The 108th PGA Championship kicks off Thursday at Aronimink in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, marking the second major of 2026—and the second chance this year for someone to challenge the seemingly unstoppable duo of Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy. Scheffler enters as the defending PGA champion, while McIlroy is fresh off a dominant Masters victory last month. Together, they've set the standard in golf, leaving the field scrambling to keep pace.

But while the spotlight shines brightest on these two, there's plenty more to watch as the golf world descends on Philadelphia. Let's break down the key storylines.

Rory McIlroy: Finding His Rhythm
Last year, McIlroy's post-Masters performance was oddly subdued—he finished T47 at the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow and stayed mostly quiet all week. This time, the Northern Irishman seems more relaxed, more willing to open up about his game and the bigger picture. Will that translate into a stronger showing at a tournament he's won twice? He's only played twice in the last two months: the Masters and last week's Truist Championship, where he finished at 5-under, well off the lead. The question is whether the rust has worn off.

Scottie Scheffler: The Machine Rolls On
The defending champion put on a clinic at Quail Hollow last year, and since then, he's done nothing but pile up runner-up finishes: 2nd, 2nd (in a playoff), and 2nd in his last three starts. An "off" year by Scheffler's standards is a career year for almost anyone else. With four major titles already, another win would tie him with Brooks Koepka, second only to McIlroy's six among active PGA Tour players. He's been a bit more curt with the media lately, but strong scorecards have a way of smoothing out moods. And here's a heads-up: Scheffler was already in Philly before the week even started, getting in extra reps. That kind of preparation speaks volumes.

Bryson DeChambeau: The Game Changer
DeChambeau might not be the winningest player right now, but he's arguably the most important figure in golf. He's carrying the fate of LIV Golf on his shoulders—more on that in a moment—and he's poised to level up as a major force in the YouTube and social media golf world. Let's put it this way: DeChambeau has two major titles. Every other YouTube golfer on the planet combined? Zero. Still, questions linger about whether his iron game is sharp enough to contend at Aronimink. His blend of power and personality makes him a must-watch, even if his path to victory is less certain.

The stage is set for another thrilling chapter in this golden era of golf. Will anyone rise up to challenge the Scheffler-McIlroy reign? We'll start finding out Thursday.