Scottie Scheffler finished the first day of the PGA Championship at Aronimink with a 1‑over‑par round, placing him at 2 under heading into the weekend. The world No. 1 praised the brutal pin placements, calling the 215‑yard par‑3 at the 14th one of the toughest he’d seen. Wind gusts up to 20 mph added to the challenge for the field today players.

Players struggled across the course as the PGA of America pushed pins to extreme positions, a setup reminiscent of Shinnecock’s notorious layout. Chris Gotterup shot a 5‑under 65, the best score so far, yet even he admitted the second‑round pins felt almost impossible. Long rounds over five hours have stretched the leaderboard, keeping the tournament tight among competitors who battle for a chance to claim the title this weekend as the course continues to test their skill in unpredictable conditions and precision.

With the field hovering near par, the tournament’s true test lies in how players adapt to wind, slope and pin placement. Scheffler noted that while such a demanding layout might favor his game, it also raises questions about the fairness of scoring. The weekend will decide whether the hardest setup ultimately crowns a deserving champion for the season champion of.