With only 18 holes left in the 2026 PGA Championship and a crowded scoreboard setting the stage for a dramatic finish, it looks like one hole could shape the outcome of Sunday’s final round: the par-4 10th at Aronimink Golf Club.
According to PGA Tour course statistics, the 472-yard par 4 is playing as the hardest hole on the course, averaging .386 strokes over par. Much of this difficulty seems to stem from her in-demand green complex—something Smylie Kaufman pointed out during a recent episode of Smiley Show.
In a clip from the episode, Kaufman, along with co-host Charlie Hulme, broke down the challenges this green presents, saying, “It’s probably the hardest green some of these players are going to play in their careers.”
The reason this green is so challenging is because of the small landing areas, something that is more apparent when looking at a green map like the one below showing the location of the third round hole.
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As you can see, flat spots are rare on the 10th green, with strong undulations (many exceeding 4 percent slope) running through most of the putting surface. This makes it difficult to control where the ball ends up and find the “pro side” error, a critical aspect of course management in major championships.
“It just requires you to be so precise,” Kaufman says.
And when you consider that the 10th fairway is angled toward the water hazard that lurks just to the left of the green, that approach shot becomes even more daunting for players.
“On the 10th hole, the ball is over your feet (for right-handed players), so it’s going to make the golf ball lean a little more to the left,” Kaufman continues, “If you have a right-to-left shot that’s riding a right-to-left wind, that golf ball is going to bounce left, left.”
And with the 10th marking the start of the back nine, it doesn’t just stand as a tough hole in the final round – it becomes a pivotal moment where momentum can shift and a champion can begin to pull away from the field.
