The Philadelphia area is about to witness something special—its first major championship since the U.S. Open at Merion in 2013. And for Aronimink Golf Club, the wait has been even longer: 64 years since it last hosted a PGA Championship. Now, the 108th edition of this prestigious event is finally here, and only about one-fifth of the 156-man field knows the course well. Aronimink has hosted big moments before, including the 2018 BMW Championship (won by Keegan Bradley) and the AT&T National in 2010 (Justin Rose) and 2011 (Nick Watney).
As the tournament tees off, all eyes are on the world's top players. Scottie Scheffler remains the betting favorite as the No. 1 player in the world, while Rory McIlroy is riding high after another impressive win at the Masters. But they're not alone at the top. Cameron Young and Matt Fitzpatrick have each won two individual tournaments in the last two months, proving they're in peak form. The competition is fierce, and the leaderboard could shift at any moment.
The PGA Championship kicks off Thursday, and it's already shaping up to be a chilly start to the week. This marks the seventh year the tournament has been held in May (excluding 2020 due to the pandemic), after moving from its traditional August slot in 2019. That year, Bethpage Black in New York also saw cold weather early on—so players are prepared for anything.
For fans eager to catch every swing, the coverage is extensive. ESPN and CBS Sports are teaming up to deliver 46 hours of live action from Aronimink. On Thursday and Friday, ESPN+ will air the opening tee shots from 7 a.m. Eastern until noon, with ESPN taking over until 7 p.m. Over the weekend, ESPN+ starts at 8 a.m., followed by ESPN from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and CBS (along with Paramount+) from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.
The PGA Championship boasts the strongest field in golf, at least at the top. Of the 156 players, 98 of the top 100 in the world rankings are competing, led by Scheffler and McIlroy. The PGA of America works hard to invite the best, and this year is no exception—though Lucas Herbert's win at LIV Golf Virginia means a few names may be missing. Still, the stage is set for an unforgettable week of golf.