PGA Championship Review from Newtown Square, Pa.

Rory McIlroy is fully aware of what kept him from claiming victory at the PGA Championship this past Sunday at Aronimink Golf Club.

Three holes were pivotal in preventing him from securing his seventh major title. It would have marked his third win in two years and his second consecutive major.

Two par-5 holes, No. 9 and No. 16, turned out to be missed opportunities. While many others capitalized on those holes, McIlroy settled for pars. Disappointing, to say the least.

Then, on the par-4 13th, which is reachable at 299 yards, he pushed his tee shot too far to the right and ended up with a bogey.

“Not getting birdies on both par-5s and then bogeying a par-4 you could drive was tough,” McIlroy reflected. “When I look back, those holes are definitely disappointing. I thought I prepared adequately, but those last three holes? Not so much.”

He added, “If I can just get a birdie on a par-5, the day would have felt completely different.”

McIlroy, recognized for his powerful drives, ended the tournament without any birdies on par-5s, finishing at even par on those holes. On the flip side, the tournament winner, Aaron Rye, managed to shoot 3 under on the final day, wrapping up the tournament at 6 under overall.

Meanwhile, Jordan Spieth faced his own struggles this week as he attempted to complete a career Grand Slam but fell short due to his putting woes. He finished tied for 18th with scores of 69-72-69-68, ending at one under par, but wasn’t really a contender throughout.

Despite showing excellent ball-striking—ranking first in accuracy and third in strokes gained off the tee—he struggled with a dismal rank of 79th in strokes gained putting and averaged 31 putts per round.

Unfortunately for him, he will have to wait another year for the PGA Championship, which is set to take place in his hometown of Frisco, Texas, in 2027.

Though neither Alex Smalley nor Matty Schmidt won, their experiences in the final group were transformative. Smalley had started the last round with a two-stroke lead but ended with an even par, tying for second at 6 under. Schmidt managed to shoot 1 under and tied for fourth at 5 under.

These results qualified both players for the 2027 Masters and the PGA Championship

Smalley expressed excitement about the upcoming Masters, saying, “I realized I could qualify for Augusta with a top-four finish. I didn’t think about it until I got to the 18th green and saw where I stood.” He labeled the week as “special.”

“You never really know with this tournament. This could be an important turning point for my career,” he noted. “It gives me a boost of confidence to know I’ll be competing in major championships starting this week.”

Schmidt called the experience “one of the best tournaments I’ve ever played.”

In other local news, three players from the Met area—Cam Young, Chris Gottharp, and Max Glaserman—didn’t make an appearance on Sunday. Gottharp, from Little Silver, New Jersey, finished tied for 10th at 3 under. Young ended up at 2 over, tying for 26th at even par, while Glaserman concluded at 2 under, tied for 14th.

Kurt Kitayama seemed to bloom with confidence heading into the final round despite having shot a 75 in the previous round. His astonishing final round of 7-under 63 was the lowest of the tournament.

“I felt like a putting god today. Everything just clicked for me,” Kitayama remarked. He finished the round at 3 under and claimed 10th place, qualifying for the 2027 PGA.

When asked to predict the winning score after his round, he guessed at 8 under but missed the mark; Aaron Rye emerged victorious at 9 under.

Padraig Harrington, the 54-year-old former winner of the PGA Championship, wrapped up his week with a magical finish—an eagle on 16, a birdie on 18, ending with a 69. After opening with a 74, he posted three rounds in the 60s, finishing at 1 under.

As for Ben Khan, he has the distinction of being the low club pro throughout the weekend, being the only player out of 20 to qualify. He finished the tournament at 10 over for his third appearance at the PGA Championship. Khan was paired with Luke Donald, a three-time European Ryder Cup captain, who shot a 69, while Khan had a 72. “Walking with Luke made for an unforgettable Sunday in the majors,” he said.