds layers of intrigue and pressure.
Other LIV names like Dustin Johnson, Cameron Smith, and Tyrrell Hatton add depth, but Rahm and DeChambeau are the faces of this storyline.
The historic return to Aronimink — now the first club to host all three PGA of America majors — pairs with Philadelphia’s golf heritage for an electric atmosphere. A memorable winner on this restored strategic gem could elevate the event’s legacy.
The 2026 PGA Championship blends dominant favorites, Grand Slam pursuits, rising talent, and cross-league drama against a classic course that will truly test the world’s best. Expect a week full of compelling golf.
Vault: 2025 PGA Championship
Scottie Scheffler Claims 2025 PGA Championship in Dominant Fashion at Quail Hollow
Scottie Scheffler solidified his status as the world’s top golfer, capturing the 2025 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club with a commanding five-shot victory on Sunday. The win marked Scheffler’s third major championship and his first PGA Championship title, adding the prestigious Wanamaker Trophy to his growing collection of accolades.
Scheffler, the world No. 1, finished at 11-under par for the tournament, closing with an even-par 71 in the final round to secure his third major title since 2022, joining his Masters victories in 2022 and 2024. The 28-year-old American outlasted a stacked field, with Bryson DeChambeau, Harris English, and Davis Riley tying for second at 6-under.
The final round was not without drama. Scheffler entered Sunday with a three-shot lead, but a bogey on the first hole and a charging Jon Rahm erased his advantage by the turn. Rahm, fueled by birdies at Nos. 8, 10, and 11, briefly tied Scheffler at 9 under, creating a tense atmosphere at Quail Hollow.
However, Scheffler’s trademark composure prevailed. He regained control with back-to-back birdies on Nos. 14 and 15, while Rahm faltered, playing the final three holes — the notorious “Green Mile” — in 5-over, finishing seven shots back.
“It was a tough day out there,” Scheffler said post-round. “Jon pushed me hard, but I just focused on hitting fairways and greens. That’s what it takes on a course like this.”
Scheffler’s week-long journey to the title wasn’t without obstacles. Earlier in the week, he faced equipment challenges when his driver failed a USGA compliance test on Tuesday, forcing a last-minute switch. Additionally, the PGA of America’s decision not to allow preferred lies despite heavy rain and muddy conditions drew Scheffler’s ire, with the Texan calling the ruling “kind of stupid” after a double bogey on the 16th hole in the opening round due to a mud ball.
Yet, Scheffler adapted, posting rounds of 66, 68, 65, and 71 to claim the $3.42 million winner’s share of the $19 million purse, the largest in PGA Championship history.
The victory was a redemption of sorts for Scheffler, who made headlines at the 2024 PGA Championship when he was arrested before the second round at Valhalla due to a misunderstanding with police. All charges were later dropped.
“It’s special to win here,” Scheffler said, hoisting the Wannamaker Trophy with his wife, Meredith, and son, Bennett, by his side. “This game challenges you, but moments like this make it all worth it.”
Scheffler’s third major moves him halfway to a career grand slam, with the U.S. Open and The Open Championship remaining.
2025 PGA Championship Leaderboard
Pos-Player-Score (Final Rd)
1. Scottie Scheffler -11 (E)
2. Harris English -6 (6)
2. Bryson DeChambeau -6 (-1)
2. Davis Riley -6 (+1)
5. Taylor Pendrith -5 (-3)
5. Jon Vegas -5 (+1)
5. JT Poston -5 (+2)
8. Joaquin Niemann -4 (-3)
8. Ben Griffin -4 (-2)
8. Denny McCarthy -4 (-1)
8. Ryan Gerard -4 (-1)
8. Joe Highsmith -4 (-1)
8. Keegan Bradley -4 (+1)
8. Matt Fitzpatrick -4 (+1)
8. Jon Rahm -4 (+2)
8. Si Woo Kim -4 (+2)
The PGA Championship Field
The field this week in suburban Philadelphia will include most of the world’s marquee players, headlined by world No.1 Scottie Scheffler, who enters in close to top form with three straight solo runner-up finishes in elite events, and Rory McIlroy, fresh off winning a second green jacket.
Joining Scheffler and McIlroy will be a bevy of superstars, including Bryson DeChambeau, who comes in off a 3rd place finish in LIV Virginia; five-time major winner Brooks Koepka; Jordan Spieth, who needs only the PGA to complete the career grand slam; two-time major winners Jon Rahm, Xander Schauffele, Justin Thomas and Collin Morikawa, among others.
The two clear betting favorites this week are Scheffler (+500) and McIlroy (+900).
Red-hot Cameron Young, a winner at Sawgrass and Doral, was next at +1200, followed by Rahm, who also enters in good form, with two wins on the season and a bunch of high finishes.
A foursome of stars in Ludvig Aberg (+1800), Schauffele (+1800), DeChambeau (+2000), and Matt Fitzpatrick (+2200) were the remaining players with odds under 25-1.
Tommy Fleetwood (+2800) was the only other player under 30-1, while three-time PGA champion Koepka (+3500) rounds out the top-10 favs.
Next was a marquee twosome at +4500: Morikawa and Patrick Cantlay.
Tyrrell Hatton, Chris Gotterup, Justin Rose and Thomas are all offered at +5000 and the last grouping of players with odds of 50-1 or better.
Rickie Fowler (+6000), Russell Henley (+6000), and Sam Burns (+6000) rounded out the top-20 betting favorites.
The oddsmakers have Spieth at +6500 to complete the grand slam.
Top-20 Betting Favorites
Odds Rank-Player (Odds)
1. Scottie Scheffler (5-1)
2. Rory McIlroy (9-1)
3. Cam Young (12-1)
4. Jon Rahm (16-1)
5. Ludvig Aberg (18-1)
5. Xander Schauffele (18-1)
7. Bryson DeChambeau (20-1)
8. Matt Fitzpatrick (22-1)
9. Tommy Fleetwood (28-1)
10. Brooks Koepka (35-1)
11. Collin Morikawa (45-1)
11. Patrick Cantlay (45-1)
13. Tyrrell Hatton (50-1)
13. Chris Gotterup (50-1)
13. Justin Thomas (50-1)
13. Justin Rose (50-1)
17. Rickie Fowler (60-1)
17. Russell Henley (60-1)
17. Sam Burns (60-1)
20. Jordan Spieth (65-1)
20. Min Woo Lee (65-1)
20. Nicolai Hojgaard (65-1)
20. Si Woo Kim (65-1)
20. Viktor Hovland (65-1)
Full Field & Odds
Joel Cook contributed to this report. Credits: PGA Tour Media, Getty Images, PGA of America Communications, Wikipedia
