With the first men’s major of the season already in the books, Rory McIlroy’s victory at The Masters added another memorable chapter to Augusta National’s history. The world No. 1 and No. 2 finished first and second on the leaderboard, with McIlroy’s back-to-back wins matching the two Green Jackets Scottie Scheffler holds. Five of the top six players that week came from the world top 10, setting the stage for what promises to be another thrilling major championship.
The PGA Championship returns to Aronimink Golf Club for the first time in 64 years, since Gary Player triumphed there. This classic course, designed by legendary Scotsman Donald Ross, will celebrate its centenary in two years. For those who have followed the sport, Aronimink is familiar from Justin Rose’s win in the 2010 AT&T National and Keegan Bradley’s playoff victory over Rose in the 2018 BMW Championship.
Aronimink traditionally features generous fairways, but it will be interesting to see how the PGA of America sets up the course this week. The venue has seen low scoring before, with both Tiger Woods and McIlroy carding 62s. Woods played the back nine in 29 in 2018, and McIlroy’s 62 included two bogeys. Many believe narrower fairways could reward accuracy alongside power, making for a more compelling test.
The course has undergone significant renovations over the years. In 2003, architect Ron Pritchard was hired to restore the classic Ross design, and in 2017, Gil Hanse completed further work ahead of the 2018 BMW Championship. With those enhancements now settled, Aronimink is ready for another major week.
The top five in the world rankings are all enjoying strong seasons, each entering the second major with at least one victory in the first four months of the calendar year. Scottie Scheffler heads the list, followed closely by McIlroy, who will aim to make it back-to-back majors and lift the Wanamaker Trophy for a third time.
With form players across the field and Aronimink poised to deliver a classic test, the PGA Championship is set to captivate. Questions remain about the fractured state of men’s golf, but for this week, the focus will be on the world’s best battling for another major title.