Chris Gotterup didn't just survive the early wave at the PGA Championship on Friday—he thrived. The 26-year-old posted the lowest round of the tournament so far, a blistering 65 that moved him to three under par and stole the spotlight in Philadelphia. But amid the cheers, a question lingered: Is Aronimink Golf Club's setup fair?

This week at the PGA Championship, Aronimink has quieted any talk of record-breaking scores. By Friday afternoon, the leaders sat at just four under par, and it looked like fewer than 10 shots would separate the entire cut line. That's the kind of challenge that makes for great theater—but also slow theater. Pace of play has been a real issue, with groups taking well over five hours to complete rounds, and the course conditions have played a big part.

After his second round, Gotterup was asked directly about the fairness of the setup, especially after complaints from other players. His answer was measured—and revealing.

"I'm going to try to answer this properly," Gotterup said. "I don't think it's unfair, but I do think for pace of play and certain aspects, 14 today is probably aggressive. You're hitting a four iron to a 10-foot circle, and if it doesn't go there, it's off the green. If you hit it 40 feet left, you have a very hard two-putt."

He pointed to a key example: "Bob made birdie in my group and he hit a great shot. So is it unfair? Probably not. But is it going to make the round slow? Yeah. Yesterday I think hole eight was probably pushing it a little bit. I hit five wood yesterday, and I hit seven iron today. Granted, I don't know if they were expecting 30 mile an hour winds yesterday, but I also did shoot five-under today."

Gotterup's bottom line? "I don't think it's unfair by any stretch of the imagination, but you're not going to get any four and a half hour rounds out here if that's what's going to happen. Unfair, no—but tough to make birdies."

For fans watching at home, it's a reminder that major championship golf is as much about grit as it is about skill. And for players, it's a test that demands patience, precision, and a wardrobe built to handle the pressure. Whether you're chasing par or just chasing your personal best, the right gear makes all the difference. And at Aronimink, every shot counts.