The receptionist’s work week had concluded. As she traveled by shuttle from Aronimink Golf Club to a nearby parking facility, memories flooded her mind. Dealing with calls from annoyed TV spectators reporting screen smudges to mischievous adolescents inquiring about tee times for the next day, she found the preceding week quite astonishing.
Aronimink, chosen eight years prior as the venue for the 2026 PGA Championship, underwent months of preparation by crews, not just for the year’s second major event but also for the massive crowds expected to fill the premises. Despite concerns that construction of spectator stands, auxiliary structures, VIP marquees, and retail outlets might have been delayed by a snowstorm two months earlier, work continued unimpeded with shovels actively used to assemble the venue’s components.
Aronimink members are set to reclaim their club this week, yet for several months recently, it functioned as an active building site, and over the last seven days, it served as the backdrop for historical achievements.
With Aaron Rai’s notable win at the PGA Championship, the 2026 major championship season has officially reached its halfway point. Players now have just two more chances remaining, even though summer has technically yet to begin on the calendar.
The receptionist might not have been aware, but her experience encapsulated the essence of professional golf. The anticipation leading up to an event constitutes nearly half the enjoyment. Golfers explore unfamiliar courses, journalists engage in discussions, and enthusiasm steadily builds as the competition approaches. However, from the moment tees are placed and play begins on Thursday morning, the event concludes with remarkable speed. The tournament’s main spectacle lasts only four days—four days following years of foresight and months of construction. And in an instant, the 2026 PGA Championship transitioned from being a current event to a past one.
We will now explore some key observations from the recent week in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania.
What Made the PGA Championship Stand Out
Major championships possess a unique appeal because each one is distinct, and any competitor, in theory, could emerge victorious. While celebrating historical achievements by figures such as Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, or Jon Rahm would have been enjoyable, a victor like Rai truly embodies the spirit of the sport.
Within a sport often characterized by driving distance, he stands as one of the PGA Tour’s less powerful hitters. In an era where consumer choices often reflect social standing, Rai distinguishes himself by wearing two gloves, employing iron headcovers, using an older model TaylorMade driver unavailable in retail, and consistently placing plastic tees to ensure uniform ball height for every driver shot.
Rai’s approach to the game embodies respect, modesty, and a congenial demeanor, all of which he displayed on a course whose configuration drew criticism from some top players. Aronimink presented the most rigorous PGA Championship challenge seen since Southern Hills in 2022. Every facet of a player’s skill, both overt and subtle, was put to the test, and ultimately, the individual possessing both mental fortitude and superior execution emerged triumphant.
Were certain flag placements questionable? Absolutely. Was the par-3 8th hole poorly designed? Likely! Ought broader deviations from the target be penalized more severely than shots landing nearer the fairway? Indeed! Nevertheless, all competitors faced these identical conditions.
It is uncertain if Rai will secure another major championship title during his career. Just the prior week, he participated in the PGA Tour’s concurrent tournament in Myrtle Beach – (Brian Rolapp, should you be reading this, consider increasing signature event fields to 120 participants) – and had never previously placed within the top 10 at a major. What is clear, however, is that Rai’s triumph was thoroughly merited, as he stood out among many golf legends, at least for this particular week.
Consistent Top Performers
After the initial two major championships, a mere trio of golfers has achieved top-10 finishes in both the Masters and the PGA Championship: McIlroy (victory, T7), Xander Schauffele (T9, T7), and Justin Rose (T3, T10). McIlroy and Rose contended closely at the Masters, whereas McIlroy and Schauffele found themselves in contention on Sunday at the PGA Championship.
Schauffele’s reliable performance in these major tournaments often goes unnoticed, despite accumulating 19 top-20 placements across his 36 career major starts. Furthermore, he has secured a top-20 spot in 27 of those 36 appearances. While Rose’s accomplishments at Augusta National frequently draw attention, the English golfer has now achieved six top-15 finishes in his last seven PGA Championships.
Regarding McIlroy, he holds the global lead on major championship leaderboards when measured against par across the initial eight major rounds. His steady performance in majors diminished during his period without a win, but having claimed a few green jackets, his capacity to be a contender has steadily risen, evidenced by his current streak of four consecutive top-20 finishes, stretching back to the previous year’s U.S. Open.
Displaying Common Human Traits
A collective pause is in order. This urgency might stem from contemporary society’s demand for immediate results, but let us instead consider the broader outlook and acknowledge that Ludvig Åberg is progressing precisely as expected, rather than falling behind.
Regarding the highly acclaimed Swedish player, two facts coexist: (1) He possessed another excellent chance to claim a major championship but did not succeed; (2) his major championship career is still in its nascent stages.
Åberg’s participation at Aronimink represented only his third time competing in the PGA Championship and his tenth major appearance overall. Across these ten tournaments, the remarkably consistent right-handed golfer has achieved six top-25 placements, notably including his tie for fourth place with Rai on Sunday.
Tournaments Required to Secure Initial Major Title
| Rory McIlroy | 11th |
|
Scottie Scheffler |
10th |
|
Justin Thomas |
10th |
|
Jordan Spieth |
9th |
The aforementioned athletes were cited due to the comparable excitement surrounding Åberg’s rise. Each of the four was considered an undeniable prodigy. Irrespective of his personal preference, this accurately characterizes how he was perceived following his top finish in the PGA Tour University rankings, his participation with the European Ryder Cup team, and his wins on both the PGA Tour and DP World Tour in 2023.
Åberg still has several aspects to refine in his play, particularly under Sunday’s heightened pressure. Certain patterns have emerged, including accelerating his pace, miscalculating touch-based wedge shots, and effectively removing himself from contention in some events prior to reaching the concluding stages.
In essence: T-A-K-E I-T E-A-S-Y. More than one individual named Aaron R. garnered significant attention in the state this past weekend, and the long-ago counsel from the Steelers’ quarterback appears fitting for some to consider concerning Åberg.
Contenders Who Didn’t Claim Victory
While merely one of the 156 competitors can hoist the Wanamaker Trophy, this does not imply that all others depart from the second major championship as failures. Indeed, several can assert valid moral triumphs, with Cameron Smith serving as an immediate example.
The champion of the 2022 Open was the only participant to miss the cut in every major championship during the previous year. Following a missed cut at the Masters at the start of his 2026 major season, the unconventional right-handed golfer changed his swing instructor, opting to collaborate with Claude Harmon. This choice yielded positive results at Aronimink. Even with some erratic play on Sunday, Smith demonstrated that his abilities can still compete with the sport’s elite, despite a couple of underperforming years.
“It’s wonderful to perform well,” Smith remarked. “One doesn’t exert effort to play poorly, and it’s disheartening; the past few years have been particularly frustrating. I sensed that I was dedicating myself to practice without seeing substantial returns.
“I switched swing coaches to Claude a few weeks ago, and we’ve successfully addressed several minor inconsistencies. Consequently, I now possess considerably more self-assurance in my swing. Even during today’s intense moments on the course, I felt I could already rely on it. Thus, there are many encouraging indications.”
Justin Thomas shares a comparable situation with Smith. Also a major victor in 2022, the two-time PGA titleholder has subsequently found it challenging on true major championship courses. Prior to this week, his sole top-10 major finish post-Southern Hills occurred at Valhalla. This speaks volumes.
Nonetheless, Thomas posed a significant challenge on Sunday, posting a final-round 65 after a “Moving Day” where his performance declined. The course configuration at Aronimink favored Thomas, presenting minimal penalty for significant errant drives, and the frequent use of wedges highlighted his proficiency in that area. Despite occasional putting struggles, Thomas is among the select players you would rely on to sink a crucial putt on the 72nd hole, with the outcome hanging in the balance.
Rahm could certainly be counted among such players, as he performed creditably amidst the intense competition over the weekend. While some opportunities to score eluded him, and he failed to sink enough putts late in the rounds, his overall showing suggested a positive move towards regaining the formidable major championship presence he displayed in 2023.
The final pair of non-winning (and never-winning) contenders are Alex Smalley and Matti Schmid. Despite being largely overlooked, they remained in contention almost until the conclusion. Although they did not hoist the Wanamaker Trophy, their performances secured them invitations to the initial major event of 2027.
Missteps of the Leading Duo
The least constructive discussions following a major championship include: (1) “Had Rory simply performed better on par 5s, he would have been victorious;” (2) “If Scottie had only putted as usual, he would have secured consecutive wins.” Had they been capable, they would have done so. These remarks tend to undermine the achievements of the rightful winner.
So, what were the shortcomings for McIlroy and Scheffler? McIlroy’s problems stemmed from multiple factors; he played the par 5s at even par for the tournament (tied for 77th), primarily due to his inability to hit the fairways on those specific holes (tied for 75th in driving accuracy). Scheffler, conversely, led the field in driving accuracy but performed poorly in strokes gained putting (72nd). Over the week, the top-ranked player used 125 putts, exceeding his prior career high in a major championship by two, which occurred at both the 2023 Masters and the 2024 U.S. Open.
Looking Ahead
It is noteworthy how individual golfers follow their unique paths. Each player is distinct; when their method succeeds, it garners praise (as seen with Rai), but when it falters, it faces intense examination, much like Bryson DeChambeau. The two-time U.S. Open winner has been absent from contention in the recent four majors, missing the cut in three of his last four starts and starting his only weekend appearance in a major this past year at a significant disadvantage after the first round.
Numerous observers identify his iron shots and short game as areas of concern. DeChambeau exhibits substantial distance discrepancies between his clubs and has demonstrated difficulty controlling distances on shots lacking complete precision. His uniform-length irons limit his versatility both near the greens and within bunkers, as well as on undulating fairways.
For many, his gear is considered the primary issue, yet it also constitutes a fundamental aspect of DeChambeau’s distinctive style. It has proven effective in the past, regardless of acknowledgement, and yielded success as recently as 2025 when he held the lead at the Masters with 16 holes remaining.
It would not be unexpected if he implements certain modifications to his equipment. Indeed, it would be surprising if he did not alter them to some extent. Ultimately, DeChambeau must determine his utmost priorities. He finds himself influenced by numerous disparate demands, including his diverse duties and… interests… which do not exclusively pertain to professional golf.
