Spring has yet to arrive in the Northeast, and for players like Scottie Scheffler, Mother Winter is still making her presence felt at Aronimink in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania. The world No. 1 endured a tough second round at the PGA Championship, shooting a 1-over 71 on Friday—a stark contrast to his opening 3-under 67 that had him sharing the top spot. By late afternoon, Scheffler had slipped to seventh on the leaderboard, and he didn't hold back in explaining why.

"It was just really, really tough," Scheffler said after the round. "It was blowing really hard, and it was quite cold as well. So, the golf ball wasn't really traveling anywhere. It was just a really challenging morning overall."

But the weather wasn't the only culprit. Scheffler pointed to the course setup as a major factor in his struggles. "You never know going into a tournament how things are going to be. You just get a feel for the golf course and how firm the greens are, and I was a bit surprised how far they pushed a lot of these pin locations," he explained.

Despite the conditions, the defending champion tried to stay patient, reminding himself that if it was hard for him, it was likely just as tough for everyone else. Still, he couldn't hide his frustration with the level of difficulty. "Most of the pins today were, I mean, kind of absurd," he added. "They were just so far into the areas where we thought the pins were going to be, and then they just—like the one on 14 was probably the hardest pin that I've seen in a long time just because, I mean, there's literally just like a spine and they're like, oh, we'll just put the pin right there."

The PGA Championship is known for its demanding setups, but this year's conditions at Aronimink are testing even the best in the world. For Scheffler, it's a reminder that in golf, you have to adapt—whether it's to the wind, the cold, or the pin placements that push the limits of what's fair. As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on how the world No. 1 adjusts to the challenges ahead.