2026 PGA Championship Preview: Aronimink Takes Center Stage

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The PGA Championship has always held a special place in my heart. As a PGA professional for the past 17 years, this tournament represents the pinnacle of our profession. It's the major championship that belongs to us, the PGA of America, and it showcases not just the world's best players but also the club professionals who qualify through our ranks.

This year, the PGA Championship returns to Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, for the first time since 1962. That's a 64-year gap, which tells you something about how special this venue is and how carefully the PGA of America selects its championship sites.

The tournament runs from May 14-17, and I expect it to be one of the most compelling major championships in recent memory. Aronimink is a classic Donald Ross design that will test every aspect of these players' games, and the field will be as deep as any major championship we've seen.

Scottie Scheffler's Dominant 2025: A Five-Stroke Victory

Let's start with last year's champion, Scottie Scheffler, who absolutely dominated at Quail Hollow Club. His five-stroke victory was a statement, a reminder that when Scheffler is on his game, he's virtually unbeatable.

I watched that final round with a mixture of awe and professional appreciation. Scheffler's ball-striking was surgical. His course management was impeccable. And his mental game was rock-solid. He never gave anyone a chance to get close.

What impressed me most was how he handled the pressure. The PGA Championship doesn't have the same historical weight as the Masters or the same prestige as The Open Championship, but it's still a major. The pressure is immense. And Scheffler made it look easy.

His victory at Quail Hollow was his first PGA Championship title, but I doubt it will be his last. The man is playing golf at a level that we haven't seen since Tiger Woods in his prime. And at just 29, he's entering what should be the peak years of his career.

The Contenders: Who Can Challenge at Aronimink?

The beauty of the PGA Championship is that it typically has the deepest field of any major. Unlike the Masters, which is an invitational, or The Open Championship, which has limited spots, the PGA Championship field is inclusive of players from various tours and backgrounds.

Let's break down the top contenders:

Rory McIlroy

McIlroy's 2025 Masters victory lifted a massive weight off his shoulders. Now, with the career Grand Slam complete, he can play with freedom and confidence. And when Rory plays freely, he's one of the most

dangerous players in the world.

The PGA Championship has been good to McIlroy. He won it in 2012 and '14, and he's been in contention multiple other times. He knows how to win this tournament, and he knows how to handle the pressure.

At Aronimink, Rory's length off the tee will be an advantage, but only if he can keep it in play. Donald Ross courses punish wayward drives, and Rory will need to be disciplined with his driver.

Justin Thomas

Justin Thomas enters the 2026 PGA Championship as one of the most compelling storylines of the tournament. After undergoing microdiscectomy surgery on his lower back in late 2025, Thomas missed the start of the 2026 season. The three-month recovery timeline had many wondering if he'd be ready for the major championship season.

But Thomas is a fighter. He's a two-time PGA Championship winner (2017, '22) and a player who knows how to peak at the right moments. His ball-striking has always been elite, and if his back is healthy, he has the game to contend at Aronimink.

What makes Thomas dangerous is his competitive fire. He plays with an edge, a determination that can carry him through difficult moments. At Aronimink, where mental toughness is as important as physical skill, Thomas' grit could be the difference between contending and winning.

The question is whether his back will hold up over four grueling days of major championship golf. If it does, don't be surprised to see JT in the mix come Sunday.

Cameron Young

There's something special about watching the son of a PGA Professional contend at the PGA Championship. Cameron Young, whose father, David Young, is a respected PGA pro, represents everything this tournament stands for. Growing up around the game, learning from a father who dedicated his life to teaching and promoting golf, Cameron understands what the PGA Championship means to our profession. He knows the sacrifices PGA professionals make, the long hours at the range teaching juniors, the early mornings preparing for member-guest tournaments and the dedication to growing the game.

And I believe that understanding this gives players like Cameron an extra edge at this tournament. They're not just playing for themselves; they're playing for their fathers, for the profession, for everyone who has ever worked at a club and dreamed of competing at the highest level.

I think about the club professionals I've watched compete at PGA Championships over the years. I remember watching them balance their club responsibilities with their competitive preparation, teaching lessons in the morning, then practicing in the afternoon, squeezing in tournament rounds while still serving their members. The dedication required is extraordinary. They qualify through our PGA Professional Championship, often taking vacation days from their clubs to compete, knowing they're representing all of us.

There have been moments that still give me chills. Club professionals making cuts, competing alongside major champions, proving that the dream is alive. They may not win, but their presence reminds us that this championship belongs to all PGA members, not just the tour players. It elevates the tournament, gives it a soul that the other majors don't quite have.

Cameron's game is perfectly suited for Aronimink. His ball-striking is exceptional, his length off the tee is an advantage, and his mental game continues to mature. He's been close in majors before, finishing second at The Open Championship and tying for third at the PGA Championship in 2022. This could be the year he breaks through.

When I watch Cameron play, I see a player who carries the pride of the PGA Professional with him. And that means something at this tournament.

Scottie Scheffler

Scheffler comes into 2026 as the defending champion and the hottest player in golf. His two major victories in 2025 (the PGA Championship and The Open Championship) established him as the game's dominant force.

What makes Scheffler so dangerous is his consistency. He doesn't have many bad weeks. His ball-striking is elite. His short game has improved dramatically over the past few years. And his mental game is as strong as anyone's.

At Aronimink, Scheffler's ability to shape shots both ways will be crucial. Donald Ross-designed courses demand creativity and precision, and Scheffler has both in abundance.

Keegan Bradley

Keegan Bradley is another son of a PGA professional, and like Cameron Young, he understands what this tournament represents. His father, Mark Bradley, instilled in him a deep respect for the profession and the game.

But Keegan has something else going for him at Aronimink: He was the last player to win a tournament at this venue. In 2018, Bradley captured the BMW Championship at Aronimink, navigating the Donald Ross design with precision and poise. He knows these greens, he knows these fairways and he knows what it takes to win here.

That local knowledge is invaluable. Major championships are often won by players who understand the nuances of a course, who know where to miss and where to be aggressive. Bradley has that advantage.

Beyond that, Bradley is a former PGA Championship winner (2011), and he knows how to handle the pressure of major championship Sunday. His intensity and passion are evident in every shot, and at Aronimink, that fire could propel him to victory.

There's something deeply resonant about a PGA professional's son winning the PGA Championship. It's a validation of everything our profession stands for: the teaching, the mentoring, the dedication to the game. When Keegan won in 2011, it meant something special to PGA professionals across the country. If he

can win again at Aronimink, a course where he's already proven himself, it would be a moment we'd all celebrate.

Bryson DeChambeau

Bryson DeChambeau is unlike any other player in professional golf. His analytical approach, obsession with distance and willingness to challenge conventional wisdom make him one of the most fascinating players to watch.

DeChambeau is a two-time U.S. Open champion (2020, '24), and his game has evolved significantly over the years. He's added tremendous distance off the tee, but he's also refined his short game and improved his course management.

At Aronimink, DeChambeau's length could be an advantage, but only if he can control it. Donald Ross courses demand precision, and players who try to overpower them often find themselves in trouble. The key for Bryson will be knowing when to use his power and when to dial it back.

What I respect about DeChambeau is his commitment to his process. He believes in his methods, he trusts his data and he's willing to be different. In a sport that often values tradition and conformity, Bryson's willingness to forge his own path is admirable.

If he can marry his power with the precision that Aronimink demands, DeChambeau could be a serious threat. And given his major championship pedigree, it's clear that he knows how to perform when the stakes are highest.

The Club Professionals

One of the things I love most about the PGA Championship is that it includes spots for club professionals. These are my peers, the men and women who work at clubs across the country, teaching juniors, running tournaments and keeping the game alive at the grassroots level.

Watching a club pro compete against the world's best players is inspiring. It reminds us that golf is a game for everyone, that with enough talent and determination, anyone can compete at the highest level. These club pros have balanced their teaching schedules, member events, and daily responsibilities at their clubs, all while maintaining a competitive game sharp enough to qualify for the PGA Professional Championship.

I think about the sacrifices they make, taking vacation days to compete, practicing after long days on the lesson tee and managing the expectations of their members while chasing their own dreams. They represent the heart of our profession, the dedication that defines what it means to be a PGA professional.

Will a club professional win the PGA Championship? Probably not. But they'll represent our profession with pride and dignity, and that's what matters most. Their presence elevates this championship, gives it a soul that connects the tour professionals with those of us working at clubs every day.

Aronimink Golf Club: A Donald Ross Masterpiece

Aronimink Golf Club opened in 1896, making it one of the oldest clubs in the Philadelphia area. The current course, designed by Donald Ross and opened in 1928, is considered one of his finest works and represents the pinnacle of Golden Age architecture. Ross was a master at creating courses that reward

strategic thinking over brute force, and Aronimink exemplifies this philosophy perfectly. His design philosophy centered on presenting players with options - multiple ways to play each hole, with varying degrees of risk and reward. At Aronimink, every hole demands a decision, and the wrong choice is punished swiftly.

The Front Nine: A Strategic Test

The front nine at Aronimink has rolling terrain with uphill, downhill, and sidehill lies. The first three holes are all 400-plus-yard par 4s, with No. 3 stretching to a robust 460 yards.

The fairways feature cross slopes that demand accuracy, as even tee shots that find the fairway can leave difficult approaches. The fifth hole, "Mohawk," is a short par 3 of roughly 160 yards and offers a slight respite. Greens have contours that make putting treacherous, and Ross' strategic bunkering forces

careful thinking. The ninth, "Kickapoo," is a challenging par 5, a beast at about 610 yards. With only two par 5s on the course, the field will need to make a birdie here to keep pace.

The Signature Hole: The 17th (Seneca)

This par 3, playing 215 yards slightly downhill, is a perfect example of Ross' genius.

What makes this hole so visually stunning and strategically demanding is the large pond that fronts the entire putting surface. There's no bailout, no safe miss. A bunker guards the front right of the green, adding another layer of complexity to an already intimidating shot. The wind typically swirls in this

corridor, making club selection difficult.

What makes this hole so special is that it requires both power and precision. You need to hit a long iron or hybrid with enough carry to clear the water, but you also need to hit it to the right spot on the green. Come up short, and you're in the pond. Miss right, and you're in the bunker. Three-putt from the wrong

tier, and you've just handed a stroke to the field.

Holes like this demand your full attention, your best swing and a little bit of courage. When you walk off with a par, you feel like you've earned it.

The Back Nine: Where Championships Are Won

The back nine is where the PGA Championship will be decided. It's known for long, demanding par 4s that test every aspect of a player's game.

The 11th hole, called "Kiowea," plays uphill the entire way, making it play much longer than the yardage suggests. The back-to-front sloped green is surrounded by approximately 20 bunkers.

The 12th, "Saginaw," is a long uphill par 4 of roughly 470 yards, requiring two high-quality shots. Staggered fairway bunkers guard both sides, from the tee to the landing area, and a deep greenside bunker short right protects the back-to-front sloping green.

With the 17th, "Seneca," the course's signature par 3 over water, the back nine becomes a true test. Well-protected greens demand patience and precision over power. This is where the championship will likely be decided.

What Makes the PGA Championship Unique

As a PGA professional, the PGA Championship holds a special place in my heart that goes beyond mere tournament golf. This is our championship, the one major that belongs to the PGA of America, and that distinction carries profound meaning for everyone who wears the PGA crest.

I still remember the first PGA Championship I attended as a young professional: Keegan Bradley's win at the Atlanta Athletic Club in 2011. Walking the grounds with my dad, seeing the Wanamaker Trophy on display, watching my fellow PGA members compete alongside the world's best players; it was a moment of pure pride. The Wanamaker Trophy, that magnificent piece of silver standing nearly three feet tall and weighing 27 pounds, represents more than just a championship. It represents our profession, our history and our commitment to the game.

What makes this tournament unique is the relationship between club professionals and tour professionals. We're all members of the PGA of America. We've all passed the same playing ability test, completed the same education requirements and committed ourselves to growing the game. The difference is that some of us chose to dedicate our careers to teaching and club management, while others pursued tournament golf. But we're all part of the same family.

Predictions and Final Thoughts

Predicting the PGA Championship is always tricky. The field is deep, the course is challenging and anything can happen over four days of major championship golf.

But if I'm forced to make a prediction, I'll say this: Scottie Scheffler is the favorite, and rightfully so. He's playing the best golf on the planet, and he knows how to win major championships.

But don't count out Rory McIlroy, who is riding high after his Masters victory. Or Justin Thomas, returning from back surgery with something to prove. Or Cameron Young and Keegan Bradley, sons of PGA Professionals who understand what this championship means. Or Bryson DeChambeau, whose power and precision could be the perfect combination for Aronimink.

What I know for sure is this: Aronimink will provide a stern test, and only the best player will emerge victorious. The course demands precision, patience and mental toughness. And whoever wins will have earned it.

Come May 14, when the first tee shot is struck at Aronimink, we'll all be watching with pride and anticipation. And for four glorious days, we'll be reminded that golf at its highest level is a beautiful and demanding game.

Related: Athlon Sports 2026 Golf Annual Magazine Available Now

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This story was originally published May 11, 2026 at 4:30 PM.