Scottie Scheffler on Friday pins at the PGA Championship: 'Kind of absurd'

Scottie Scheffler on Friday pins at the PGA Championship: 'Kind of absurd'

Scottie Scheffler said the pin locations at the 2026 PGA Championship are the hardest he has ever played since he joined the PGA Tour.

A damning statement from the World No. 1, who sits at 2 under after a 71 on Friday and well in contention to defend his title at Aronimink. But for a course that many thought would be torn apart by the best players in the world before the week began, it's showing its teeth.

"I did ask, I asked Fooch, who caddies for Justin Rose. He's been around a long time — and I asked Teddy (Scott) too — have you seen anything like this before? They said maybe Shinnecock is the only place they have seen that has pins that could compare to this," Scheffler said. "It's difficult to get the ball close to the hole. It's difficult to hole putts, especially when you have big slopes and wind, and I think that's why you see the scores so close to par."

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Scheffler is not the only player to discuss the difficult conditions at Aronimink through the first two rounds. The course has played fairly firm through the first two days, but dastardly greens have proved penal for players who missed in the wrong spots. Every shot requires precision, and those who waver at all are punished.

Add in a gusting wind throughout much of Friday morning and into the afternoon, it made conditions even tougher for the best players in the world.

"There's also just some things that are out of your control," Scheffler said. "You just got to continue to try to hit good shots, and most of the pins today were, I mean, kind of absurd. They were just so far into the areas where we thought the pins were going to be, and then they just -- like the one on 14 was probably the hardest pin that I've seen in a long time just because, I mean, there's literally just like a spine and they're like, 'oh, we'll just put the pin right on top of it.' And you're like, 'all right, well, I'll see what I can do.' And just you know, just challenging.

Scheffler bogeyed three of his first four holes but bounced back nicely to manage a 1-over performance.

Hideki Matsuyama of Japan plays his shot from the 12th tee during the second round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on May 15, 2026 in Newtown, Pennsylvania.

A detailed view of the flag on the tenth green during the second round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on May 15, 2026 in Newtown, Pennsylvania.

Martin Kaymer of Germany plays a shot on the fourth hole during the second round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on May 15, 2026 in Newtown, Pennsylvania.

Collin Morikawa of the United States, Shane Lowry of Ireland and Viktor Hovland of Norway walks to the tenth green during the second round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on May 15, 2026 in Newtown, Pennsylvania.

Tommy Fleetwood of England and caddie Ian Finnis prepare for a shot on the tenth green during the second round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on May 15, 2026 in Newtown, Pennsylvania.

Cameron Young of United States walks the tenth fairway during the second round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on May 15, 2026 in Newtown, Pennsylvania.

Justin Thomas of the United States plays his shot from the tenth tee during the second round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on May 15, 2026 in Newtown, Pennsylvania.

Sepp Straka of Austria follows his shot from the second tee during the second round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on May 15, 2026 in Newtown, Pennsylvania.

Justin Thomas of the United States reacts on the tenth green during the second round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on May 15, 2026 in Newtown, Pennsylvania.

Travis Smyth of Australia plays his shot from the second tee during the second round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on May 15, 2026 in Newtown, Pennsylvania.

Justin Rose of England runs down the fourth hole during the second round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on May 15, 2026 in Newtown, Pennsylvania.

Justin Rose of England hands his club to his caddie Mark Fulcher on the tenth hole during the second round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on May 15, 2026 in Newtown, Pennsylvania.

Scottie Scheffler plays his shot from the tenth tee during the second round of the PGA Championship golf tournament.

Michael Block of the United States, Corebridge Financial Team of PGA of America, plays a shot on the ninth hole during the second round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on May 15, 2026 in Newtown, Pennsylvania.

Hideki Matsuyama of Japan plays a shot on the 15th hole during the second round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on May 15, 2026 in Newtown, Pennsylvania.

Patrick Reed of the United States looks on from the fourth green during the second round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on May 15, 2026 in Newtown, Pennsylvania.

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2026 PGA Championship: Best photos from Friday's second round at Aronimink

Hideki Matsuyama of Japan plays his shot from the 12th tee during the second round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on May 15, 2026 in Newtown, Pennsylvania.

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2026 PGA Championship: Best photos from Friday's second round at Aronimink

Hideki Matsuyama of Japan plays his shot from the 12th tee during the second round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on May 15, 2026 in Newtown, Pennsylvania.

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2026 PGA Championship: Best photos from Friday's second round at Aronimink

A detailed view of the flag on the tenth green during the second round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on May 15, 2026 in Newtown, Pennsylvania.

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2026 PGA Championship: Best photos from Friday's second round at Aronimink

Martin Kaymer of Germany plays a shot on the fourth hole during the second round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on May 15, 2026 in Newtown, Pennsylvania.

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2026 PGA Championship: Best photos from Friday's second round at Aronimink

Collin Morikawa of the United States, Shane Lowry of Ireland and Viktor Hovland of Norway walks to the tenth green during the second round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on May 15, 2026 in Newtown, Pennsylvania.

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2026 PGA Championship: Best photos from Friday's second round at Aronimink

Tommy Fleetwood of England and caddie Ian Finnis prepare for a shot on the tenth green during the second round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on May 15, 2026 in Newtown, Pennsylvania.

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2026 PGA Championship: Best photos from Friday's second round at Aronimink

Cameron Young of United States walks the tenth fairway during the second round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on May 15, 2026 in Newtown, Pennsylvania.

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2026 PGA Championship: Best photos from Friday's second round at Aronimink

Justin Thomas of the United States plays his shot from the tenth tee during the second round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on May 15, 2026 in Newtown, Pennsylvania.

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2026 PGA Championship: Best photos from Friday's second round at Aronimink

Sepp Straka of Austria follows his shot from the second tee during the second round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on May 15, 2026 in Newtown, Pennsylvania.

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2026 PGA Championship: Best photos from Friday's second round at Aronimink

Justin Thomas of the United States reacts on the tenth green during the second round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on May 15, 2026 in Newtown, Pennsylvania.

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2026 PGA Championship: Best photos from Friday's second round at Aronimink

Travis Smyth of Australia plays his shot from the second tee during the second round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on May 15, 2026 in Newtown, Pennsylvania.

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2026 PGA Championship: Best photos from Friday's second round at Aronimink

Justin Rose of England runs down the fourth hole during the second round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on May 15, 2026 in Newtown, Pennsylvania.

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2026 PGA Championship: Best photos from Friday's second round at Aronimink

Justin Rose of England hands his club to his caddie Mark Fulcher on the tenth hole during the second round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on May 15, 2026 in Newtown, Pennsylvania.

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2026 PGA Championship: Best photos from Friday's second round at Aronimink

Scottie Scheffler plays his shot from the tenth tee during the second round of the PGA Championship golf tournament.

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2026 PGA Championship: Best photos from Friday's second round at Aronimink

Michael Block of the United States, Corebridge Financial Team of PGA of America, plays a shot on the ninth hole during the second round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on May 15, 2026 in Newtown, Pennsylvania.

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2026 PGA Championship: Best photos from Friday's second round at Aronimink

Hideki Matsuyama of Japan plays a shot on the 15th hole during the second round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on May 15, 2026 in Newtown, Pennsylvania.

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2026 PGA Championship: Best photos from Friday's second round at Aronimink

Patrick Reed of the United States looks on from the fourth green during the second round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on May 15, 2026 in Newtown, Pennsylvania.

Even with the difficulty of the greens, Scheffler made it clear: he did not think Friday's setup was unfair. That doesn't mean he was a fan, but it's also a major championship that's going to test every part of one's game. For Scheffler, that means his patience.

"I think the only time in our game where it's unfair is like if you get wind starting to blow the ball off of greens," Scheffler said. "I hadn't seen that yet. It looks like the wind's going to die down as the week goes on. I don't think we'll see that this week.

With 36 holes to go, Scheffler is still plenty in the thick of things. Regardless of the weekend pin locations, he's bound to be a factor down the stretch.

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: PGA Championship 2026: Scottie Scheffler not a fan of Friday pins