2026 PGA Championship: Who's Playing and When at Aronimink
“`
Alright, folks. The 2026 PGA Championship is here. Kicking off Thursday, May 14th, at Aronimink Golf Club in Pennsylvania. If you’re planning your viewing or just want to know who’s battling it out when, you’ve come to the right place. No messing around. Here’s the lowdown on the opening round tee times.You’ve got the usual suspects vying for glory. Rory McIlroy snagged another green jacket at the Masters this year. Now, Scottie Scheffler is looking to do the same thing he did last season – win back-to-back PGA Championships. He’s been knocking on the door, even if he hasn’t closed the deal in a bit. Three straight runner-up finishes? That’s some serious consistency, or maybe just a damn curse. Either way, he’s a threat.This tournament is shaping up to be a good one. We’ve got the big names, the rising stars, and a whole lot of pressure. Watching these guys navigate Aronimink will be interesting. It’s a classic course, and it’s going to test every part of their game.
The Early Birds: Morning Tee Times
Let’s get down to business. The early starters are the ones who have to battle the dew, maybe some sleepy nerves, and set the pace for the day. You’ve got groups going out from both the first and tenth tees, starting bright and early.From the first tee, you’ll see players like Braden Shattuck, Alex Fitzpatrick, and Ben Griffin get things rolling at 6:45 a.m. Not exactly prime time, but someone’s got to do it. Then you’ve got Francisco Bide, Harry Hall, and Ryan Gerard at 6:56 a.m. It’s a steady stream of golfers, each hoping to get off to a solid start.Further down the line, we’ve got some familiar faces. Lucas Glover, Tom McKibbin, and Stephan Jaeger are out there at 7:40 a.m. Later in the morning, you see guys like Chris Kirk, Max Greyserman, and Kristoffer Reitan at 8:13 a.m. And then there’s Maverick McNealy, Thomas Detry, and Padraig Harrington at 8:24 a.m. These are all solid players, and they’ll be looking to make a statement early.The early part of the afternoon wave also sees some interesting pairings. Andrew Novak, John Parry, and Jordan Gumberg tee off at 12:15 p.m. Ben Polland, Kurt Kitayama, and Nico Echavarria follow at 12:26 p.m. Akshay Bhatia, Ricky Castillo, and Michael Thorbjornsen are up at 12:37 p.m.You’ve also got Luke Donald, Jesse Droemer, and Stewart Cink at 12:48 p.m. Hideki Matsuyama, J.J. Spaun, and Max Homa are out at 12:59 p.m. These are big names, and seeing them go out in the middle of the day is always a good bet for some solid golf. Ben Kern, J.T. Poston, and Russell Henley are at 1:10 p.m.Then we get to some serious firepower. Adam Scott, Corey Conners, and Daniel Berger are scheduled for 1:21 p.m. Viktor Hovland, Collin Morikawa, and Shane Lowry are right behind them at 1:32 p.m. These guys are major winners and perennial contenders. Watching them navigate Aronimink will be a highlight. Chris Gotterup, Robert MacIntyre, and Tommy Fleetwood are out at 1:43 p.m.And to round out the prime afternoon slots, Cameron Young, Keegan Bradley, and Justin Thomas are set to tee off at 1:54 p.m. These are all guys who can get it done. They’re exciting to watch, and you never know what they’re capable of.
The Big Guns: Afternoon Tee Times and Key Pairings
Now, for the marquee groups. These are the ones most people will be tuning in for. You know, the ones with the big names, the story lines, and the potential for some serious drama.Let’s talk about the main event. Scottie Scheffler, the reigning champ, is out there at 2:05 p.m. He’s paired with Matt Fitzpatrick and Justin Rose. That’s a heavyweight group right there. Scheffler’s been on a tear, and seeing him go head-to-head with Fitzpatrick and Rose is going to be must-watch TV. They’re all capable of putting up low scores, so expect fireworks.Before that, at 1:32 p.m., you’ve got Viktor Hovland, Collin Morikawa, and Shane Lowry. Three guys who have shown they can win majors. Hovland’s game is so smooth, Morikawa’s iron play is legendary, and Lowry… well, he’s a major champion for a reason. This is another group that could easily be setting the pace.And what about Rory? He’s not in the absolute last group, but he’s in a pretty darn good one. Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth, and Jon Rahm are set to go at 8:40 a.m. from the 10th tee. That’s a serious collection of talent. McIlroy chasing history, Spieth always a threat to find his form, and Rahm… well, he’s Jon Rahm. That group is going to be a buzz.Bryson DeChambeau, Ludvig Aberg, and Rickie Fowler are also out in the morning, teeing off at 8:18 a.m. from the 10th. That’s a dynamic group. DeChambeau’s power, Aberg’s steady play, and Fowler’s flair – that’s a recipe for entertainment.Xander Schauffele, Brooks Koepka, and Tyrrell Hatton are another powerhouse group, teeing off at 8:29 a.m. from the 10th. Koepka is a PGA Championship legend, and Schauffele is always a threat. Hatton brings his own brand of intensity. That’s going to be a barn burner.
Tee Times from the Tenth Tee
The action doesn’t just start from the first tee. The tenth tee also gets going early.At 6:50 a.m., Aldrich Potgieter, David Puig, and Denny McCarthy will be the first ones out on that side. Then William Mouw, Chris Gabriele, and Taylor Pendrith at 7:01 a.m. Tom Hoge, Bryce Fisher, and Joaquin Niemann are out at 7:12 a.m.Keith Mitchell, Billy Horschel, and Ian Holt are scheduled for 7:23 a.m. Gary Woodland, Jason Day, and Sam Burns are out at 7:34 a.m. These are all guys who can play. Day, in particular, is always one to watch.Wyndham Clark, Cameron Smith, and Brian Harman are at 7:45 a.m. That’s a good grouping with a lot of firepower. Clark has been playing well, and Smith is always a dangerous competitor.Patrick Cantlay, Min Woo Lee, and Sahith Theegala are out at 7:56 a.m. Cantlay is one of the most consistent players out there. Lee has shown flashes of brilliance, and Theegala is a fan favorite.Si Woo Kim, Derek Berg, and Joe Highsmith are scheduled for 8:07 a.m. Then we get to some of those big groups we talked about: DeChambeau, Aberg, Fowler at 8:18 a.m., followed by Schauffele, Koepka, Hatton at 8:29 a.m., and then McIlroy, Spieth, Rahm at 8:40 a.m.Daniel Hillier, Ryan Vermeer, and Max McGreevy are out at 8:51 a.m. Paul McClure, Mikael Lindberg, and Angel Ayora wrap up the morning wave from the 10th at 9:02 a.m.The afternoon wave from the 10th tee also has some intriguing matchups. Michael Block, Rasmus Højgaard, and Dustin Johnson get things started at 12:10 p.m. DJ is always a factor when he’s playing.Mark Geddes, Steven Fisk, and David Lipsky are out at 12:21 p.m. Sungjae Im, Austin Hurt, and Casey Jarvis are scheduled for 12:32 p.m. Andrew Putnam, Michael Kartrude, and Matt Wallace are at 12:43 p.m.Martin Kaymer, Elvis Smylie, and Davis Riley are out at 12:54 p.m. Jason Dufner, Haotong Li, and Jimmy Walker are at 1:05 p.m. These are veterans who know how to win.Nick Taylor, Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen, and Jordan Smith are at 1:16 p.m. Emiliano Grillo, Patrick Reed, and Pierceson Coody are scheduled for 1:27 p.m.Brian Campbell, Adam Schenk, and Christiaan Bezuidenhout are out at 1:38 p.m. Marco Penge, Sepp Straka, and Patrick Rodgers are at 1:49 p.m.Aaron Rai, Travis Smyth, and Sami Valimaki are scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Sam Stevens, Jayden Schaper, and Garrett Sapp are out at 2:11 p.m. Finally, Timothy Wiseman, Matti Schmid, and Austin Smotherman will close out the tee times at 2:22 p.m.
Watching the Action
If you’re looking to catch the action, you can tune into ESPN from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET for the first round coverage. For the early birds, PGA Tour Live on ESPN+ will have exclusive online coverage starting at 6:45 a.m. ET. So, whether you’re an early riser or a night owl, you won’t miss a beat.This is the PGA Championship. It’s one of the four majors for a reason. The pressure is immense, the courses are tough, and the competition is fierce. Seeing how these guys handle it all, especially at a place like Aronimink, is what makes golf so damn compelling.Make sure you’ve got your viewing schedule sorted. Grab your popcorn, find your favorite spot on the couch, or head down to the course if you’re lucky enough. It’s going to be a wild ride. For the latest on professional golf, you can always check out resources like PGA Tour’s official website.So there you have it. The full rundown of who’s teeing off when for the first round of the 2026 PGA Championship. Let the games begin.