Rory McIlroy criticizes PGA course setup at Aronimink: ‘Poor setup’

So far in the 2026 PGA Championship, Aronimink has fooled the best golfers in the world, throwing away premature birdie fest expectations in the process.

The devil’s setup, especially when it comes to pinning positions, has already inspired “absurd” and “dicey” comments from the likes of World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and 2018 Masters champion Patrick Reed, respectively.

On Friday night, Rory McIlroy added to the reign of judgment by criticizing the PGA of America at Aronimink this week, which he said had a negative impact on the tournament in one way.

Rory McIlroy talks ‘difficult’ PGA set-up despite 7-shot upgrade

On Thursday evening, following a poor opening round that left him at four over, McIlroy focused his criticism on his game, describing his game as “s—.”

By Friday night, everything had changed, both in McIlroy’s game and in his judgments. In the second round, the six-time major champion carded a three-under 67 to move one over.

Entering Saturday’s third round, McIlroy is just five shots behind as he eyes his third PGA Championship victory.

But when he reviewed the setup in his post-round press conference, McIlroy didn’t sound like he had just improved his score by seven shots from the day before.

“It’s hard, it’s been hard to make birdies out there because obviously, one, the wind the last few days, but also where they’ve put these holes,” McIlroy said Friday night.
“I feel like they really tried to protect the course in the first few days. So it seems like they used a lot of hard ones,” he added hopefully.

As for his dramatic improvement from Round 1 to Round 2, McIlroy admitted he was “too aggressive” on Thursday, adding that he didn’t expect Aronimink to play as hard as he did this week.

“I probably went out there yesterday a little too aggressive and I thought the guys were going to be slower than they were,” McIlroy said. “Because I didn’t, in the practice rounds, I didn’t see him play as hard as he did.”

Rory McIlroy on Aronimink PGA: ‘Not good plans to bring everyone together’

Later in his press conference, McIlroy was asked specifically about the setup, and that’s when he unleashed his direct criticism.

The fact that the leaderboard is so crowded in the center, McIlroy argued, is evidence of poor course design.

“The only thing I can say is, I think the leaderboard is mixed like this, I think it’s a sign of poor planning,” said McIlroy. “I think if it’s as cohesive as it is, it’s because it hasn’t allowed anybody to separate themselves. It’s like, you know, it’s easy to make a ton of pars, it’s hard to make birdies, and not that it’s hard to make a bogey, but it feels like a bogey is the worst point you’re going to make on any one hole.”

He went on to call this week’s PGA setup at Aronimink “good,” but then said it was among the “bad setups” in the next sentence.

“There’s not a lot of accidents. There’s not, you know – yeah, I think the setup is going well, as the golf course is good, the pins were solid, and the wind was what it was. But I just think, yeah, I always felt like a really good setup, it starts to spread the field a little bit, and they’re not a good setup that includes the last two days.

Whatever you make of McIlroy’s criticism, there’s no disputing one point he made: the 2026 PGA Championship leaderboard for sure combined. Six players are tied for second, one shot from the lead, the other seven players shot back. Forty-three players are within five shots with 36 holes to play.

As for his statement that “it’s easy to make a ton of pars” this week, his scorecards can be seen as proof. Through two rounds at the 2026 PGA, McIlroy has made five birdies and six bogeys. In the middle part of the 2026 Masters, which he won, McIlroy made 15 birdies and only three bogeys.

However, McIlroy also said he was hoping for calmer winds and, perhaps, easier pinning spots for Saturday’s third round. He said that if that happens, everyone “has a chance.”

“So with the calm conditions and maybe a couple of favorable spots, I think the guys that are there, that are here this weekend feel – I think everyone should feel like they still have a chance,” McIlroy said. “Yeah, there’s – it’s compact, but you run wedges on that front 9 and you shoot four, five under and suddenly you’re in the middle of things.”