Scottie Scheffler battled through a challenging second round at Aronimink, finishing with a 71 to remain two under par at the US PGA Championship. The world number one criticized the pin placements as "absurd," saying they were the hardest he has seen on tour, including US Opens. Despite three bogeys in his first four holes, Scheffler kept himself in contention.
Leaderboard at the Halfway Point
Alex Smalley and Maverick McNealy share the lead at four under par. Smalley, a 29-year-old seeking his first professional win, and McNealy, winner of the 2024 RSM Classic, top a tightly bunched field. Aldrich Potgieter, 21, held a share of the lead until back-to-back bogeys on 17 and 18 dropped him to three under.
Top Contenders
- Hideki Matsuyama shot a 67 to sit two shots back at two under.
- Chris Gotterup carded the day's best round, a 65, to join Matsuyama and Min Woo Lee.
- Scheffler, Cameron Young, Justin Thomas, and Ludvig Åberg are tied at one under, lurking just off the lead.
McIlroy's Recovery
Rory McIlroy improved with a three-under round but remains one over par after a disastrous opening day that included four consecutive bogeys. He will need a strong weekend to contend.
Donald Ross, Aronimink's designer, once said golf should be a pleasure, not a penance. For many players, this week has felt more like the latter, with tough pin positions and windy conditions making scoring difficult. The winning score is projected to be well below the pre-tournament estimate of 14 under.
Scheffler questioned whether such difficult setups truly test golf's best. "It's the hardest game in the world and we're trying to make it harder," he said. The field remains tight, with the weekend promising more drama at Aronimink.
