PGA Championship Round 2: Tight leaderboard and severe conditions define Aronimink test
Cameron Young and Chris Gotterup surge into contention as leaders Alex Smalley and Maverick McNealy hold slender advantage amid challenging course setup.
The 2026 PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club has produced a historic level of competition after 36 holes, with a record number of players positioned within two strokes of the lead. Defending champion Scottie Scheffler and Masters winner Rory McIlroy trail the leaders, while newcomers Alex Smalley and Maverick McNealy share the top spot at four-under par 136. This total represents the highest 36-hole score to lead the event since 2012 at Kiawah Island, underscoring the difficulty of the course setup.
Chris Gotterup has surged into the mix with a tournament-low second-round 65, reaching three-under par and sitting just one stroke off the pace. Gotterup, who has shown significant improvement in his patience and creativity since turning professional, described his ability to execute difficult shots in windy conditions as key to his success. His round was the second-lowest of the championship, highlighting the depth of the field.
Cameron Young also remains in strong contention, finishing at two-under par, two strokes behind the leaders. Young demonstrated resilience during a difficult stretch on holes 13 through 17, where he faced bogeys and bunker scrambles but managed to save par through effective scrambling and putting. His performance has placed him among a select group of players who have consistently finished inside the top 10 after 36 holes in major championships since the start of 2022.
Play was significantly delayed throughout the day, with groups taking up to six hours to complete their rounds. The delays were attributed to a tight course layout, where greens often run into tee boxes, and severe pin placements on sloping greens. Scottie Scheffler described the conditions as the most difficult he has encountered on tour, noting that the artificial nature of some slopes made it exceptionally hard to get the ball close to the hole.
The leaderboard features seven major winners within four strokes of the lead, including Justin Thomas, Ludvig Åberg, and Hideki Matsuyama. Thomas, who has struggled in recent majors, shot a resilient round to sit at two-under par, citing improved mental management of pressure. Conversely, Bryson DeChambeau missed the cut for the third time in his last four major championships, following a first-round 76. The compact nature of the field means that any player making the cut at four-over par retains a mathematical chance to win the tournament.
