No sooner had Rory McIlroy put himself back in frame at the 108th PGA Championship and he asked his reaction to Scottie Scheffler’s controversial post second round comments on the set-up on the host Aronimink course.
The defending PGA champion pulled no punches labbleing Friday’s second round Aronimink course pin placements as ‘kind of absurb’.
The difficult hole positions on a course known for its sloping greens, together with gusting winds and cooler conditions, has played havoc with the world’s top players over the first two days, no one able to pull away from the pack.
GAME’S TOP-DUO ON DIFFERENT PAGES …..
As golf’s highest ranked pair clearly disagree after @ScottieScheffle controversial post second round @PGAChampionship course set-up remarks.
Scottie remarking: “Most of the pins today were kind of absurd“
Rory saying: “The setup is… pic.twitter.com/x4e0TpPcDd
— Fatiha (@TOURMISS) May 16, 2026
“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 after positing three birdies but also four bogeys in a a second round 71 for a share of ninth place at two-under.
and also remarking:
“Most of the pins today were, I mean, kind of absurd,” Scheffler added. “They were just so far into the areas where we thought the pins were going to be.
See full story on Scheffler’s controversial comments: https://www.golfbytourmiss.com/2026/05/scottie-labels-pga-championship-second-rounds-pins-as-kind-of-absurb-but-not-unfair/
McIlroy superbly bounced back from his shock opening 74 to produce a bogey-free 67 and get himself back to one-over and just five off the lead heading to the closing rounds.
And the Northern Irishman was asked he reaction to Scheffler’s ‘hardest set of pin locations that he’s seen since he’s been out on TOUR, including the U.S. Opens’ comments and his thoughts over the course set-up over the opening two rounds.
“Yeah, um, I was — the only thing I would say is, I think a bunched leaderboard like this, I think it’s a sign of not a great setup, I think when it’s as bunched as it is, because it hasn’t really enabled anyone to separate themselves,” said McIlroy.
” It’s like, you know, 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.
“There’s not a lot of hazards. There’s not, you know — yeah, I think the setup is fine, like the golf course is good, the pins were tough, and the wind was what it was as well.
“But I just think, yeah, I’ve always felt like really good setups, it starts to spread the field a bit, and not great setups sort of bring everyone together. I feel like that’s what’s happened the last two days.”
Well said, Rors.
