NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. — Professional golfers dedicate immense time and effort to earn the chance for a critical two-hour period. This crucial span, where all is on the line and attention is solely focused on them, happens only four times annually during the major championships, a culmination only possible due to extensive preparation.
This preparation involves countless early starts, late finishes, personal compromises, rigorous training, and pivotal moments. This deep commitment is what gives major championship golf its unique allure. While the entire event is significant, the final two hours hold a particular fascination. Achieving this level of contention is inherently challenging, yet Cameron Young has navigated this path with notable ease throughout his remarkably early career.
Young’s current position is 2 strokes under par following two rounds at the 2026 PGA Championship, placing him two shots adrift of co-leaders Alex Smalley and Maverick McNealy, with merely six competitors separating him from the frontrunners.
Since the commencement of 2022, only two individuals have appeared in the top 10 after 36 holes in major tournaments more frequently than the reigning Players Championship victor: Scottie Scheffler, who boasts four major victories, and Rory McIlroy, with two.
As for Young, his tally remains at zero major titles.
Players with Most Top 10 Finishes at Majors After 36 Holes (2022-26)
|
Scottie Scheffler |
12 |
|
Rory McIlroy |
8 |
|
Cameron Young |
7 |
Young has previously navigated several pressure-filled “two-hour” moments, notably being paired with McIlroy in the final group on Sunday at this year’s Masters. However, the level of expectation surrounding him at this PGA Championship is unprecedented. Despite it being a Friday round rather than a championship decider, Young performed commendably, ensuring he remains a significant contender for Sunday.
His scorecard suffered an early setback on the short par-4 13th, originating from the middle of the fairway, during a morning characterized by a perceived temperature of 40 degrees and unpredicted strong winds.
Attempting a low-flighted wedge shot to reach a back pin position, Young’s ball, propelled by the wind, sailed past the green, resulting in a bogey. His subsequent tee shot on the 14th landed in a greenside bunker, immediately putting the American in a defensive position.
He managed a successful up-and-down from the sand, only to find himself in sand again on the following hole, necessitating another recovery. This time, he sank a 14-foot par putt after pitching his wedge to that specific distance. Young maintained composure and rectified his play when he holed out from 21 feet just off the green, following an otherwise unremarkable pitch.
Remarkably, he navigated this sequence of holes at even par, despite not delivering his best golf on a demanding course. Another 8-foot par putt materialized on the par-3 17th, a hole where his initial tee shot caused him visible frustration, seemingly headed for the water. Instead, his ball found the putting surface, eventually dropping into the cup in three strokes.
This five-hole stretch, while likely to be overlooked, was instrumental in affording Young the chance for more decisive moments, akin to the two hours that concluded his day. He drained a putt from just under 30 feet on the par-3 5th to move into red figures and significantly enhanced his Sunday prospects with a crucial birdie on the final hole, carding a 3-under round — a score surpassed by only two players this week.
Young has not yet reached the pinnacle of the championship that golfers aspire to, but he is steadily drawing nearer. He is close to the lead, approaching that critical Sunday period when all eyes focus on the contenders with nine holes remaining. While these moments ultimately determine the victor, Young’s performance on Friday was equally vital in his protracted pursuit of potentially becoming a major champion.
That pivotal day could arrive as early as Sunday.
Congestion at the Summit
For any player who successfully navigated the cut at the 108th PGA Championship, the encouraging news is not only the guarantee of two additional rounds and a financial reward but also a tangible opportunity to contend for the title. A mere eight strokes separate those who made the cut at 4 over par from Smalley and McNealy, who currently share the lead after 36 holes.
All conventional wisdom regarding required proximity to the lead heading into a major championship weekend should be disregarded, as this unusual situation means no one can be counted out.
Just a day after what he described as a “poor” round, McIlroy advanced significantly with a second-round 67, placing him within five shots of the frontrunners. Jordan Spieth, despite putting challenges, constructed a round where he ceded only two strokes to par, maintaining contention at that same score alongside Brooks Koepka, Rickie Fowler, and Xander Schauffele.
Previous world No. 1s such as Jason Day and Jon Rahm are a few strokes closer, amidst a formidable lineup including Scheffler, Ludvig Åberg, Justin Thomas, Harris English, and Si Woo Kim, all at 2 under. Further up the leaderboard are Chris Gotterup and Hideki Matsuyama at 3 under.
Historically, only two major championships have seen 15 players within two shots of the lead after 36 holes. This 2026 PGA Championship now marks the third instance, setting a new tournament record for the number of contenders at the halfway point.
Seven major champions are positioned within four strokes of the lead, an occurrence recorded for the fifth time in the championship’s history. Consequently, every participant teeing off on Saturday could realistically harbor ambitions, as they retired on Friday evening, of being the ultimate victor by Sunday night.
An Alternative Form of Congestion
Among those present on the course, the estimated duration for a round quickly surged past six hours once the pace of play became apparent. In what felt like an instant, 1.5 hours had elapsed, yet the group comprising Scheffler, Justin Rose, and Matt Fitzpatrick had completed only four holes. The issue was not their individual pace but rather a confluence of four contributing factors.
Firstly, the tournament features a substantial field of 156 players.
Secondly, it is a major championship, where each shot carries immense significance.
Thirdly, the golf course layout is characterized by close proximity, with putting greens frequently merging into teeing grounds. (For instance, the 13th green is directly adjacent to the 14th tee, requiring players to pause for other groups to finish before proceeding. Similar arrangements are found between the 12th green and 13th tee, and the neighboring greens of the 8th and 10th holes.)
Fourthly, for two consecutive days, the PGA of America opted for a rather challenging setup, if one considers heavily sloped green sections for pin placements as enjoyable (more details on this below).
While the situation is expected to alleviate over the weekend as half the field is eliminated and potentially allows for lower scores, it must be acknowledged plainly: a round of golf should not extend to six hours, irrespective of the tournament’s stature or prevailing conditions.
Patrick McDonald, CBS Sports
The Subsequent Stage of Development
At one juncture during Gotterup’s college golf days, he recorded three consecutive rounds scoring over 100 on a team excursion. This is the very same Gotterup who was honored with the Fred Haskins Award in 2022, secured a win during his inaugural season on the PGA Tour, and has notched three victories against prominent players like McIlroy and Matsuyama within the past year.
Gotterup’s advancement has been evident this week at Aronimink Golf Club, where a player previously known for his aggressive style now consistently demonstrates exceptional finesse shots. On a course demanding composure, Gotterup is excelling, evidenced by his second-round 65 (the lowest score of the championship), which has elevated him to 3 under par, just one stroke off the lead.
“I believe I’ve significantly improved since turning professional in accepting that hitting it within 30 feet can be a successful shot, and much of that applies here. Consequently, many elements of patience are involved, and I feel I’ve developed in that regard, but also in being imaginative and prepared to execute a shot that, ordinarily, you might not attempt in a regular week.
“When you’re striking a 4-iron from 190 yards out here and aiming to cut it 20 yards to counteract the wind, it’s a skill I’ve grown accustomed to with more windy play, and, yes, it doesn’t simplify the execution, but you must be fully present to make those shots, and I’ve successfully managed a few. So, I hope to maintain that.”
Elevating the ceiling foundation!
Since securing his victory at the 2022 PGA Championship held at Southern Hills, Thomas has largely been inconspicuous in major tournaments. This isn’t due to a lack of talent, but rather because his performance tends to be either exceptionally good or, conversely, quite poor.
Thomas has achieved only one top-30 finish since clinching his second Wanamaker trophy. Now, he stands with a strong prospect of earning his third, largely attributable to improving his baseline performance.
“What I’m probably more pleased or content with than the actual scores themselves is that I didn’t impose any additional pressure on myself during these initial two days,” Thomas stated. “I didn’t feel as though I inflated the significance of this moment. I genuinely felt I was executing many aspects well, swinging proficiently, playing effectively, and putting well. So, the objective was simply to play. … It sounds deceptively simple to articulate, but in my estimation, it’s one of the most challenging feats in this sport.
“Therefore, I am extremely gratified and proud of myself for accomplishing that during the first two days, and yes, just essentially playing what the hole, what the course presents to me. So, I’ll endeavor to replicate that this weekend.”
Significant Major Scores Since 2023
|
2025 U.S. Open |
76 |
Round 1 |
|
2025 U.S. Open |
76 |
Round 2 |
|
2025 Masters |
76 |
Round 3 |
|
2024 Open |
78 |
Round 2 |
|
2024 Open |
77 |
Round 4 |
|
2024 Masters |
79 |
Round 2 |
|
2023 Open |
82 |
Round 1 |
|
2023 U.S. Open |
81 |
Round 2 |
|
2023 Masters |
78 |
Round 2 |
The American’s second round initially unfolded in a manner familiar from recent years. Thomas typically starts strong only to undermine himself – his driving falters, short putts are missed, and he plummets down the leaderboard into obscurity.
Thomas’s second round began with a similar trajectory to those narratives. He recorded two bogeys within his initial three holes, shifting from under par to potentially nearing the cutline. However, this time an alternative conclusion unfolded. He stabilized his play, carding a pair of birdies on his back nine – attributed to some impressive wedge work – and concluded the weekend at 2 under, firmly establishing himself in the championship.
For the first time in the past four years, it seemed he had delivered that crucial major round necessary to remain competitive, and it might very well be the one that leads him to his inaugural major title within that same period.
Are Adjustments Necessary?
Over his most recent four major championships, Bryson DeChambeau has posted scores of 77, 78, 76, and most recently a 76 in the opening round of the PGA Championship. This pattern has resulted in his third missed cut across his last four major appearances, and without a remarkable performance on Friday at Royal Portrush, DeChambeau might easily have extended this streak to four consecutive missed cuts in the year’s most significant tournaments.
Given another premature departure from the PGA Championship, is a fundamental change now imperative? Could the issue lie with his single-length irons? Is it the numerous off-course commitments diverting his focus? Is it the ongoing speculation surrounding LIV Golf and his future playing affiliations? Or is it a combination of all these factors?
DeChambeau has a history of re-evaluating and transforming his approach throughout his career. Judging by his crucial four rounds in 2026, another significant overhaul may be essential for the individual once known as the Mad Scientist.
Aiming for the Flag
From the beginning of the week, it was frequently stated that Aronimink’s primary challenge lies in its green complexes. Whether described as fiendish, intricate, or something else entirely, some players perceive them as verging on unreasonable. The par-3 14th hole has drawn particular scrutiny, given its formidable character.
Already spanning over 200 yards and played into a 20 mph wind for the past two days, the 14th featured a hole placement on Thursday that appeared barely on the green surface. A comparable situation confronted players on Friday, though this time the pin was situated on the right-side peninsula of the green.
With such demanding pin positions on these greens, golfers are largely compelled to play conservatively – aiming 30-40 feet away towards the wider, safer parts of the green. However, even when they suppress their ambition and choose the prudent shot, success is far from guaranteed, as the severity of the slopes extends around the cup, further exacerbated by the gusty conditions.
“These are the most challenging pin placements I’ve encountered since joining the Tour, and that includes U.S. Opens and Oakmont,” Scheffler remarked following his second round. “I did inquire with [some caddies]… ‘Have you ever witnessed anything quite like this?’ They suggested that perhaps Shinnecock is the sole venue where pins could be considered comparable.
“However, it’s distinct on this particular golf course, because at Oakmont, while their greens are exceptionally severe, they are predominantly severe in a single direction. Here, it’s as if the green might slope entirely in one direction, and then we place the pin here, and simultaneously there’s another slope in a different direction. It’s not as, how shall I put it, natural to the existing contours. I believe there’s a greater degree of artificiality integrated into these greens, making it simply exceedingly difficult.
“It’s hard to position the ball near the hole. It’s challenging to sink putts, especially when contending with significant slopes and wind, and I suspect that explains why scores are so tightly grouped around par.”
