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5 Things we Learned: Friday at the PGA Championship
The PGA Championship is the unfortunate victim of its legacy. The legacy is that of match play, and for some inconceivable reason, there will always be golf people that believe that a professional major title should be contested using match play. I’m an advocate for the return of match play to the professional men’s game, without doubt. Thanks to the conditions, set-up and talent at Aronimink, we will see our own version of MMMP (multiple man match play) play out over the next two days at Aronimink.
Maverick McNealy was poised to cradt a four-shot (or more) lead, midway through the outward half (his second nine) at Donald Ross’s Philadelphia gem. McNealy made two bogeys over his stretch run, and found himself in a tie for first with Alex Smalley, one shot clear of six pursuers. On Saturday afternoon, McNealy and Smalley will have themselves a match, for certain, but they will also play individual matches against the others in the top fifteen. In true match play, the majority of the field would have been eliminated by now, with just eight golfers remaining. 22 golfers sit between minus-one and minus-four, with another seven at even par. That’s nearly 30 golfers within five shots of the lead. Match play does not afford more than a third of them a shot at glory. Is it better viewing for us, you bet.
After the final grass clippings settled, the under-par total of the leader was precisely one shot better (minus-three to minus-four) than the day before. No one is running away with this playing of the PGA Championship. Most important is the number of top players with a chance. Take a quick glance at the made-cut list, and you’ll see former PGA winners, former major winners, current major title-holders, and a legion with the pedigree to enter the major championship circle. We can only focus in on five items, so let’s take a look at a quick quintet of things that we learned on Friday at the PGA Championship.
First, Chris Gotterup
If there is tantalizing name among the leaders at Aronimink, it’s Chris Gotterup. The powerful striker from neighboring New Jersey worked his way into contention with a potent 65 on day two. Gotterup was nearly pefect, with just one bogey (at the second hole) marring his otherwise-unblemished card.
Gotterup did the thing that needed to be done: hit fairways. With a variety of clubs, Gotterup found the short grass off the tee, time after time. The ability to control spin on approach shots is tantamount to finding the proper section of each green. When he did miss a putting surface, as happened on his fifth hole (number 14) CG demonstrated short-game accumen with a deft flip from a steep, grassy, sidehill lie above the front-right bunker…he saved his par.
Second, Rory McIlroy
Only one player in the field has a shot at the 2026 grand slam of golf, and it’s the two-time Masters titleholder. After 18 holes, the cut was more important than the win for McIlroy. Had he replicated his opening 74, he’d have made the cut on the number. Anything worse, and down the road. Instead, McIlroy found a 67 of his own on Friday, and now sits within five shots of the untested leaders. McIlroy has a pair of Wannamaker trophies, given to the winner of this event, on his trophy shelf, and is now poised to make a trifecta.
Rory McIlroy found fairways and greens with relentless regularity on Friday. He posted three birdies and fifteen pars, and scarcely looked as if he might make bogey. He has no wiggle room over the next 36 holes…his 74 on day one saw to that. The consistent driver and the calm putter will be his wingmen as he seeks to earn a second major trophy this campaign.
Third, Min Woo Lee
Min Woo Lee’s even-par 70 is not the sort of round that will be discussed by writers and talking heads … until he wins. Lee 1.0 would have found a way to turn that 70 into a 76. He would have still made the cut, but would have been seven shot distant of the lead. Instead, he is one shot back, playing his game, in position to make a statement over the next 48 hours.
Lee missed a brief attempt at par on his ninth hole of the day, then drove under a tree on ten, resulting in a second straight bogey. Undeterred, he flagged his approach on 11 for a birdie, then posted a series of pars before closing one-under over his final four holes. For Lee, the 15th club, the one between the ears and behind the ribs, will determine the week’s outcome.
Fourth, Scottie Scheffler
Similar to Min Woo, Scottie had every opportunity to go away, after the game he brought to Aronimink on Friday. Bogeys on three of the first four holes erased all of his good, red ink from Thursday. His role as defending champion meant something to the lad from Texas (by way of New Jersey) and Scheffler sucked it up. He played minus-two golf the rest of the way, signed for 71, and finds himself in ideal position to defend his 2025 PGA Championship trophy.
For Scheffler, the two shots that turned the tide were the approach putt on 14, and the iron into 17. On the heels of a three-putt, Scheffler nudged aseventy-feet putt to within the circle of trust at 14, then holed the ensuing 30-incher for par. On 17, he was finally able to punch an approach (in this case, the tee ball on the par three) to within birdie range, and his putter again came through.
Fifth, Ludvig Aberg
Ever since he finished runner-up at his first Masters, Aberg has been the name on everyone’s Next list. He’s tall, athletic, charming, good-looking, and has the game to win often. He hasn’t won a major, and he has claimed fewer professional events than many might have anticipated. As we’ve learned from others in the recent past, sometimes it takes just one breakthrough win, to open the gate to many more. Aberg didn’t sizzle as loud as Gotterup on Friday, but he was close. His minus-four 66 brought him from made-cut to in-contention stature. His day-two fireworks were highlighted by a run of four birdies in five holes on the back nine.
We’ve seen Aberg in this position before, and it was the big stick that took him out of contention. His task over the next 48 hours will be to determine which club to hit in driving situations, and then (so eimple!) commit and execute. If his putter remains as steely and deadly as it was on day two, watch out.
GolfWRX is on site this week at the Memorial Tournament, with both Alistair Cameron and Tour Photographer Greg Moore on the ground in Dublin, Ohio, where a strong field is assembled to pay homage to the Golden Bear.
In addition to WITB galleries, we’ve already been treated to an in-hand look at Tommy Fleetwood’s new TaylorMade Spider putters.
Check out links to all our photos below.
General Albums
WITB Albums
- Jason Day – WITB – 2026 The Memorial
- Chris Gotterup – WITB – 2026 The Memorial
- SungJae Im – WITB – 2026 The Memorial
Pullout Albums
- Jason Day’s 1off Payntr golf shoes – 2026 The Memorial
- JT Poston’s TaylorMade Spider – 2026 The Memorial
- Cameron putter – 2026 The Memorial
- Tommy Fleetwood’s TM Spider putters – 2026 The Memorial
- New Mitsubishi Chemical 1K Pro Orange shaft – 2026 The Memorial
Around the world, the golf wheel spun this final week in May of 2026. From New Jersey to Austria, with stops in Korea, Texas, and North Carolina (don’t let me route your next trip) the world’s finest put their golf games on display. There were three playoffs, some known commodities and some new talent. It was the sort of week that we hope to have at this point in the seasons. June and July afford double-digit major events, and perhaps, one of this week’s champions will use this success as a springboard to new heights. Time to run it all down, tech style, in this week’s Tour Tech Rundown.
Thanks to WITBHub, Today’s Golfer, GolfWRX, and Inside Tour Golf for initial research into equipment.
PGA Tour @ Charles Schwab Challenge: Heroic Henley denies Cole
Eric Cole did nearly everything that a fellow can do, to secure a first PGA Tour title. He stayed one shot clear of Ryder Cup player Ben Griffin. He kept US Open champion Gary Woodland and wunderkind Michael Brennan two shots distant. He posted 70 on day four to reach twelve under par. And then, Russell Henley revealed his Dr. Strange cloak. Henley made 47 feet of birdie putts on holes 16, 17, and 18, to jump from minus-nine to twelve-deep, and secured a spot in a playoff with Cole. The duo returned to the final tee, and put on a stripe show.
Both golfers found the fairway off the tee, and Henley improved on his regulation play with an approach to four feet. Cole did himself proud, tucking an iron to a dozen feet, but he was unable to convert the putt for three. Henley is one of the best putters on tour, and he proved it once more by draining a putt for a fourth consecutive birdie, and a sixth PGA Tour title. For Eric Cole, that first victory should come, and soon. He has done everything necessary to earn the chalice lift.
Henley’s Suitcase
- Driver: Titleist TSi3 at 10 degrees. Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 70g 6.5 TX
- Metal: Titleist TS3 at 16.5 degrees. Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 80 TX
- Hybrid: Titleist TSi2 at 21 degrees. Shaft: Mitsubishi MMT hybrid 100 TX
- Iron: Titleist T250 4-iron. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Golf AMT Tour White X100
- Irons: Titleist T100 5-6 irons. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Golf AMT Tour White X100
- Irons: Titleist T100 7-9 irons. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
- Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 at 48 and 50 degrees. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Golf Tour Issue X100
- Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 at 54 and 60 degrees. Shaft: rue Temper Dynamic Golf Tour Issue S400
- Putter: Titleist Scotty Cameron T5 Tour Prototype
LPGA @ Shoprite LPGA: Welcome back, Celine!
Soo Bin Joo had her eyes on a maiden LPGA title. She held the lead after two rounds, then hit a red light at the intersection of can-I and how-To. Joo posted plus-two on day three in New Jersey, and dropped to a T4 finish, which was still a career-best for the young Korean golfer. Instead of a new face, a familiar face returned to the top of the podium.
Celine Boutier was the It Girl in 2023. She collected four victories, including a major title at Evian. Boutier reached world number one status, then simply faded into the background. No wins came her way over the next 30 months. On Sunday, she collected LPGA victory number seven, at the same trace as LPGA victory number two.
Day three saw Boutier manage the windswept Seaview Bay course with six birdies and a bogey. She was challenged in the end by Thailand’s Arpichaya Yubol, who signed for a 66 of her own. Yubol came up one shot shy of the top ladder rung. Finishing in third place at -7, two back of the winner, was Ireland’s Lauren Walsh.
Celine’s Suitcase
- Driver: PXG 0311 Black Ops Tour-1 at 9 degrees. Shaft: Graphite Design AD IZ-5
- Hybrid: PXG 0311 Black Ops at 19 and 22 degrees. Shaft: KBS Hybrid Prototype
- Hybrid: PXG 0311 Gen5.
- Iron: PXG 0311 P Gen 4 5-9 irons
- Wedge: PXG 0311 T Gen 4 PW
- Wedges: PXG 0311 Sugar Daddy II at 50, 54, 58 degrees
- Putter: Bettinardi Studio Stock 3 DASS
DP World Tour @ Austrian Alpine: KK? KK!
Kota Kaneko has a rhythmic name. It has strong vowels and a run of voiceless stops in its crunchy K sounds. On Sunday in Austria, Kaneko put a stop to a challenge from Portugal’s Ricardo Gouveia and everyone else, and claimed a first-ever title on the DP World Tour. Gouveia did well to reach 16-under par over four days, but Kaneko held firm, two shots in the clear.
Davis Bryant of the USA also forged a strong challenge for the win. He ended in a tie with Gouveia for second place. Kaneko began and finished his final round in a bit of a malaise, but he caught fire midway through. Birdies at 10, 12, and 13 provided the necessary cushion to cruise to the finish line without breaking a serious sweat.
Kaneko’s Suitcase
- Driver: Ping Max G440
- Metals: TaylorMade Qi4D at 15, 16.5, 21, and 24 degrees
- Irons: TaylorMade P760 5 and 6 irons
- Irons: TaylorMade P7TW 7-9 irons
- Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design at 46, 52, 56, and 60 degrees
- Putter: Odyssey Ai-One Cruiser Arm Lock #7
Korn Ferry Tour @ UNC Health Championship: Improbably Alvaro
Alvaro Ortiz may have had a bit of scare on the outward nine on Sunday, but he came through in clutch fashion in the end. Ortiz began the day bogey-double, and added another double bogey at the 11th hole. He was mired in a downward trend, spiraling away from the top of the leader’s board. Ortiz found hope at the 14th, where his first birdie of the day tumbled home. Inspired, he closed with birdies and 17 and 18 to catch Ross Steelman at 10-under par, and the duo returned to the 18th deck for overtime.
The extra session concluded in brief time. Ortiz, buoyed by his newly-retrieved confidence, hit the fairway with driver, then approached to six feet and drained the putt. Gobsmacked, Steelman could do little more than smile and applaud, as his run at the top came to a close. The victory was the first for Ortiz on the KFT, and will implant him squarely in the chase for a PGA Tour promotion.
Alvaro’s Suitcase
- Driver: Ping G430 MAX driver at 9 degrees loft
- Metal: Ping G430 MAX 3W
- Iron: Ping iDi Driving Iron
- Irons: Ping Blueprint S irons
- Wedges
- Putter: Scottsdale TR Piper C
A party on the green!
Alvaro’s time comes in Raleigh with his first win @UNCHealthChamp ? pic.twitter.com/2dmtZdbSzk
— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) May 31, 2026
LIV @ Korea: Me llamo Joaquin
Chile’s Joaquin Niemann had been away from the LIV winner’s circle throughout all of 2026. This week in Korea, he reminded us that he is still a force to consider. Niemann chased down Taylor Gooch over the closing holes at Asiad Country Club, then claimed victory with a hole-one birdie in extra time. Bryson DeChambeau claimed solo third, one shot in arrears at minus-eleven. Dustin Johnson finished on fourth, one putt farther back.
Niemann’s Suitcase
- Driver: Ping 440 LST
- Metal: Ping G440 Max at 15 degrees
- Metal: Ping G425 Max at 21 degrees
- Hybrid: Ping G430 at 25 degrees
- Irons: Ping Blueprint S 5 through PW
- Wedges: Ping S159 at 52, 56, and 60 degrees
- Putter: Ping PLD Anser
Driver: Titleist TSi3 (10 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 70 6.5 TX
3-wood: Titleist TS3 (16.5 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 80 TX
7-wood: Titleist GTS3 (21 degrees)
Shaft: Project X Denali Black 80 TX
Irons: Titleist T250 (4), Titleist T100 (5-9)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold AMT (4-6), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 (7-9)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 (48-10F @47, 50-08F @51, 54-10S @55, 60-04T)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (48), S400 (47)
Putter: Scotty Cameron Phantom X5 Tour Prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Aaron Rai’s winning WITB: 2026 PGA Championship
Russell Henley’s winning WITB: 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
Photos from the 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
CJ Cup Byron Nelson Tour Report: Koepka and Kim’s newest putters finally get hot
Charles Schwab Challenge Tour Report: MacIntyre, Åberg and Spaun all switch putters, TaylorMade launches new Spider
Details on J.J. Spaun’s surprise putter switch
GolfWRX Launch Report: 2026 Titleist GTS drivers
Photos from the 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
PGA Championship Tour Report: Fitzpatrick, Koepka among big-name putter switches for Aronimink
Photos from the ShopRite LPGA
Maria Torres WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4 3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4 5-wood: Ping G440...
Eric Cole WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: PXG Lightning Tour Max (9 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 70 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (15 degrees) Shaft:...
Si Woo Kim WITB 2026 (May)
Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond (8.5 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X Mini driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Mini...
Wyndham Clark’s winning WITB: 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (10.5 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 60 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D Tour (15 degrees) Shaft: Project...
Timothy
May 20, 2026 at 11:13 am
When you’re tied for 44th, I guess blaming your lousy play on
“Course setup” is all you can do to avoid accountability . Too
Hard to say, “today, I sucked,” I guess.