Question of the week [May 18-24]: What are your opinions of the 2026 PGA Championship — the winner, the overall play, the course.
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Rodney Maguire | Clifton Park, NY
I was happy for the winner, Aaron Rai. He played great and deserved it. However, I thought the course itself lacked originality and hole recognition, producing a glacial leaderboard for most of the weekend until Rai caught fire on the back nine Sunday. I won’t be champing at the bit to see a major return there anytime soon.
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Ken Kotowski | Marco Island, FL
I was so thankful that the PGA of America set the course up to restore value to accurate tee shots, prudent approach shots, and thoughtful putts. Such a refreshing change from typical PGA Tour events. Aronimink proved that a classic course can still provide a worthy challenge to today’s best players with a proper setup. Hopefully, the USGA was taking notes for Shinnecock.
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Burk Hershey | Waynesboro, VA
I was concerned that the major players, such as Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler, thought the setup was bizarre. I'm glad that Rai won, as I did not want any LIV player to win another major.
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Bo McBee | The Woodlands, TX
The course showed well on TV. It offered good competition and a tight race. Narrow, bunkered fairways kept many long hitters in the deep rough. The side-view shot tracker was pretty cool. This was one of the PGA’s best.
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Thomas Klabunde | Tempe, AZ
I thoroughly enjoyed it — an old-school golf course that provided a stern test where the greens were the primary defense. I am gratified to see the elite struggle to break par. I find the 25-under "standard fare" PGA Tour events to be totally boring. Rai simply outplayed everyone down the home stretch. When most of the field was tied or within a stroke at the turn, I expected a playoff. Rory and a few others were like hungry cows — you couldn't keep them out of the hay, and that wasn't going to get it done.
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Gig Berkowitz | The Villages, FL
While Aaron Rai had a super finish, I thought the Donald Ross course showed its teeth from day one. Player comments backed up the low scores. It wasn't "tricked up"; it was just a tough venue that proved not all championships need to be won at 20-under par. Well done to Mr. Rai and Aronimink.
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Kenneth Nigro | Ponte Vedra, FL
The players whining about the course difficulty was an absolute embarrassment to the PGA.
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David Flinchbaugh, PGA | Leland, NC
It was like watching paint dry for six hours a day. Rounds were incredibly slow due to poor hole placements and tricked up course prep. I had to turn it off. This was absolutely the worst PGA in my lifetime. I was embarrassed for my association.
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Reid Farrill | Toronto, Canada
Overall, this was an uninspiring tournament that became an 18-hole sprint for the Wanamaker Trophy. Special thanks go to Gil Hanse for taking another classic golf course and stripping it of almost all its foliage and character in a lame attempt to recapture Donald Ross’ Day 1 intent. As Jon Rahm said in his press conference, perhaps there was a reason those trees were planted in the first place? Left with virtually no defense, Kerry Haig had to resort to impossible pin placements.
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Larry M. Conroy | Havertown, PA
Attending live really accented the positive vibe. Aronimink was an awesome test and the conditions were great. Wind is something pro golfers should and do contend with. It was fun following Justin Thomas as he contended for the win. The champion was steady, making big moves exactly when needed. The PGA gets an A+.
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Wayne Smith | Georgetown, TX
At first, I wasn't sure I liked it. Golf fans have become so used to seeing players destroy courses that when no one runs away from the field, we are left scratching our heads. But reflecting on it now, it was a great tournament. A single-digit winning score, a truly nice young man in Aaron Rai as the winner, and a classic Northeast course. I hope the U.S. Open is as good, though I am concerned about the 2027 site.
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Kent Day | Boise, ID
The best major in a while. The course was set up perfectly. It was a great Sunday with so many players in contention. Rai deserved the win as he hit it straight and putted better than the rest.
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Mike Whisler | San Diego, CA
I have played and watched golf for over 65 years, and this was one of the best setups ever. It was tough but fair for all styles. I watch DP World Tour golf regularly and knew Aaron Rai had developed into a world-class player. He is a great role model for the game.
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Vinny Mooney | Poughkeepsie, NY
It was enjoyable to see different names in the hunt. The whining by top players was laughable — as if they were playing a different course than everyone else. They’ve grown so used to easy setups that a real challenge feels catastrophic. However, the pace of play was horrendous. These prima donnas need to cut down on the lengthy pre-shot discussions and just hit the ball. All that said, a worthy champion emerged.
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Thomas Bearden | Guntersville, AL
Great course. One-time winner. Doesn’t hit it long enough.
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Dwight Hendrickson | Tucson, AZ
A refreshing, quality, and humble winner. I knew little of Rai before, but I’m now a huge fan of him as a person. This was a resounding example of how a course can affect the "rollback" discussion. At Aronimink, talent — not length — is the winner. Every shot seemed to strike fear into the players; that tension in shotmaking is wonderful.
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Keith Howell | Norfolk, VA
Mediocre.
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Barry Duckworth | Knoxville, TN
It was nice to see a course, short by modern standards, yield a winning score of less than 10-under. "Bombs away" did not win this tournament. It shows you can challenge the best with rough and tough green complexes. No need for a golf ball rollback here.
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Andy Phelps | Summerville, SC
I liked the course, the setup, and the winner. It was fun to watch the course play through the wind and dry conditions, resulting in a tight leaderboard. My only complaint: ESPN does a terrible job broadcasting golf. They have a lot to learn from CBS and the Golf Channel.
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Dave Willison | Goodyear, AZ
Loved it all. It was fun to see an old-school course like Aronimink stand up to the "bashers" dominating the game today. I'd like to see more tournaments where players have to think their way around the course.
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Jeff Jones | Champaign, IL
A very compelling championship with a worthy champion. The beautiful, classic course provided a major test. It was enjoyable to watch.
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Tom Powers | Bradenton, FL
The best player won. This course got into the golf brain of every player in the field. The putting and chipping areas caused them to lose it. After Day 1, Rory and others were heavily criticizing the course, and by Day 2, many couldn't make 6-foot putts. That course was the winner; the greens were the cause of most of the whining. I want to see more majors played on similar courses.
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Mike Keller | Fort Wayne, IN
Outstanding. A great test that proves there is no need to worry about distance or the golf ball. Architects and setup crews can protect any course. I'm so sick of the "bombs away" game and tree removal. This brought back true shotmaking.
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Matthew Fenn | Hoffman Estates, IL
Horrible setup. It rewarded luck more than skill. Quite boring.
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Don Tollin | Coral Springs, FL
Finally, a way to make a course playable for all. There was no advantage to the bombers. Hitting fairways and navigating difficult greens made accuracy meaningful. This should be the blueprint for golf courses. Aaron Rai is a great champion; he did exactly what the course required.
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Steve Moore | Birmingham, AL
I was impressed because, as many noted, "they showed up for a PGA and a US Open broke out." It didn't please everyone (slow play and par-3 lengths), but I loved seeing stars forced out of their comfort zones. If you follow the rollback discussion, you saw how this course neutralized the driver/wedge strategy. Additionally, Aaron Rai — a humble, diverse, and well-mannered winner — made a wonderful global debut. Well done, PGA of America.
Patrick Barta | Johannesburg, South Africa
The setup was far too severe. It was not good for the players or the fans, resulting in a bunched leaderboard that was barely under par.
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Ralph M. Bush | Barneveld, NY
I always enjoy a tournament that forces scores closer to par through tough conditions. Birdie-fests are extremely boring; tougher matches are great.
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Eric Oberg | Rotonda West, FL
Aaron Rai is a great winner and a class act. Having 30 players with a chance to win on the final day is incredible. The course was fair but difficult, testing the finest players on the planet without being bullied by today's equipment. Best major setup I have ever witnessed.
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Front: Caddie Jason Timmis and Aaron Rai approach the 18th green at Aronimink Golf Club.
Photo: Darren Carroll/PGA of America