Pace of play at the 2026 PGA Championship was severely delayed, with some groups taking over 5 hours to finish. Justin Thomas expressed frustration after being put on the clock, questioning the decision amid challenging conditions.
Key points
Pace of play was significantly delayed at the 2026 PGA Championship.
The first group took 5 hours and 40 minutes to finish.
Justin Thomas and Keegan Bradley disagreed with being put on the clock.
Conditions included gusty winds and a high number of players on the course.
The first group off Friday morning took 5 hours and 40 minutes to complete their rounds. From there, it was a logjam for everyone else on the course. With 78 players on the course at once, combined with a major championship test and gusty winds, pace of play went out the window and screeched to a halt for many players, causing long waits and a struggle to maintain momentum for some.
For Justin Thomas, Cameron Young and Keegan Bradley, it was especially frustrating when Thomas and Bradley were told their group was on the clock. The duo were seen disagreeing with an official, who simply held his hands up after warning the group of their situation.
Thomas spoke after his round and expressed why it didn't make sense to him.
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.
Q&A
What caused the slow pace of play at the 2026 PGA Championship?
The slow pace was due to a combination of 78 players on the course, gusty winds, and the challenges of a major championship.
Why did Justin Thomas disagree with being put on the clock?
Justin Thomas felt it was unreasonable to be penalized for pace of play given the difficult conditions and delays experienced by all players.
How long did it take for the first group to finish their round at the PGA Championship?
The first group took 5 hours and 40 minutes to complete their round.
What was the reaction of Justin Thomas and Keegan Bradley to the official's warning?
Both players were seen disagreeing with the official after being informed their group was on the clock.
Related Articles
Golf·Recap
2026 PGA Championship cut line: Bryson DeChambeau misses another major weekend as stars pack up early
Bryson DeChambeau exits the 2026 PGA Championship early, missing the cut by three shots.
See every story in Sports — including breaking news and analysis.
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.
1 / 16
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.
1 / 16
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.
2 / 16
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.
3 / 16
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.
4 / 16
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.
5 / 16
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.
6 / 16
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.
7 / 16
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.
8 / 16
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.
9 / 16
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.
10 / 16
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.
11 / 16
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.
12 / 16
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.
13 / 16
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.
14 / 16
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.
15 / 16
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.
16 / 16
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.
"We just didn't really agree with it," Thomas said. "It's hard because it's kind of the whole time par thing. What is time par? How can time par on this course be the same when it's blowing 25 and the pins are tough than if it's not? And does time par change every day? There's just so many factors that go into it.
"We were behind. I'm not — I think that wasn't our issue or being annoyed by it, it's just the fact that we weren't holding up the group behind us. They were about — it seemed like every time we were on the green, they were on the tee and so on and so forth."
Justin Thomas of the United States reacts on the 13th green 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 13th green during the second round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on May 15, 2026 in Newtown, Pennsylvania.
Thomas went on to say he never really picked up his pace, even backing off his first shot after being put on the clock. Once players are put on the clock, if they receive a bad time, they can be penalized one shot.
While no penalties were handed out, Thomas wasn't going to rush his normal process.
"The hard part to me with the whole pace of play thing is that you, there's so much that goes into golf and there's so much that goes into hole to hole in terms of, are you hitting it close, are you able to tap it in, or you have to mark it, stuff like that, to where, are you holding the group up or are you not, to where it's very hard to make that call," Thomas said. "And we just didn't agree with it, to be honest.
"But we got taken off, and a hole later we were caught up. So it kind of goes to our point of why we didn't think we should of, but it is what it is. It's a part of it."
May 15, 2026; Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, USA; Cameron Young, left, and Justin Thomas, right, cross the bridge on the 17th hole during the second round of the PGA Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
May 15, 2026; Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, USA; Cameron Young, left, and Justin Thomas, right, cross the bridge on the 17th hole during the second round of the PGA Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Thomas and Bradley not agreeing with the official is no surprise. Most players are cognizant of keeping pace with the group in front of them while also handling the pressure of the moment, especially in a major.
But even for Thomas, he felt like arguing wouldn't make the situation any better.
"I'm not going to rush and hit a shot that isn't right," he said. "So just kind of went about my business and just was ready to play when it was my turn like I feel like I do normally."
