McNealy and Smalley share US PGA lead as McIlroy adapts to Aronimink test
The second round at the US PGA Championship has highlighted the difficulty of Aronimink, with Maverick McNealy and Alex Smalley leading at four-under par while Rory McIlroy fights back into contention.
Maverick McNealy and Alex Smalley share the lead at the US PGA Championship following the second round at Aronimink Golf Club, both finishing at four-under par 136. This total represents the highest 36-hole score to lead the event since 2012 at Kiawah Island, where the leader finished at four-under 140. The tournament marks the first time Aronimink has hosted the championship in 64 years, with the course setup proving punishing for the world’s best golfers.
McNealy, described as an intelligent but unheralded American who once considered leaving golf for a business career, leads alongside Smalley, who is competing in only his fifth major championship. They sit one shot ahead of Germany’s Stephan Jaeger, who recorded an unusual round of 18 pars, and South Africa’s Aldrich Potgieter. The leaderboard remains exceptionally tight, with 58 players within six shots of the leaders, underscoring the volatile nature of the event.
Rory McIlroy, the Masters champion, shot a bogey-free three-under 67 to move to one-over par, placing him five shots off the pace and back in contention. McIlroy adapted his strategy from day one, where he attempted to smash his driver, to a more strategic approach on day two. He capitalised on slightly more benign conditions in the late evening sun, describing the round as a necessary step to get back into the tournament.
Defending champion Scottie Scheffler sits two shots off the lead at two-under par, alongside Cameron Young and Ludvig Aberg. Spain’s Jon Rahm is one under par, while three-time major champion Jordan Spieth, seeking to complete his career Grand Slam after a nine-year wait, is alongside McIlroy at one over. Established stars such as Hideki Matsuyama and Min Woo Lee are also in the mix, with the field remaining impossible to call.
The second day of the championship crystallised that Aronimink rewards those who adapt quickest. While the majority of leading players were befuddled by the course setup, those who thought strategically were rewarded. The later starters, including McNealy and McIlroy, benefited from the changing conditions, setting the stage for a tightly contested weekend at the second men's major of the season.
