The 2026 PGA Championship is underway, and the pressure is on for Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau as they navigate the tricky greens and windy conditions at Aronimink Golf Club. With the projected cut line at +4, both golfers are in danger of missing the weekend cut, and their struggles are a stark contrast to the sport's other big names.
McIlroy, known for his steady play, had a bogey on his opening hole and then a series of bogeys on his final six holes, including four in a row. His performance was a stark contrast to his usual consistency, and he hit just five of 14 fairways off the tee. DeChambeau, on the other hand, is in worse shape after struggling with the distance control of his irons, spending considerable time on the driving range after the first round.
The projected cut line at +4 is based on the scores of the top 70 golfers (and ties) on the current leaderboard. This means that any golfer with a score of +3 or better would make it to the weekend. The predictive model used by Datagolf.com currently projects +4 to be the most likely cut line for the 2026 PGA Championship (91.2% chance).
The cut line rule is straightforward: the 156-golfer field will be cut down to the top 70 golfers (and ties) after the conclusion of Friday's second round. This means that the pressure is on for the golfers in the danger zone, who are fighting to make the cut and secure their spot in the weekend rounds.
Among the notable golfers in danger of missing the cut line are Rasmus Højgaard, Justin Rose, and Luke Donald, all of whom are at +3. Other golfers, such as Daniel Berger and Tyrrell Hatton, are also in danger at +4. The list goes on, with several golfers at +5 or higher, including Tommy Fleetwood, Michael Block, and Robert MacIntyre.
The second round is underway, and the pressure is mounting. The golfers in the danger zone are fighting to make the cut, and the world's best golfers are trying to figure out Aronimink's tricky greens and windy weather. The outcome of this tournament will be decided by the golfers' ability to adapt to the challenging conditions and make up for their poor starts.
In my opinion, the PGA Championship is a testament to the unpredictability of golf. The cut line is a critical factor, and the golfers in the danger zone are fighting for their spot in the weekend rounds. The world's best golfers are trying to figure out Aronimink's tricky greens and windy weather, and the outcome of this tournament will be decided by their ability to adapt to the challenging conditions. Personally, I think that the golfers who can make the most of their time on the driving range and improve their iron play will have a better chance of making the cut and securing their spot in the weekend rounds.
