The second Major of the golfing calendar has arrived and this week all roads lead to Aronimink Golf Club, just outside Philadelphia. The 2026 PGA Championship marks the 108th edition of the tournament. This is only the second time Aronimink has hosted the event, with the first coming all the way back in 1962.

With a stacked field of 156 players chasing the famous Wanamaker Trophy, golf fans are in for a proper four-day rollercoaster. If the weather behaves and the greens stay lightning fast. Expect plenty of drama, blown leads, and a few golfers looking like Oke’s trying to putt on their driveway after a Highveld thunderstorm.

About the Course

Aronimink Golf Club is a classic parkland course that rewards precision far more than raw power. The layout is famous for its slick greens and demanding approach shots. Meaning players who stripe their irons cleanly will have a massive advantage this week.

The course can punish even the smallest mistakes, especially around the greens, and that should create plenty of leaderboard movement over the four rounds. One bad hole here and suddenly your Sunday charge looks more cooked than a braai left unattended during load shedding.

The Defending Champion: Scottie Scheffler

Every conversation about the 2026 PGA Championship starts with world number one Scottie Scheffler. The American arrives looking to become just the third golfer in history to successfully defend the PGA Championship title. Only Tiger Woods who managed it twice and Brooks Koepka have previously gone back-to-back in this Major.

That tells you everything about how difficult the challenge is.Yet Scheffler still heads into the week as the clear betting favourite. Despite only picking up one win in 2026 so far, he has delivered six top-10 finishes in nine starts. And has finished inside the top seven in each of his last six Major appearances.

That kind of consistency is frightening. The oke barely has off-weeks anymore. The only slight concern is that Scheffler has never played Aronimink competitively before, so course familiarity could become a factor once the pressure ramps up on the weekend.

Rory McIlroy: Chasing More Major History

Right behind Scheffler in the betting markets is Rory McIlroy, and the Northern Irish superstar arrives in red-hot form. McIlroy recently completed another Masters triumph at Augusta National Golf Club and now has his sights set on a third PGA Championship crown.

Victory this week would make him just the seventh golfer to win this Major three times, further cementing his place among golf’s all-time greats.

The big question is whether McIlroy can maintain that same emotional intensity after the buzz of Augusta. History says backing up one massive Major performance with another is incredibly difficult but if there’s one player capable of doing it, it’s Rory when the putter gets hot. And when Rory’s driver starts behaving itself, eish, the rest of the field usually starts sweating.

Cameron Young: The Form Player Heading Into PGA Championship 2026

If Scheffler and McIlroy are the headline acts, Cameron Young could be the man ready to spoil the party. Young has already won both the Players Championship and the Cadillac Championship this season, while also finishing T3 at the Masters.

That form has pushed him into the conversation as one of the hottest golfers on the planet right now. He enters the week as one of the leading favourites in the PGA Championship betting odds. He offers excellent value for punters looking beyond the obvious names.

For South African golf bettors, Young is the type of player who can suddenly catch fire and leave the field looking for answers by Saturday afternoon.

Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau Lead LIV Golf’s Challenge

The LIV Golf contingent arrives at Aronimink with two genuine contenders in Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau.

Rahm remains one of the most complete golfers in the world and already owns a Masters title, while DeChambeau’s power game can completely overpower certain layouts when everything clicks.

Aronimink may favour precision, but if Bryson starts bombing drives and making putts, things could get very interesting very quickly. Both players present solid value in the PGA Championship betting markets for punters willing to back LIV Golf stars against the PGA Tour heavyweights.

Other Players to Watch at the 2026 PGA Championship

The depth in this field is ridiculous, making PGA Championship betting especially attractive this week.

Xander Schauffele, Ludvig Åberg, Matt Fitzpatrick, and Tommy Fleetwood all have the ball-striking ability needed to handle Aronimink’s brutal greens.

Then there’s Brooks Koepka and honestly, writing him off at the PGA Championship is like saying the Sharks are definitely winning a URC knockout game without causing heart attacks first. The man just finds another gear at this tournament.

For long-shot betting value, keep an eye on Justin Rose and Russell Henley, both of whom arrive with quietly impressive recent form and attractive odds.

How South African Fans Can Follow the PGA Championship 2026

The 2026 PGA Championship runs from May 14 to May 17 at Aronimink Golf Club in Pennsylvania. South African golf fans can expect late-night viewing sessions, plenty of coffee, and probably at least one moment where you tell yourself, “I could make that putt,” while sitting on the couch with a Castle Lager in hand.

Whether you’re following the action for the golf, the betting markets, or just to watch the world’s best players suffer on ridiculously fast greens, this year’s PGA Championship has all the ingredients of an unforgettable Major. With Scheffler chasing history, Rory hunting another iconic win, and a loaded field full of challengers, this week should deliver proper golf drama from start to finish.