Rory McIlroy pulled himself back into contention at the PGA Championship with a bogey-free 67, as Alex Smalley and Maverick McNealy moved into a share of the lead on four under at Aronimink Golf Club. Scottie Scheffler slipped with a 71 to sit two strokes behind, while a tightly packed leaderboard leaves any player surviving the cut feeling close to a potential victory.
McIlroy’s second round contrasted sharply with a poor opening day, and the focus was on accuracy from the tee. Control with the driver kept McIlroy away from the thick rough, opened birdie chances and removed errors from the card. That approach, combined with difficult putting conditions for the entire field, helped tighten the scoring across the board.
"I just needed to find the
feeling with the driver. I feel like a lot of the bogeys I made yesterday were from hitting it into the rough from wayward drives," McIlroy told ESPN. "I was able to give myself opportunities to make birdies and also limit the mistakes and not have any bogeys on the card. It was a day just to get back into the tournament, and I feel like that's what I was able to do. It's a really bunched leaderboard because I think guys are finding it difficult to make putts out there. "
McIlroy believes the narrow scoring spread means weekend contenders will come from deep within the field. "Anyone who makes the cut tonight has got to feel like they're right in this. It looks like the conditions are going to be a bit more favourable [on Saturday] and Sunday, and that enables you then to play more aggressive, try to fire at some more pins. " McIlroy also joked that the opening round had been s***, while the second was "not as s***", underlining the swing in form.
Set up for a showdown on the weekend.@ROLEX | #PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/x32upC9P6kPGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 16, 2026
The top of the leaderboard at Aronimink is crowded after two rounds, with only a few shots separating large groups of players. Smalley and McNealy are out in front on four under, while Scheffler leads the chasing pack at two under despite a setback. McIlroy’s 67 brought a major title into view again, after early mistakes on the first day left ground to recover.
The scoring trend reflects a demanding test rather than low numbers. Many players sit close to level par, and the narrow gap between first place and the middle of the field increases the importance of weekend momentum. With pin positions proving severe and the putting surfaces tricky, birdie runs have been rare and leads have remained fragile.
| Player | Score |
|---|---|
| Alex Smalley | -4 |
| Maverick McNealy | -4 |
| Scottie Scheffler | -2 |
| Rory McIlroy | Bogey-free 67 in round two |
PGA Championship: Scottie Scheffler on tough pins
Scheffler opened the second round poorly, dropping shots at three of the first four holes and losing the early advantage gained from a strong first day. The defending champion finished with a one-over-par 71 and voiced frustration with the course set-up, particularly the pin placements, which Scheffler felt were harsher than usual even for a major.
"This is the hardest set of pin locations that I've seen since I've been on tour, and that includes US Opens, that includes Oakmont," Scheffler said. "It's difficult to hole putts, especially when you have big slopes and wind and I think that's why you see the scores so close to par. "
PGA Championship: big names survive and miss the cut
The cut line at Aronimink proved demanding, yet several leading names progressed. Jon Rahm, Xander Schauffele, Jordan Spieth, Justin Rose, Shane Lowry and Brooks Koepka all secured weekend tee times and remain within striking distance. Their presence adds strength to the chasing pack behind Smalley, McNealy, Scheffler and McIlroy as conditions are forecast to ease slightly.
Some high-profile players, however, will not feature over the final two rounds. Bryson DeChambeau, Tommy Fleetwood, Viktor Hovland and Keegan Bradley all missed the cut and leave Pennsylvania earlier than planned. With established contenders out and the remaining field tightly grouped, opportunities may open for less familiar names to stay near the lead on moving day.
Aronimink’s sloping greens, gusting wind and demanding pin locations have created a championship where patience matters more than power. With the scores clustered around par and forecasts suggesting friendlier weekend weather, the PGA Championship looks set for a close finish, where McIlroy’s resurgence, Scheffler’s defence and the joint leaders’ composure will shape the final outcome.
