Key Takeaways
- The 2026 PGA Championship kicks off at Aronimink Golf Club (Newtown Square, PA) with defending champion Scottie Scheffler seeking a repeat victory.
- Rory McIlroy arrives fresh from a Masters win, while Jordan Spieth eyes a career Grand Slam with a potential triumph.
- Extensive live coverage is available on the ESPN App, ESPN, and CBS, featuring main‑feed broadcasts, featured‑group streams, and highlighted holes throughout the four‑day schedule.
- Notable storylines include Scheffler’s odds‑favorite status, McIlroy’s motivation after Augusta, Spieth’s Slam quest, and several sleeper contenders such as Cameron Young and Viktor Hovland.
- Recent PGA‑Championship news covers on‑course incidents (Rahm’s divot apology), player updates (blister for McIlroy, back issues for Morikawa), equipment notes (Young’s conforming ball), and off‑course topics like the Ryder Cup build‑up and LIV‑Tour discussions.
The 2026 PGA Championship gets underway this week at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania. Scottie Scheffler, the defending champion who captured the Wanamaker Trophy by five strokes last year, returns to defend his title. He enters the week as the betting favorite, looking to become the first player since Brooks Koepka (2018‑2019) to win back‑to‑back PGA Championships.
Rory McIlroy arrives fresh off a triumph at the Masters, his first major of the year, and hopes to add a second straight major victory. Meanwhile, Jordan Spieth sits on the brink of a career Grand Slam; a win at Aronimink would give him the missing PGA Championship title to complete the set of all four majors.
The tournament’s television and streaming plan is extensive. Early‑round action (Tuesday‑Wednesday, May 12‑13) airs on the ESPN App from 12‑3 p.m. ET each day. Beginning Thursday, May 15, the main feed runs on the ESPN App from 6:45 a.m.‑12 p.m. ET, with featured‑group coverage (Groups 1‑4) and highlighted holes streaming from 8 a.m.‑8 p.m. ET. Round‑2 coverage shifts to ESPN proper from 12‑8 p.m. ET.
For the weekend, the ESPN App provides main‑feed coverage Saturday and Sunday from 8‑10 a.m. ET, followed by featured‑group streams (Groups 1‑4) and featured holes until 7 p.m. ET. The third round (Saturday) and final round (Sunday) are broadcast on ESPN from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. ET, with CBS taking over the afternoon slot from 1‑7 p.m. ET. Throughout the tournament, specific featured‑group pairings—such as McIlroy/Spieth/Rahm, Scheffler/Fitzpatrick/Rose, and DeChambeau/Aberg/Fowler—are available on ESPN+ at the times listed in the schedule.
Beyond the logistics, a steady stream of headlines has shaped the narrative. Jon Rahm apologized after a wayward swing sent a divot striking a volunteer. McIlroy admitted to a blister that forced him to curtail a practice round, while Morikawa disclosed lingering back trouble that is affecting his confidence on the course. Cameron Young drew attention for using a ball that already conforms to the upcoming rollback changes, signalling his readiness for future equipment rules.
On the competitive front, Scheffler leads the odds list, but Young has risen into the top‑five contenders after a strong showing in recent events. Experts’ picks are divided: some favor Scheffler’s consistency and recent major form, others point to McIlroy’s momentum post‑Masters, and a few highlight Spieth’s Slam motivation as a potential X‑factor. Betting analysts note value in longer‑shot players like Viktor Hovland, Collin Morikawa, and Tommy Fleetwood, who could exploit the relatively soft Aronimink layout if conditions favor precision over power.
Additional storylines include Jim Furyk’s efforts to devise a long‑term blueprint for the U.S. Ryder Cup team, Phil Mickelson’s absence (replaced by Max Homa), and ongoing chatter about the PGA Tour‑PIF deal, with McIlroy reflecting that he was “glad I was wrong” about earlier skepticism.
As the tournament progresses, the central questions remain: Can Scheffler defend his crown and cement his place among the game’s elite? Will McIlroy convert Masters momentum into a second major in a row? And does Spieth possess the poise to finally capture the career Grand Slam that has eluded him for years? Answers will unfold over the four days at Aronimink, with every round broadcast live for fans eager to follow the drama.