Today in Golf

On Friday, May 23rd, 2026, TPC Craig Ranch yielded historically low scores during the second round of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, headlined by Si Woo Kim's spectacular 60 to take a commanding five-shot lead.SI WOO'S 59 WATCH & SCHEFFLER'S EAGLESi Woo Kim put the golf world on 59-watch during a blistering second round, ultimately shooting an 11-under 60 to build a massive five-shot lead at 18-under after adrenaline pushed his approach long on the 18th hole."Maybe I was too pumped but it was a good round," Kim said, while playing partner Scottie Scheffler (63) compared the unspoken etiquette of a 59-watch to a baseball no-hitter.Scheffler drained a massive 46-foot eagle on the 12th hole right after a moment of visible frustration with his caddie.SPIETH & IM LIGHT UP CRAIG RANCHJordan Spieth ignited the Texas crowds with a bogey-free 62 featuring six consecutive birdies, while Sungjae Im vaulted up the leaderboard with a stunning 61 highlighted by a spectacular hole-in-one on the 15th."The hole started to look big," Spieth noted, while Im called his 224-yard 5-iron ace "unexpected but obviously very exciting."Spieth's group was absolutely on fire, posting a combined best-ball score of 57, despite a bizarre embedded ball ruling for Spieth on the 5th hole.THE CUTLINE & AMATEUR HOURA staggering 6-under cutline sent several big names packing, but amateur Blades Brown survived the shootout at 8-under to keep his hopes alive for earning Special Temporary Membership on the PGA Tour.Brooks Koepka cooled off with a 69, while Kensei Hirata bounced back with a bogey-free 65 to safely navigate the cutline.19-year-old amateur Preston Stout missed the cut but flashed elite, Tour-level speed, proving the Spieth superfan has a bright future ahead.Quick HitsCameron Champ withdrew citing "off the course stuff" • Nick Dunlap, Billy Horschel, and Matt Kuchar all missed the brutal 6-under cut • Tomorrow's moving day promises even more fireworks as the field chases Si Woo Kim.

On May 20th, 2026, we step away from the PGA Championship leaderboard to unpack a wild week of bizarre US Open qualifying walk-offs, costly tee-time penalties, and historic major milestones.US OPEN QUALIFYINGEugenio Chacarra stunned the golf world by walking out of a 6-for-1 playoff at the US Open Final Qualifying in Dallas just to catch a flight to the DP World Tour's Soudal Open, handing Caleb Surratt the direct spot."My goal is to get my PGA Tour card," Chacarra stated, defending his controversial exit.Chandler Phillips and Henrik Norlander were left staying behind as alternates while Chacarra rushed to the airport.PGA CHAMPIONSHIP FALLOUTGarrick Higgo missed the Aronimink cut by a single stroke after arriving just one minute late for his 7:18 AM tee time, resulting in a devastating two-stroke penalty and the immediate firing of his caddie over a TrackMan mix-up."I was obviously too casual," Higgo admitted before rehiring Nick Cavendish Pell for the upcoming CJ Cup Byron Nelson.A single minute of tardiness completely derailed his major championship weekend and upended his bag.PGA TOUR MILESTONESAdam Scott officially qualified for the 2026 US Open at Shinnecock Hills, marking his monumental 100th consecutive major championship start while simultaneously stepping down from his role as PAC Chairman.Scott is now second only to Jack Nicklaus’s legendary streak of 146 consecutive majors, noting he wants to "celebrate winning the United States Open than just play in it."Free from his PAC Chairman duties, the veteran is fully shifting his mental focus from boardroom politics back to major glory.OFF-COURSE & MENTAL HEALTHMarco Penge is taking an indefinite leave of absence following a missed cut at Aronimink to focus on his health and family, while Paige Spiranac opened up about battling the driver yips at the Truist Pro Am.Spiranac candidly admitted, "Golf is the reason I am in therapy," while Penge noted, "Routine for me keeps the mind at ease."Penge's break follows a grueling period dealing with a viral infection, his ADHD, and his newborn son Romeo’s 21-day stay in the NICU.Quick HitsThe Korn Ferry Tour and President Alex Baldwin publish Average Stroke Time (AST) data to combat slow play, revealing Nicholas Infanti as the fastest and Ian Gilligan as the slowest • Tiger Woods makes a special appearance at Kai Trump's graduation • Michelle Wie West makes her golf course architecture debut designing a par-3 course called "Sweet Tooth" at Candyroot Lodge

On May 19th, 2026, we break down Aaron Rai's life-changing PGA Championship victory at Aronimink amidst LIV Golf's looming financial crisis and dramatic weekends for Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler.PGA CHAMPIONSHIP: AARON RAI'S MAJOR MOMENTAaron Rai captured the PGA Championship at Aronimink, validating years of family sacrifice. Known for his two gloves and iron covers, Rai's historic major victory was fueled by his incredible precision and a grounded, humble approach.Greg Norman called the new champion "a breath of fresh air," while Rai praised his parents, Amrik and Dalvir, noting his mum "works extremely long hours."Rai, who once made 207 consecutive 10-foot putts at age 15 and tutored A-level math, plans to celebrate with Chipotle alongside his wife Gaurika Bishnoi—who beats him in TrackMan and calmed his Saturday nerves by promising, "I will not let anything change around you."LIV GOLF'S FINANCIAL CRISIS & STAR STRUGGLESLIV Golf is facing a massive financial cliff with PIF funding ending in 2026. The league is desperately searching for $150M-$250M in private equity via Ducera Partners after burning through $5 billion in sunk costs.Paul McGinley didn't hold back on Bryson DeChambeau's missed cut, stating "he overplayed his hand with Liv Golf" and "has got egg in his face."Jon Rahm's wild weekend included hitting a volunteer with a divot and exploiting a Scottish Open legal loophole, forcing Brian Rolapp into a corner over a potential exemption versus a 12-month LIV suspension.PGA TOUR DRAMA & SCHEFFLER'S SLUMPRory McIlroy secured a T7 finish but lost his cool on the 16th hole, snapping at a fan yelling "USA," while Scottie Scheffler stumbled to a T14 finish plagued by severe putting woes and 125 putts.Shane Bacon noted Scheffler's stroke "does not look confident" and is "stopping," while Rory fired at biographer Alan Shipnuck: "It ticks me off that you are making money off my name."Brandel Chamblee broke down Scheffler's mechanical flaw of lifting his putter heel, highlighting the intense scrutiny on the world's best ball-striker as he desperately searches for answers on the greens.Quick HitsSupreme Court ends Patrick Reed's 1,337-day, $750M defamation lawsuit, prompting Shane Ryan to declare, "What a wild ride!" • Brian Rolapp targets "one hundred twenty player fields with a cut," while Mike McClure picks Pierceson Coody (+4000) for the CJ Cup at TPC Craig Ranch • Padraig Harrington averaged 314 yards driving on Sunday (T18), and club pro Ben Kern played his final round alongside Luke Donald.

On May 18th, 2026, Aaron Rai shot a brilliant final-round 65 at Aronimink to win the PGA Championship by three strokes over Jon Rahm and Alex Smalley.THE CHAMPION: AARON RAIAaron Rai delivered a flawless final-round 65 at Aronimink to finish at nine-under, securing a three-stroke major victory. His momentum shifted with a 40-foot eagle on the 9th and a miraculous 68-foot birdie on the 17th's infinity green.Trevor Immelman praised Rai's "calmness" and "coolness" after a disciplined 3-wood on 15, while Rai humbly credited his 68-foot bomb to simple "speed control."Rai celebrated with his LET pro wife Gaurika Bishnoi, validating a unique journey that includes wearing two MacWet gloves and using iron covers—mandated by his father Amrik to protect his childhood Titleist 690 MBs.THE CHASERS & THE CRITICSJon Rahm and Alex Smalley settled for T2, with Smalley derailed by a devastating double bogey on the 6th. Off the course, Johnson Wagner delivered a fiery rant criticizing the PGA Tour's Signature Event model since Rai missed Wells Fargo.Rahm shot a 68 but expressed deep frustration with the green speeds, lamenting his regret over "not getting putts to the hole."While Rai gave an emotional interview to Amanda Balionis about golf teaching "humility and discipline," Shane Lowry complained about Kerry Haigh's course setup and was ruthlessly roasted by fans as an "entitled millionaire."SUNDAY SURGES & STRUGGLESKurt Kitayama made history with a major-record-tying, bogey-free 63, while Justin Thomas surged to a T4 finish with a 65. Conversely, the highly anticipated Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele pairing fell flat with disappointing 69s.Justin Thomas was so locked in for a potential playoff that he was quoted hoping the course "plays tough" down the stretch.Scottie Scheffler endured what Shane Ryan described as "agonizing" putting woes, a stark contrast to Rai, who grew up idolizing Tiger Woods via VHS tapes and mastered the greens when it mattered most.Quick HitsMatti Schmid's brief lead and T4 finish • Scottie Scheffler's poor putting stats • The flat McIlroy/Schauffele Sunday pairing

On May 17th, 2026, Moving Day at the PGA Championship produced a historically jammed leaderboard, setting the stage for an epic Sunday as Alex Smalley tries to hold off a star-studded chasing pack.THE 54-HOLE LEADERUnheralded Alex Smalley sits atop the leaderboard at six-under after a clutch birdie on 18, but the pressure is mounting as he faces down a historically jammed pack of major champions breathing down his neck."I do not like being in the spotlight a whole lot so I am still trying to get used to playing in front of large groups of people." — Alex SmalleyTo help manage her own nerves on the course, Smalley's mother, Maria, is keeping herself busy by tracking his stats.THE CHASING PACKJon Rahm and Aaron Rai sit at four-under, chasing Spanish history and an English drought, while Rory McIlroy lurks at three-under after fixing his driver to unleash a massive 369-yard bomb on the sixth hole."I am doing this for myself and my country," said Rahm, while Rory noted of his monster drive, "I was not trying to hit it on the green I was just trying to get it up there it was a perfect line."To relax amidst his pursuit of Harry Vardon's 1914 record, McIlroy spent his evening unwinding by watching *The Dark Knight*.COURSE SETUP & THE PURSE ARMS RACEThe PGA of America softened Aronimink's setup, moving pins to flat spots and shortening the 13th hole to 292 yards, all while defending a massive purse increase designed to directly compete with LIV Golf.Defending the $20.5M purse ($3.69M to win) against 1962's $69.4K total, PGA of America CEO Terry Clark stated: "it is what are the factors that make sense we do look at it as an annual focus around how do we get at competitive purses."Justin Rose capitalized on the softer setup to shoot a 65, crediting a switch to McLaren irons and some "Philly mojo" from a dinner at Merion Golf Club.Quick HitsXander Schauffele (-3) is managing major "growing pains" by ignoring the leaderboard ("No need to even look... just knowing that there is going to be guys everywhere doing crazy things") • Ludvig Aberg (-4) is stunned by the traffic, noting, "I have never seen anything like it..." • World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler struggled to a 71, ending with a poor chip on 18 despite sporting a custom Philly-themed TaylorMade bag.

On May 16th, 2026, freezing 25 mph winds and brutal pin placements at Aronimink wreaked havoc on the PGA Championship field, leaving Alex Smalley and Maverick McNealy as the surprise 36-hole co-leaders at -4.THE CARNAGE AT ARONIMINKFreezing low-50s temperatures and relentless 25 mph winds turned Round 2 into an absolute survival test, pushing the cutline to +4 and leaving surprise co-leaders Alex Smalley and Maverick McNealy atop the leaderboard.Dustin Johnson summed up the grind perfectly, claiming the wind was "blowing one hundred," while local Chris Gotterup fired a tournament-low 65 despite noting some pins "did not even look like they were on the green."21-year-old Aldrich Potgieter fired a brilliant 70 to sit just one back at -3, narrowly missing Tiger Woods' 1997 record for the youngest 36-hole major leader.SCHEFFLER'S GRIND & BRYSON'S BUSTScottie Scheffler battled to a 71 to stay in the hunt at -2, while Bryson DeChambeau suffered a career-worst missed cut at +7 amid struggles with his single-length irons, LIV investor meetings, and YouTube commitments.Scheffler called the setup the "hardest set of pin locations" since Oakmont, comparing the 14th hole's pin to a "microphone," while Bryson's coach Dana Dahlquist insisted they need "nothing drastic" to fix his swing.CBS's Johnson Wagner didn't hold back on Bryson, heavily criticizing his inability to play the wind and the awkwardness of using 6-iron length wedges on Aronimink's uneven lies.CUTLINE DRAMA & BOUNCE BACKSThe +4 cutline provided incredible late-round theater. Justin Thomas fought officials over pace-of-play during his 69, while Rory McIlroy blasted a 344-yard drive en route to a bounce-back 67 to safely reach the weekend.JT fired back at rules officials during his round, asking "what is time par" when dealing with 25 mph gusts.Shane Lowry nearly threw his weekend away by topping a 164-yard tee shot into the water on 17, sweating it out to land exactly on the +4 number.Quick HitsJustin Rose's miraculous 76-foot chip-in eagle on the par-5 9th to make the cut • Rickie Fowler's clutch 60-foot birdie bomb on 17 to survive at +1 • Scottie Scheffler's absurd 80-foot par save on the 14th hole

On May 15th, 2026, a brutally firm Aronimink yielded a massive seven-way tie for the PGA Championship lead amidst bizarre rules debates, emotional admissions, and flying divots.THE SEVEN-WAY TIEA brutally firm Aronimink created a massive seven-way logjam at three-under 67, featuring Scottie Scheffler, a pain-free Martin Kaymer, Min Woo Lee, and 21-year-old Aldrich Potgieter showcasing historic power to tame the demanding layout.Lee changed his Thursday mindset to "go at some pins," while Scheffler begged the Philly crowd to "please please stop beating our football team so bad."Scheffler's wife joked about his recent runner-up streak, and co-leader Ryo Hisatsune calmed his opening-round nerves by sipping from a water flask he jokingly calls his "sake bomb."RAHM, BRYSON & BIZARRE BLUNDERSJon Rahm holed a spectacular 101-yard eagle to shoot 69, but the real drama came from Bryson DeChambeau’s disastrous 76 and Garrick Higgo receiving a brutal two-stroke penalty for missing his tee time by 30 seconds.Higgo offered some incredible circular logic: "I would not have been late if I knew I was running late," while Bryson debated concrete stairs rules, stating, "I am so confused right now."Paul McGinley revealed Bryson is currently under an agent-mandated "gag order," and a distressed Rahm is trying to "track down" a volunteer he accidentally hit with a flying divot to give him a present.HEARTBREAK & GRAND SLAM HOPESBrooks Koepka fought through "absolutely horrendous" putting to post a 69, matching Jordan Spieth who kept his career Grand Slam hopes alive. Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy stumbled to a frustrating opening-round 74.McIlroy blamed his struggles on a missing toenail and a failing driver he described with a word for fertilizer.Koepka shared a raw, emotional admission about his wife's tragic miscarriage last October, noting he has finally "refound my happiness."Quick HitsMichael Block's mirrorless bathroom pep talk: "you are actually pretty good buddy" • Shane Lowry's 68 features a wild 360-degree lip-in • Cameron Young mashes a 2028-conforming Titleist rollback prototype ball 312 yards • Phillies legend Ryan Howard admits a phobia of two-foot putts

On May 14th, 2026, we dive into the rich human interest stories defining the PGA Championship, from historic course restorations and club pro legacies to the unique mindsets driving the game's biggest stars.COBBS CREEK RESTORATIONThe historic Cobbs Creek Golf Club is undergoing a massive $180 million restoration to honor civil rights pioneer Charlie Sifford, creating a modern, inclusive space for the next generation of golfers.Jordan Spieth donated $250,000 for a junior green, emphasizing the need for "accessibility for anybody."Tiger Woods felt a deep personal connection to Sifford, famously calling him "the grandfather I never had."SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER'S SECRETSWorld No. 1 Scottie Scheffler credits his grounded nature to a pressure-free upbringing where his mother never even asked for his score, keeping him focused on the joy of the game.He enforces a strict two-foot gimme rule on the course, defined as anything "past where the grip is."Scheffler had a hilarious reaction to Xander Schauffele mistaking his swing silhouette for LeBron James, joking, "his is terrible too."THE CLUB PRO HERITAGEThe PGA Championship's unique identity is rooted in its club professionals, a legacy fiercely defended by stars who grew up in the system and play to honor their family's deep golfing roots.Justin Thomas passionately defended the major's prestige, stating, "I could not care more."Cameron Young is playing for his father, Dave, while his good friend Chris Gabriele actually qualified for the tournament as a club pro.RAHM'S MINDSET & ROOKIE DEBUTSJon Rahm brings an aggressively singular focus to major championships, while 24-year-old rookie Sudarshan Yellamaraju brings a grounded perspective to his debut after remarkably learning the game by watching YouTube videos.Rahm's strict mandate to his caddie Adam Hayes is that "every decision... is to win," despite the fact that even prime Tiger Woods only won 30% of the time.Pros spend their first paychecks in wild ways: Min Woo Lee bought a Trackman, Sahith Theegala got a BMW M5, and Max Homa finally leased a car with "working doors."Quick HitsHarris English shares some pointed critiques about the weekend course setup lacking major championship difficulty • Pierceson Coody and Matt McCarty both bought houses with their first big paychecks • The stark contrast between Rahm's intense winning mandate and Scheffler's relaxed childhood.