Braden Shattuck has a pretty unique pre-tournament routine. While the world's top golfers were fine-tuning their swings at Aronimink Golf Club, Shattuck was doing what he does best—teaching. With a golf club held horizontally just above his knees, he demonstrated alignment tricks to a group of eager students at Rolling Green Golf Club, just 10 miles down the road.

"I used to do that as a junior golfer because I had trouble with alignment," Shattuck explained, showing his pupil how to check her swing plane without breaking the rules. "It's a trick that you're able to do under the rules. You can't lay the club down and check it. But you can put it right over your toe line, check where you're at."

It's a scene that perfectly captures the dual life of a PGA professional. While stars like Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth spent Wednesday signing autographs and practicing, Shattuck kept his appointment teaching a clinic for 10 women—from longtime students to the new La Salle women's golf coach. His teaching gig delayed his arrival at Aronimink, where he would later play at least nine holes in preparation for the PGA Championship.

Shattuck is one of 20 golf professionals in the 156-man field for this weekend's major championship. He earned his spot by finishing eighth in April at the PGA Professional Championship in Oregon. And he'll be the first to strike a ball on Thursday, teeing off at 6:45 a.m.—well before his usual round time.

Raised in suburban Philadelphia, Shattuck has become an instant fan favorite, with local ties in Delaware County drawing chants of "Do it for Delco!" He laughed when he noticed the crowd at his clinic was bigger than usual—and certainly, there were more cameras than normal. "If it makes any of you nervous, sorry," he joked.

But his students didn't seem to mind the extra attention. For them, it was a rare chance to learn from a pro who's about to compete on golf's biggest stage. And for Shattuck, it's a reminder that even in the midst of a major championship, the heart of the game is still about teaching and sharing the love of golf.