The PGA Championship has faced scrutiny as tricky pin placements have frustrated some of the sport’s leading figures.
Scheffler’s Strong Words on Pin Placements
Scottie Scheffler didn’t hold back, describing the pin locations as the most challenging he’s encountered since joining the Tour, even compared to U.S. Opens. He noted the difficulty in getting the ball close to the hole and holing putts, especially with the slopes and wind. After a 1-over round, Scheffler found himself at -2, just two strokes behind the lead.
Scheffler said that many of the pins were “kind of absurd”. He described situations where pins were placed directly on top of spines on the green.
Thomas Highlights Wind and Green Speed Concerns
Justin Thomas suggested that wind speed and direction could make certain pin placements unfair. He raised concerns about green speeds, indicating that pin placements should account for the percentage of balls that won’t stay on the green.
Thomas posted a -1 round to get to 2-under overall after struggling early with two bogeys in his first three holes.
Course Difficulty Impacts Scoring and Pace
The challenging setup at Aronimink appears to have affected scoring. Seven leaders were tied at 3-under on Thursday, and the lead remained at 3-under when Scheffler finished on Friday. Alex Smalley and Maverick McNealy ultimately shared the co-lead at -4 by the end of the day.
Chris Gotterup, who carded one of the day’s best rounds with a 65 to reach -3 for the tournament, acknowledged the course’s difficulty. Gotterup said he didn’t think it was unfair, but noted that the course setup contributed to rounds lasting over five hours.
Weekend Pin Placements in Focus
As the wind settled down and temperatures rose, the pin placements remained a talking point. The question now is how cute the PGA wants to get in placing them this weekend.