Scheffler Calls PGA Championship Pin Placements 'Absurd'

Golfer Scottie Scheffler called the pin placements at the 2026 PGA Championship 'absurd'. This is the hardest setup he has seen in his career.
By Newsroom | Sports, Golf |

Scottie Scheffler, the world's top-ranked golfer, has publicly criticized the pin locations at this week's PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club, calling them the most difficult he has encountered in his professional career. The challenging setup, particularly on Friday, has effectively stifled aggressive play, contributing to a perceived arduous and prolonged championship experience.

Scheffler, field navigating 'absurd' hole location... - 1

Scheffler stated that the pin placements on Friday were the hardest he had seen since his PGA Tour debut. He described them as "absurd," noting that they significantly reduced the margin for error on approach shots. This sentiment was shared by many players, with the difficulty ramping up considerably after the first round, contrary to initial expectations of an easier course.

Scheffler, field navigating 'absurd' hole location... - 2

While Scheffler struggled with his driver early in his second round, missing six of the first nine fairways after hitting 13 of 14 in the opening round, his primary grievance centered on the course's design choices. He highlighted the par-4 10th, a hole where a back-left pin placement offered "no margin for error if Scheffler missed long." The severe nature of these placements, especially on Friday, appears to have pushed the course beyond standard major championship difficulty.

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Unlike many, Chris Gotterup, an American compatriot, seemingly navigated the pin positions without significant issue, shooting a 71 on Friday to comfortably make the cut. However, the broader narrative emerging from Aronimink suggests a championship that, while intentionally difficult, has been made "monotonous and taking forever" due to the extreme pin settings. This contrasts with typical course defenses like green speed, with the pin placements here being the primary obstacle.

Background:The 2026 PGA Championship is being held at the Donald Ross-designed Aronimink Golf Club. Major championships are inherently designed to test the world's best golfers, with difficulty being a key component. However, the current approach to pin placements at Aronimink has drawn particular ire, with players questioning whether the chosen locations enhance the competition or simply present an undue, and perhaps arbitrary, challenge. This criticism surfaces amid a wider discussion about course setups in professional golf and their impact on the game's spectacle.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why did Scottie Scheffler call the 2026 PGA Championship pin placements 'absurd'?
Scottie Scheffler said the pin placements were the hardest he has ever seen in his career. He felt they offered very little room for error on shots.
Q: How did the pin placements affect the 2026 PGA Championship?
Players found the course very difficult and long, with the extreme pin settings making the game feel monotonous. The difficult pins were the main challenge, not green speed.
Q: Did all players struggle with the pin placements at the 2026 PGA Championship?
While many players found the pins difficult, American golfer Chris Gotterup shot a 71 on Friday and made the cut. However, the general feeling among players was that the course setup was too extreme.
Q: What is the background of the criticism at the 2026 PGA Championship?
The PGA Championship is being held at Aronimink Golf Club. Players are questioning if the difficult pin placements test golfers fairly or create an unfair challenge.