In a rare occurrence, the PGA Championship at Aronimink witnessed a fresh duo, Alex Smalley and Maverick McNealy, taking the lead on Friday. Smalley, in his fifth major appearance, recovered from three consecutive bogeys to finish with a 1-under 69, while McNealy, not previously in the top 25 in any major after 36 holes, ended with a 67 after dropping some late shots.
Both players stood at 4-under 136, marking the highest 36-hole score to lead the PGA Championship since 2012. Close behind were seven major champions, including Scottie Scheffler, Justin Thomas, Jon Rahm, and Hideki Matsuyama, with Masters champion Rory McIlroy just five strokes adrift, tied for 30th place.
The leaderboard was tightly packed, with only an eight-shot difference between the top and bottom positions, creating a sense of opportunity for all cut-making players. The challenging Aronimink course featured large greens with sharp slopes and tricky pin positions, making it a test for even the most seasoned players.
McNealy’s standout moment came when he reached 6 under with an eagle from a bunker on the 16th hole. Despite some errors later on, he remained in contention alongside major champions within striking distance. The morning rounds proved particularly challenging due to cold and windy conditions, with players like Gotterup and Matsuyama displaying resilience to post competitive scores.
Scheffler, after a shaky start, found his rhythm with a remarkable lag putt on the 14th hole, salvaging his round. The leaderboard also featured Ludvig Aberg’s impressive run and Stephan Jaeger’s consistent play, with the cut set at 4-over 144.
Notable names like Bryson DeChambeau faced early exits, while Garrick Higgo’s penalty for tardiness cost him dearly. McIlroy and Spieth, both eyeing major milestones, stayed in the mix despite the tough pin positions, setting the stage for an exciting weekend of golf.
As the competition tightened, McIlroy emphasized the importance of capitalizing on favorable conditions to make a charge up the leaderboard, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the tournament and the potential for dramatic shifts in rankings.