Scottie Scheffler put a blunt label on Friday at Aronimink: the pin locations were absurd.

Speaking after Round 2 of the 2026 PGA Championship, Scheffler said the flags ranked as the hardest he has seen on Tour, a striking assessment from one of golf’s most measured voices. His comments captured the tension at the heart of major championship golf: players expect a stern test, but they also demand a setup that rewards execution instead of luck. By his own account, Aronimink pushed right to that edge without crossing it.

Scheffler called the pin positions the hardest he has seen on Tour, while stressing that the course still did not feel unfair.

That distinction matters. Complaints about course setup often flare when scores drift higher and frustration mounts, but Scheffler’s view suggested something more nuanced. Reports indicate he saw the placements as extreme rather than broken — severe enough to force constant caution, precise angles and exact speed on the greens, yet still within the bounds of championship golf. In a tournament where tiny misses can turn into dropped shots, that kind of setup changes decisions on nearly every hole.

Key Facts

  • Scottie Scheffler criticized Round 2 pin locations at Aronimink during the 2026 PGA Championship.
  • He said they were the hardest pin positions he has seen on Tour.
  • Scheffler also said the setup never felt unfair despite the difficulty.
  • The comments spotlight the fine line between a demanding test and an excessive one in major golf.

The broader issue now centers on how tournament officials balance difficulty with credibility. Major championships thrive on pressure, and organizers rarely apologize for punishing setups. But when a player of Scheffler’s stature calls attention to pin positions so directly, it sharpens the conversation around whether the course challenged the field in the right way. Sources suggest players and analysts will keep parsing that balance as scores, reactions and weekend conditions evolve.

What comes next depends on whether Aronimink keeps that same edge through the final rounds. If officials ease the placements, the championship may open up; if they hold the line, precision and patience could define the weekend. Either way, Scheffler’s remarks have already framed the story: at this PGA Championship, the battle does not stop at the swing — it continues on the greens, where every hole location can tilt the tournament.