The second round of 2026 PGA Championship it’s done, the cut is done and Moving Day is waiting for the second major of the year. What does Round 3 have in store?
Let’s break it all down. Here are five things you need to know about Saturday at Aronimink.
LEADER
The crowded table in Round 1 became a bit more streamlined after Round 2, with two players emerging from the pack: Alex Smalley and Maverick McNealy, who, with four points overall, are a shot ahead of the rest of the field. Just behind them, however, are six players at three under and another seven at two under – a group that includes major winners Hideki Matsuyama (three under), Justin Thomas (two under) and Scottie Scheffler (two under).
Golf is a fickle game, and over the course of four rounds, almost anything can happen. Case in point: Scottie Scheffler, the four-time major winner and defending champion, who entered the week as the betting stop favorite. Scheffler looked strong Thursday, growing to a share of the lead at three under par. But on Friday, Scheffler’s bogeys outpaced his birdies, 4-3. At two under for the 36-hole total, he’s a long way from it, but the day off is proof that Aronimink has some teeth and lifting the Wanamaker Trophy on Sunday won’t be easy – even for the world No.1.
The Resurrection of Rory
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Rory McIlroy’s PGA Championship prospects looked pretty bleak after the first round, when four straight bogeys resulted in a four-over 74 – and a T105 placing on the leaderboard. But the six-time major winner dug deep on Friday, shooting a three-under 67 to climb 75 points on the leaderboard to one over par — not only deep on the safe side of the cut, but also within striking distance for the next 36 holes. Just like that, the reigning Masters champion is just five shots back.
The triumph of a club professional
At this PGA Championship, clubhouse pro stories came into focus once again Michael Blockwho enjoyed a star turn when he finished T15 at Oak Hill in 2023. Of the 20 club pros who qualified for this week’s field, Block appeared to be the best bet for the top finish, especially after he posted an even-par opening round on Thursday. But his second-round 75 put him on the wrong side of the cut line by one stroke. In his place, however, another club professional shined. Ohio’s Ben Kern shot rounds of 74-67 to move into one-up (T30). Kern is the only club professional to make it this year.
This is Kern’s third appearance at the PGA Championship, and he actually made the cut once before, in 2018 at Bellerive, when he finished T42. So far, he is well positioned at the top this year.
