The PGA Championship is back, and this year’s edition at Aronimink Golf Club in Philadelphia promises to deliver more than just world-class golf. As the second men’s major of the season tees off Thursday, the buzz off the course is just as intense as the action on it—thanks to major leadership shake-ups, lingering questions about LIV Golf, and the ever-present debate over prize money.
Aronimink, a historic club founded in 1896, is hosting its second PGA Championship. The last time it staged a men’s major was in 1962, when Gary Player claimed the title. Since then, the course has welcomed amateur championships, PGA Tour events, and the 2020 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. Over the next seven days, it will once again play host to the world’s best golfers—and serve as a backdrop for the sport’s evolving landscape.
For the second straight year, the PGA of America—the organization behind the PGA Championship and the U.S.-hosted Ryder Cup—enters its flagship event with a new CEO. Terry Clark, former chief marketing officer at UnitedHealth Group, took the reins in February after Derek Sprague stepped down in January following just one year on the job. Clark, who had served as an independent director on the PGA of America Board since 2024, now leads an organization that has faced recent scrutiny.
The PGA of America (a separate entity from the PGA Tour) came under fire last fall for fan behavior at the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, where the home crowd’s treatment of the European team drew widespread criticism. Outspoken PGA of America president Don Rea Jr., who was also criticized during the event, has since had his role reduced until his two-year term ends in November. In March, the organization extended its Ryder Cup media rights deals with NBC Sports and USA Sports through 2033, and last month named Jim Furyk as captain for the 2027 U.S. Ryder Cup team, which will face Europe in Ireland.
Meanwhile, LIV Golf’s presence at the championship is smaller than last year. With the Saudi PIF reportedly scaling back funding, only 11 LIV players will compete this week—a noticeable drop that raises questions about the league’s future. As the golf world watches closely, Aronimink is set to host not just a major championship, but a pivotal moment in the sport’s ongoing transformation.