The stage is set for an electrifying week at Aronimink Golf Club as the 2026 PGA Championship tees off, bringing together 144 of the world's best golfers just outside Philadelphia. This second major of the season carries immense weight, with storylines that could reshape the landscape of professional golf.
Scottie Scheffler arrives as the defending champion and the man to beat, riding a remarkable streak of three consecutive runner-up finishes. His most recent came at the Masters, where Rory McIlroy's steady hand held off Scheffler's furious weekend charge, earning McIlroy his second straight green jacket and a sixth major title that cements his legacy among the game's all-time greats.
But the spotlight this week isn't just on the champions—it's on those fighting to reclaim their place at the top. Two of LIV Golf's biggest names, Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm, are under immense pressure after disappointing performances at Augusta National. DeChambeau's stunning missed cut and Rahm's barely-there T38 finish have only amplified the noise surrounding a circuit that's now facing an uncertain future after losing Saudi Arabian funding beyond 2026.
The drama doesn't end there. Cameron Young and Matt Fitzpatrick have been on fire since the Masters, playing the best golf of their careers on the PGA Tour. Both enter the PGA Championship with their eyes locked on the Wanamaker Trophy, hungry for that first major breakthrough.
As we look ahead to an unforgettable week at Aronimink, here are the nine players with the most at stake—starting with LIV's stars who desperately need a strong showing to quiet the growing doubts.
1. Bryson DeChambeau
The math is simple for DeChambeau: a catastrophic missed cut at the Masters, LIV Golf crumbling around him, and a career-defining need for another major win. He's been a force at the PGA Championship, finishing second in the last two editions and inside the top four in four of the last five. But with his future uncertain—a return to the PGA Tour after a likely suspension? A shift to full-time YouTube golf with only major appearances?—DeChambeau needs to remind the world he's still one of the planet's elite. He wants to be remembered as a generational talent, and that requires more major trophies. The PGA Championship has always suited his game, and this week is his chance to silence the noise.
2. Jon Rahm
Like DeChambeau, Rahm is navigating turbulent waters. The Spanish star's T38 at the Masters was a far cry from the form that once made him the world's best. With LIV's future in question, Rahm needs to prove he can still compete at the highest level. Aronimink demands precision and power—two traits that defined his rise. A strong showing here could steady the ship and remind everyone that Rahm's best golf is still ahead of him.