PGA Championship 2026 Punch Shot: Who wins, winning score at Aronimink?

Romine: Someone will take advantage of rain early in the championship and probably post 63. But I just don't see a ton of 65s and lower, especially over the weekend.

2026 PGA Championship - Preview Day One

PGA Championship 2026: First-round tee times, groupings at Aronimink

The first round of the 108th PGA Championship begins May 14 at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania. 156 players will tee off on Thursday in the second major of the season so far.

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Who will leave most disappointed?

Lavner: Xander Schauffele. Thought he was rounding into form ahead of the PGA, but his performance last week at Quail Hollow raised an eyebrow. He was all over the map with his driver, and although the punishment won’t be as severe here with all of the trees removed, it’s still important to play from the fairway for distance control.

Hoggard: Jordan Spieth. This will mark Spieth’s 10th attempt to complete the career Grand Slam and he doesn’t seem to be getting any closer. His best finish at the PGA Championship in the last decade is a tie for third in 2019, when he was still six shots behind winner Brooks Koepka. And while he has shown flashes of form this season, Spieth seems destined to close out a decade of Grand Slam frustration this week.

Romine: Justin Thomas. Lots of people are up in arms after I ranked Thomas No. 53 in the field, but since winning the 2022 PGA, Thomas has missed seven of 15 cuts with just one top-30 finish at majors. Sure, the ball-striking is trending since he returned from back surgery, but the putter is still unpredictable and the recent major form is a huge red flag.

Who else are you keeping an eye on?

Lavner: Bryson DeChambeau. Could argue that he’s never been more of a question mark. Game-wise, he has been inconsistent, missing the cut at the Masters (on the heels of consecutive LIV wins) and then placing third a week ago in Virginia, but he also revealed that he’s been dealing with wrist and shoulder injuries, the latter of which was severe enough to seek an MRI exam earlier this year. And then there’s his headspace: Where is he mentally with his competitive future so uncertain? Typically, clear-headed players play their best golf. Bryson, of course, is not like most players and might thrive amid the chaos.

Hoggard: Rory McIlroy. Aronimink is the perfect fit for McIlroy – wide fairways softened by rain and patchy rough following a particularly cold winter in the Northeast. But he was rusty last week at Quail Hollow and his preparation for the PGA was limited by a blister on his toe.

Romine: Sudarshan Yellamaraju. The last player in the field before Jake Knapp's WD got Tom Hoge in, but Yellamaraju is statistically the best long-iron player on Tour right now, ranks top 10 in total driving and was ready for the moment at The Players, which is the closest thing you can get to majors. This is his debut, so lack of experience will likely keep him from a top-10 finish, but he's absolutely worth a top-20 bet. Thank me later.

Cadillac Championship 2026 - Final Round

Ranking the entire PGA Championship field, Nos. 1-156

Cameron Young and Scottie Scheffler headline a complete ranking of all 156 competitors this week at Aronimink Golf Club.

• Brentley Romine,

• Brentley Romine,