The 2026 PGA Championship is upon us, and the question on everyone's mind is: Who can stop Scottie Scheffler's dominance? Since his move to May, Scheffler has been a force to be reckoned with, and his recent runner-up finishes at the Masters and two signature events only serve to highlight his prowess. But can anyone dethrone the world's No. 1-ranked player? Personally, I think the answer lies in the course setup at Aronimink Golf Club. The PGA of America's chief championship officer, Kerry Haigh, has been universally lauded for his course setups, which have annually identified the best player for that given week. What makes this particularly fascinating is the contrast between Scheffler's recent performances and the historical trend of winners at the PGA Championship. Since the tournament moved to May, the winners' list has only included elite-level players, with Brooks Koepka, Xander Schauffele, Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, and Phil Mickelson as the notable names. This trend can be interpreted as an ode to Haigh's course setups, which have consistently identified the best player for the week. Now, let's delve into the potential contenders for this year's championship. One thing that immediately stands out is the recent success of Cameron Young. After winning at The Players and the Cadillac Championship, Young has asserted himself as a top-five player in the world, and his ability to close deals is a stark contrast to his previous runner-up finishes. What many people don't realize is that Young's success is not just a fluke. His performance last five tournaments, including a T10 at Truist, a 1st at Cadillac, a T25 at RBC Heritage, a 3rd at Masters, and a 1st at Players, showcases his consistency and ability to perform under pressure. This raises a deeper question: Can Young's recent success continue at Aronimink? From my perspective, the answer is yes. Young's big-hitting Northeast native background and his Northeast ballpark experience make him a strong contender. His ability to close deals and his recent wins at The Players and the Cadillac Championship make him a force to be reckoned with. Now, let's shift our focus to Rory McIlroy. The Masters champion each year is the only one still eligible to capture the elusive single-season grand slam. While this might be raising the bar of expectations too high for McIlroy, there are already signs that he'll fare better in the immediate aftermath of this Masters victory than he did a year ago, when he finished T-47 at this tournament. In my opinion, McIlroy's recent performance at the Masters, where he finished T-19 at Truist, a 1st at Masters, a T46 at Players, a WD at Arnold Palmer, and a T2 at Genesis, showcases his determination and motivation. However, the question remains: Can McIlroy's recent success continue at Aronimink? The answer is not straightforward. While his performance last five tournaments shows a mix of results, his ability to bounce back from setbacks and his recent wins make him a strong contender. Now, let's explore the performance of Matt Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick entered the PGA Championship as the 85th-ranked player in the world, but his resurgence, marked by a T-8 at Quail Hollow and a top-five finish, has led to a PGA Tour-best three wins so far this season. What this really suggests is that Fitzpatrick's recent success is not just a fluke. His performance last five tournaments, including a T52 at Truist, a 1st at Zurich, a 1st at RBC Heritage, a T18 at Masters, and a 1st at Valspar, showcases his consistency and ability to perform under pressure. This raises a deeper question: Can Fitzpatrick's recent success continue at Aronimink? From my perspective, the answer is yes. Fitzpatrick's experience at Quail Hollow and his recent wins make him a strong contender. Now, let's shift our focus to Jon Rahm. Rahm's recent performance, including two wins and five top-fives at majors from 2021-’23, has been impressive. However, since leaving for LIV, Rahm hasn’t had a major finish better than seventh, including a disappointing T-38 at last month’s Masters. What this really suggests is that Rahm's recent success is not just a fluke. His performance last five tournaments, including a T8 at Virginia, a 1st at Mexico City, a T38 at Masters, a 2nd at South Africa, and a 5th at Singapore, showcases his consistency and ability to perform under pressure. This raises a deeper question: Can Rahm's recent success continue at Aronimink? From my perspective, the answer is not straightforward. Rahm's recent setbacks and his decision to leave for LIV make him a wildcard. Now, let's explore the performance of Xander Schauffele. Schauffele showed up to the PGA Championship at Valhalla and was once again asked all the relevant questions about what it would take for a guy with a dozen top-10 results in just 27 major starts to finally break through. For the rest of the week, he let his clubs do the talking, claiming that first major title, before adding another two months later. What this really suggests is that Schauffele's recent success is not just a fluke. His performance last five tournaments, including a T60 at Truist, a T12 at RBC Heritage, a T9 at Masters, a T4 at Valspar, and a 3rd at Players, showcases his consistency and ability to perform under pressure. This raises a deeper question: Can Schauffele's recent success continue at Aronimink? From my perspective, the answer is yes. Schauffele's experience at Valhalla and his recent wins make him a strong contender. Now, let's shift our focus to Chris Gotterup. Gotterup owns four wins in the past 24 months and rose to as high as fifth in the world ranking. His most impressive asset, however, is his ability to showcase his best stuff against the best players, winning last year's Scottish Open while playing alongside McIlroy and beating Scheffler by double-digits in this year's opening round in Phoenix. What this really suggests is that Gotterup's recent success is not just a fluke. His performance last five tournaments, including a T14 at Truist, a T38 at Cadillac, a T25 at RBC Heritage, a T24 at Masters, and a T6 at Houston, showcases his consistency and ability to perform under pressure. This raises a deeper question: Can Gotterup's recent success continue at Aronimink? From my perspective, the answer is yes. Gotterup's experience at Scottish Open and his recent wins make him a strong contender. Finally, let's explore the performance of Tommy Fleetwood. Fleetwood finished in a share of eighth place at the 2018 BMW Championship, with his middle two rounds both course record-tying 8-under 62. What this really suggests is that Fleetwood's recent success is not just a fluke. His performance last five tournaments, including a T5 at Truist, a T23 at Cadillac, a T52 at RBC Heritage, a T33 at Masters, and a T10 at Valero, showcases his consistency and ability to perform under pressure. This raises a deeper question: Can Fleetwood's recent success continue at Aronimink? From my perspective, the answer is yes. Fleetwood's experience at BMW Championship and his recent wins make him a strong contender. In conclusion, the 2026 PGA Championship promises to be an exciting event, with a mix of seasoned veterans and rising stars vying for the title. While Scottie Scheffler's dominance is undeniable, the course setup at Aronimink Golf Club and the recent success of the contenders make it anyone's game. As an expert, I predict that the winner will be a player who can adapt to the course and perform under pressure. The question remains: Who will rise to the challenge and claim the title?
