Rory McIlroy Raises an Issue at the PGA Championship
Rory McIlroy walked off the course Friday sounding far more satisfied than he did a day earlier. After opening the PGA Championship with an underwhelming 74, the Northern Irish golfer bounced back strongly. However, McIlroy still had issues to raise regarding the golf course.
The six-time major winner finished the second round at 1-over par, safely inside the +4 cut line. He now sits tied for 30th position entering the weekend, just five shots behind leader Maverick McNealy. More importantly, McIlroy believes he still has enough time to make a serious run at a third PGA Championship title.
But even after climbing back into contention, the world No. 2 made it clear he was far from impressed with the course setup at Aronimink Golf Club. "I think a bunched leaderboard like this, I think it's a sign of not a great setup", said McIlroy. "I think when it's as bunched as it is, because it hasn't really enabled anyone to separate themselves."
After an opening 74 at the PGA Championship that he described as "shit", Rory McIlroy bounced back with a bogey free 67 that he says was "not as (obscenity). to comfortably make the cut.
— Flushing It (@flushingitgolf) May 16, 2026
Despite unanimous praise from fans about the Aronimink set up, Rory is not as impressed:
"The only… pic.twitter.com/B6VdkeVN8P
While some have largely praised the venue's presentation throughout the week, McIlroy argued the layout has made it too easy for players to avoid disaster without rewarding aggressive golf enough. According to the veteran PGA Tour pro, the course has created a tournament where pars come too easily and big scoring swings rarely take place.
McIlroy said, "It's easy to make a ton of pars, hard to make birdies, and not that it's hard to make bogey, but it feels like bogey's the worst score you're going to shoot on any one hole." He further pointed out how most major championship setups usually spread the field apart rather than bunch everyone together on the leaderboard. "I feel like that's what's happened the last two days", the 37-year-old said.
Despite his criticism, McIlroy likes where he stands heading into the final two rounds of the PGA Championship. At five shots behind the lead, the golfer believes he is firmly in contention. He said, "At five back I do feel like I'm right in the tournament, and that's really what I wanted to do today was to just get myself back in it, and I feel like I've done that."
McIlroy's history at Aronimink also gives him reason for confidence. The last time he played professionally at the Pennsylvania venue was during the 2018 BMW Championship, where he finished at an impressive 18-under par.
Now paired with Brooks Koepka for Saturday's round, McIlroy will have 36 more holes to capture his third PGA Championship. Apart from that, he also continues his pursuit of a calendar-year Grand Slam.
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This story was originally published May 16, 2026 at 3:46 AM.