Nobody Is Happy at PGA Championship

👋 Hey, golf fans,

We’re now halfway through the PGA Championship, and the leaderboard looks as stacked as ever. If you missed our quick round‑up yesterday, catch it here. For round two, we’ve got the latest updates, including the cluster of players nipping at the leaders’ heels. Meanwhile, Scheffler almost lost it, Fowler had fans on their toes again, Spieth hit a stunning shot, and two toddlers stole the show outside the ropes.

Onward…

Before we start with today’s edition, let's kick things off with the stories that've been making waves.

“No Fu—ing Idea.” That’s what Dustin Johnson said about his future. He’ll turn 42 next month and has been winless since February 2024.

Patrick Reed sounds stunned at the state of LIV Golf. He seems to have left the league at the right time.

A famous influencer from Good Good Golf earns an invite to another professional tournament. He will make his PGA Tour debut in November as well.

Things go from bad to worse in a jiffy at Aronimink. Take Wyndham Clark (+5/MC). His otherwise quiet Friday almost turned lethal for a spectator. Clark, surrounded by fans standing barely five yards away, hacked his ball out of thick rough on the 11th. It went whistling between two people trying to record the shot—watch the scary incident recorded by a spectator here.

The ball ricocheted off a camera into the native area, and Clark eventually made a triple. Hopefully, this will be a lesson for those 50-odd fans. As for the leaderboard, Maverick McNealy (‑4/T1) and Alex Smalley (‑4/T1) share the top spot. Their 4‑under 136 is the highest 36‑hole total for leaders since 2012.

Six players are tied for third, including Chris Gotterup, who posted the tournament’s best round so far (65). Overall, fifteen players are within two shots of the lead, the deepest 36‑hole leaderboard in a major since the 2002 Open (16).

Defending champion Scottie Scheffler (-1/T9) is just two shots back. He called the pin locations on Friday “absurd” and said it was tougher than the U.S. Open. Scheffler ranked 124th in strokes gained: putting yesterday. Meanwhile, Cameron Young (‑2/T9) climbed 40 spots, and Rory McIlroy (+1/T30) vaulted 75 spots thanks to his bogey-free 67, but was equally unhappy with the course setup.

In the last 36 PGA Championships, every winner has been within six shots of the lead after the second round. There are 58 players in the range right now. So when we say “anything can happen this week,” we mean it. Literally.

• 171: After 127 three‑putts in R1, that number jumped to 171 on day two—no wonder pros are in a foul mood.

• 9: Bryson DeChambeau (+7/MC) missed the cut in back‑to‑back majors for the first time in nine years. The last time he hit this rough patch was in 2017 (the U.S. Open and The Open).

• 8: Just eight strokes separated the cut line at +4 and the 36‑hole leaders, a gap we haven’t seen since the 2006 PGA Championship.

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Hold It! Scottie Scheffler raised his club to slam it on the turf after a poor tee shot on the 15th. But he probably remembered the Code of Conduct policy just in time. So to save himself from a possible two-stroke penalty, watch what he did instead.

Outrageous: On the 11th, Jordan Spieth (+1/T30) landed his tee shot on the right side of the fairway. With four bunkers lined up like sentries blocking his way to the green, what did Spieth do? He hit this wedge shot that defied all the laws of physics.

The entertainer: Rickie Fowler (+1/T30) drained a 58-foot birdie putt on the 17th with the crowd roaring all the way through. Then, with one little gesture, he proved why he is still a fan favorite—watch and clap.

Trolled: Garrick Higgo (+5/MC) received a two-stroke penalty in R1 for arriving late on the tee box. Guess what ESPN did the next day? They pulled off this diabolical move that has split fans in two.

Living on a Prayer: In golf, sometimes the best you can do is pray. And plead. Patrick Reed (E/T22) did the same after launching his drive well right, pleading with the ball to “stay out of the fescue.” Look where the ball ended up.

Elsewhere:

• Justin Rose did it again. A flop-shot hole-out to make the cut.

• Hideki Matsuyama brought boxing gloves to Aronimink.

• Brutal setup resulted in a delay for multiple groups. Rory almost dozed off while waiting.

As you saw, Rory, Scottie, and others are miffed at the tricky pin location, and Scottie was ready to slam his club on the turf. So we’re curious to know…

Last Poll Result: 71.81% of you said the PGA of America needs better leadership.

Boxing weigh‑ins are so staged that they make a scripted sitcom look like a documentary. Everyone needs a break from that. If you’re in the mood for something sweeter, how about a boxing match between two toddlers? On Friday, cameras caught two toddlers battling just outside the ropes. They bumped into each other again and again, then collapsed onto the soft grass in giggles. Soon enough, a woman swooped in and separated the spirited little fighters. Watch the adorable video below.

Overall, Friday was a family day at Aronimink. Here’s a picture of a toddler navigating the course like an explorer. Meanwhile, Justin Thomas arrived with his daughter, Molly, on his lap—check it out here.

Essentially Golf brings you handpicked, well-thought-out, and not-to-be-missed recommendations to make your weekend more fun.

🎥 Watch — Nate Bargatze hits some unfortunate shots in an SNL skit.

🛍 Buy — FurHaven has the perfect support bed for your pets.

👕 Wear — Oversized T-Shirt delivers a timeless look and feel.

🤌 Unwind — Transfusion is reddish-purple in color and perfect for this week.

✈️ Visit — Chanticleer Garden is the perfect place to visit in Pennsylvania.

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