Quick Answer
The second major of the year is in full swing. As of Friday, May 15, 2026, the world's best golfers are battling the challenging layout of Aronimink Golf Club in Pennsylvania for the 2026 PGA Championship.
The leaderboard is already incredibly tight as players navigate a rigorous second round. While veterans like Scottie Scheffler and Justin Thomas are lurking, the spotlight is firmly on a mix of rising young stars and dynamic fan favorites.
The fight for the Wanamaker Trophy
The second major of the year is in full swing. As of Friday, May 15, 2026, the world's best golfers are battling the challenging layout of Aronimink Golf Club in Pennsylvania for the 2026 PGA Championship.
The leaderboard is already incredibly tight as players navigate a rigorous second round. While veterans like Scottie Scheffler and Justin Thomas are lurking, the spotlight is firmly on a mix of rising young stars and dynamic fan favorites.
Aldrich Potgieter: the South African phenom
If you have been searching for "Potgieter golfer" today, you are not alone. The young South African powerhouse, Aldrich Potgieter, is putting on an absolute clinic at Aronimink. He is currently sitting atop the live leaderboard midway through his second round.
- Round 1: A stellar 3 under par 67.
- Round 2 status: Through 13 holes on Friday he is 2 under for the day, bringing his total to 5 under overall and a slim lead.
- What is working: Raw distance off the tee combined with a hot putter. Potgieter ranks inside the top three in the field for strokes gained off the tee.
Chris Gotterup: the power hitter contends
American Chris Gotterup is proving that his recent successes were no fluke. Known for an aggressive playstyle and massive driving distance, Gotterup is successfully navigating the treacherous rough at Aronimink.
- Round 1: an even par 72.
- Round 2: he caught fire and shot a spectacular 5 under par 65, catapulting up the leaderboard to 3 under overall.
- He is securely inside the cutline and positioned beautifully for a weekend charge.
Min Woo Lee: let him cook
Australian fan favorite Min Woo Lee continues to electrify the galleries. Equipped with his signature stinger off the tee and elite short game creativity, Lee is right in the thick of the hunt.
He matched Potgieter's opening pace with a controlled 67 (3 under) in Round 1. Midway through his second round, he is holding steady at even par for the day, keeping him firmly in the top 10 at 3 under overall. If Lee's iron play stays sharp, the weekend crowds at Aronimink will be roaring.
What to watch this weekend
The cut line is finalized this evening. With Potgieter, Gotterup, and Min Woo Lee all inside the top of the leaderboard, the moving day pairings could give us one of the youngest, most aggressive final groups in recent major championship memory.
The takeaway
Round 2 of the 2026 PGA Championship belongs to a new generation. Potgieter is the story of the day, Gotterup posted the round of the day, and Min Woo Lee is doing exactly what his fans expect. Aronimink is set up for a thrilling weekend.
Aronimink, the Course That Is Shaping the Tournament
Aronimink Golf Club outside Philadelphia is one of Donald Ross's underrated masterpieces, restored over the past decade to play closer to its original 1928 design. The greens are firm and severely contoured, the rough is grown to penalising US Open standards, and the par fives reward power without giving up second-shot demands.
That combination has favoured long, accurate ball strikers with a sharp wedge game. It has not been a week for putting heroics alone.
How the Leaderboard Has Taken Shape
- Aldrich Potgieter has used his prodigious length to attack the par fives, sitting at the top through 36 holes.
- Chris Gotterup has played the cleanest ball-striking week of his career, hitting greens at a tournament-leading rate.
- Min Woo Lee has bounced back from a slow Thursday with a Friday round that put him squarely in contention.
- Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy sit within striking distance heading into the weekend.
The Storylines That Matter
Potgieter is chasing his first major and would become one of the youngest PGA Championship winners in the modern era. Gotterup is hunting a breakthrough result that would lift him into Ryder Cup contention. Min Woo Lee, already a multiple winner, is trying to convert a long stretch of contention into his first major title.
Behind them, Scheffler's pursuit of a third major in two seasons remains the gravitational centre of the tournament.
Conditions for the Weekend
The forecast holds dry and breezy through Saturday, with afternoon gusts that should make the back-nine wedges trickier. Sunday brings a cold front that could drop temperatures meaningfully overnight, firming the greens and bringing the strategic difficulty of Aronimink to its peak.
Expect cut scores to feel high relative to recent PGA Championships and a weekend leaderboard that compresses as the wind moves.
What to Watch For Down the Stretch
- The 12th, a downhill par four where length unlocks a short iron approach.
- The 16th, a brutal par three over water that has produced more dropped shots than birdies through two rounds.
- The 18th, a strong closing par four that demands a confident driver to set up a mid-iron approach.
How to Watch the Final Rounds
ESPN+ carries early-round coverage in the US, with CBS picking up the weekend afternoons. Sky Sports has the rights in the UK. Featured group streams remain the best way to follow the contending pairings shot by shot.
My Pick to Win
If Potgieter holds his nerve and avoids the front-nine bogey patches he has been prone to, he wins. If the wind picks up earlier than forecast, Min Woo Lee's shot-shaping skill and short game make him the most balanced threat. Either way, Aronimink is delivering exactly the kind of championship test the PGA wanted, and the next 36 holes should reward the most complete player in the field.
