The 2026 PGA Championship returns to Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania – one of the most demanding and beloved major venues on the calendar. With Rory McIlroy defending his title while pursuing one of the most remarkable runs in golf history, and World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler determined to add another major to his growing collection, the field for this year’s second major is stacked with elite talent.
Here are the top 10 PGA Championship 2026 contenders you should be watching when play begins in May at Aronimink Golf Club.
1. Rory McIlroy – The Defending Champion on a Grand Slam Mission
Odds: 6/1 favourite
If there is a story that will dominate the 2026 golf season, it is Rory McIlroy’s pursuit of the Calendar Grand Slam. The Northern Irishman arrives at Aronimink as both the defending Masters and PGA Championship titleholder – a feat that sets up the tantalising possibility of winning all four majors in a single calendar year.
McIlroy’s elite ball-striking and iron play suit Aronimink’s Donald Ross layout perfectly. He arrives as the defending Masters champion and PGA Championship titleholder – a golfer at the absolute peak of his powers. His ability to manage demanding parkland courses, attack par-fives, and hole clutch putts under pressure makes him ideally suited to Aronimink’s test.
Defending a PGA title is no easy task, but few players in history have arrived at a single event with so much momentum and motivation. For full context on what is at stake, read our deep-dive: Can Rory McIlroy Win the 2026 Calendar Grand Slam?
Verdict: The heat of expectation only seems to sharpen McIlroy’s focus. He is the clear Number 1 pick among all PGA Championship 2026 contenders.
2. Scottie Scheffler – The World No. 1 Who Keeps Delivering
Odds: 7/1
Scottie Scheffler has been the most consistent golfer on the planet for the better part of three years. The Texan’s combination of elite ball-striking, cool temperament under pressure, and tactical intelligence makes him a genuine threat at any major venue – and Aronimink is no exception.
Scheffler’s game is ideally suited to the demands of Aronimink’s tree-lined fairways and elevated Donald Ross greens. His iron play is a particular weapon; his ability to hold the ball on line in testing Pennsylvania conditions could prove decisive. He has contended at multiple PGA Championships and possesses every tool required to claim this title.
Verdict: If McIlroy does not win, there is a very strong chance the Wanamaker Trophy goes to Scheffler. An indispensable pick in any list of PGA Championship 2026 contenders.
3. Xander Schauffele – The Reigning PGA Champion Hunting More
Odds: 10/1
Xander Schauffele’s victory at the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla proved what the golfing world had long suspected – that he had the major pedigree and nerve to win on the biggest stages. The American has built on that breakthrough with a string of elite performances, and he heads into 2026 with the confidence of a proven champion.
Schauffele’s off-the-tee accuracy is a key asset at Aronimink, where errant drives into thick rough can end title bids. His short game is sharp, and he rarely makes the mental errors that derail contenders in the closing stages of majors.
Verdict: Schauffele has the complete game for Aronimink. A podium finish at minimum; genuine winner’s odds if conditions suit his trademark fade off the tee.
4. Collin Morikawa – Major Pedigree at a Ball-Striker’s Paradise
Odds: 14/1
For a course that rewards elite ball-striking above all else, Collin Morikawa might be the most dangerous name on this entire list. The 2020 PGA Championship winner possesses arguably the most technically pure iron game in professional golf, and Aronimink’s demanding approach angles play directly into his strengths.
Morikawa’s game thrives on courses that demand precision over raw power, and his putting has grown considerably more consistent in recent seasons – removing what was previously the one question mark over his major credentials. When everything clicks for Morikawa, he can make elite courses look straightforward.
Verdict: A smart each-way pick at generous odds. If Morikawa can replicate his 2020 form, Aronimink is a course built for his style.
5. Brooks Koepka – The Major Monster Brings His Title Record to Aronimink
Odds: 16/1
Few players in modern history can match Brooks Koepka’s major championship record. With PGA Championship titles in 2018, 2019, and 2023, Koepka has repeatedly demonstrated an uncanny ability to elevate his game when the major championship tee markers go in the ground. Whatever he does during the regular season, there is a version of Koepka at a major that very few players can live with.
His length off the tee gives him short irons into many of Aronimink’s demanding par-fours, and his mental fortitude when championships are on the line remains one of the most formidable assets in the game.
Verdict: Three PGA Championship wins are not coincidence. Never fade Koepka at this event.
6. Tommy Fleetwood – The Consistent Contender Chasing His First Major
Odds: 20/1
Tommy Fleetwood has been knocking on the door of major glory for the better part of a decade. The Englishman’s elegant ball-striking, creative shot-making around greens, and composed major temperament have produced a string of top-five finishes at the biggest events. At some point, the breakthrough will come – and Aronimink could be the place.
Fleetwood’s natural creativity and ability to shape shots both ways make him a player to watch in any conditions. He thrives when a course rewards craft over brute power, and Aronimink demands precisely that.
Verdict: Still searching for his first major title, Fleetwood represents outstanding value among the top PGA Championship 2026 contenders.
7. Justin Thomas – Two-Time Major Champion Ready to Add Another
Odds: 22/1
Justin Thomas knows what it takes to win a PGA Championship – he did it in 2017 at Quail Hollow and again at Southern Hills in 2022. That experience of winning major championships makes him dangerous at any major venue, including Aronimink. That combination of course familiarity and proven major pedigree makes him one of the most compelling selections in the 2026 field.
Thomas is a high-energy competitor who thrives on momentum, and when his game is clicking, he is capable of shooting low on courses that require accuracy and calculated aggression. His 2017 performance at this very venue remains one of the defining major victories of the modern era.
Verdict: Course winner, two-time major champion, and motivated to prove himself among the elite again. Thomas is a strong value selection.
8. Viktor Hovland – The Norwegian Star Targeting Major Glory
Odds: 25/1
Viktor Hovland has established himself as one of the most exciting talents in world golf, combining elite athleticism off the tee with exceptional touch around the greens. After breakthrough FedEx Cup victories and consistent major performances, the Norwegian is widely regarded as one of the next generation of players destined for multiple major titles.
Hovland’s power game and aggressive approach align well with Aronimink’s demands, and his ability to recover from difficult positions has improved dramatically in recent seasons. He has the complete package to compete at the highest level, and his confidence grows with each passing year on tour.
Verdict: A near-certain podium contender across the next decade. A major breakthrough at Aronimink would cement his status among the game’s greats.
9. Patrick Cantlay – The Tactician Who Could Win Ugly
Odds: 28/1
Patrick Cantlay does not win with fireworks – he wins with relentless, calculated precision that wears down courses and fields alike. His methodical approach and elite putting under pressure have delivered multiple PGA Tour victories and strong Ryder Cup performances, and his game is tailor-made for the course management that Aronimink demands.
Cantlay has a strong record on demanding, tree-lined parkland courses, and his conservative playing style – minimising bogeys, capitalising on birdie chances from close range – is well-suited to the brutal closing stretch of Aronimink’s demanding final holes.
Verdict: Not a flashy pick, but a smart one. If the field blows up on Sunday, Cantlay will be walking up the 18th with the trophy.
10. Shane Lowry – The Major Champion With a Point to Prove
Odds: 33/1
Shane Lowry’s victory at Royal Portrush in the 2019 Open Championship showed what a special player the Irishman is when conditions are tough and the occasion at its grandest. Lowry thrives when courses separate the men from the boys, and Aronimink – with its punishing rough and demanding finishing holes – provides exactly that kind of test.
His ability to manage emotions and stay patient under pressure, combined with a putting stroke that has become one of the best on tour, makes Lowry a credible outside pick. There is also the added motivation of chasing McIlroy’s coattails into major glory for the Irish contingent.
Verdict: A long-shot bet with genuine major pedigree behind it. Lowry at 33/1 offers excellent value for those willing to back the underdog.
Why Aronimink Produces Champions
Aronimink Golf Club is one of the most storied championship venues in American golf. Built to Donald Ross’s masterful design in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, the course’s tight fairways demand accuracy off the tee, while its elevated, crowned Ross greens reward precision approach play above all else. Ross’s signature green complexes – sloping away on all sides – punish any approach that misses the correct sector.
Aronimink’s demanding closing stretch – culminating in a punishing par-4 18th with a classic Ross crowned green – has broken countless championship hopes over the years. Dense rough, tree-lined corridors, and elevated green complexes combine to ensure that no lead is safe entering the final few holes. Arnold Palmer survived this test to claim the 1962 PGA Championship at Aronimink; in 2026, the same demanding finish will decide who lifts the Wanamaker Trophy.
For everything you need to know about the venue, including a hole-by-hole breakdown, read our comprehensive Aronimink Golf Club Course Guide.
How to Watch the 2026 PGA Championship
For full broadcast details, live streaming options, tee times, and TV channel information, visit our comprehensive How to Watch PGA Championship 2026 guide.
Final Verdict on the PGA Championship 2026 Contenders
The 2026 PGA Championship at Aronimink is set up to be one of the most compelling majors in recent memory. McIlroy’s Calendar Grand Slam pursuit adds a historical dimension that transcends ordinary sporting interest, while Scheffler’s consistency makes him the inevitable challenger. Schauffele and Morikawa both have the games to thrive on this course, and Koepka’s major record demands respect regardless of current form.
Top three PGA Championship 2026 contenders: McIlroy (6/1), Scheffler (7/1), Schauffele (10/1).
Best each-way value: Morikawa (14/1), Fleetwood (20/1), Thomas (22/1).
Outsider to watch: Koepka (16/1) – three PGA Championship wins speak for themselves.
