PGA Championship Takeaways: What We Learned From Aronimink
Look, the PGA Championship. It’s done. Over. Finished. Feels like ages ago already, right? Like, a damn lifetime. But some of the stuff that went down at Aronimink? It’s still stuck in my head. The usual suspects were there, sure, but there were some other stories, some damn good ones, that deserve a second look. Let’s break down some of the moments that mattered, the shots that stuck, and the narratives that are still playing out.
Harrington's Encore: More Than Just a Top-20 Finish
You gotta hand it to Padraig Harrington. The guy’s a legend. He wasn’t exactly in contention for the win on Sunday, starting way back. But he didn’t just coast. Nah. He pulls out an eagle on 16, a birdie on 18. Boom. Top 20. And it wasn’t just some fluky good round. This was his best major finish in five years. Five years! And get this – he’s one of only three guys over 54 to grab a top-20 at the PGA Championship. Sam Snead and Gene Sarazen are the other two. Think about that. Snead was doing this stuff when dinosaurs roamed the earth, basically. Harrington’s performance over the last three days, after a shaky start? Damn impressive. He’s got that fire still, heading to the U.S. Open. You gotta respect that grind.
Here’s the lowdown on Harrington’s stellar play:
- His T18 was his best major result in five years (since his T4 at the 2021 PGA).
- He’s just the third player at 54 or older to finish top 20 at a PGA Championship, joining Sam Snead and Gene Sarazen.
- Over the last 54 holes (removing his opening 74), Harrington shot 69-67-69, five under par, bettered only by Ludvig Aberg (seven under) and Aaron Rai (nine under).
Cam Smith's Resurgence: A Putter and a New Coach
Seeing Cam Smith in the mix again? That was good. Pure and simple. After a string of missed cuts in majors, the guy shows up and starts hitting it pure. His irons looked like they were on a mission. And his putter? Always a weapon. It’s like it’s got a mind of its own, in a good way. His driving is still… an adventure. Let’s be honest, it adds to the drama. But he found something at Aronimink. You can see it. The question is, where does he go from here? He talked about the tough call to change coaches after being with Grant Field since he was nine. Twenty-three years. That’s a hell of a long time. Making that change, and then seeing results? That’s not easy. But he said it felt like the right call, and you can see it in his game. The ball striking, the different shots he’s hitting. It’s nice to see him back.
Jon Rahm: So Close, Yet So Far (Again)
Jon Rahm. T2. Playing damn good golf. But you know how it goes in majors. You can play lights out, and then someone else just goes nuclear on the back nine. That’s what happened. Rahm was all smiles, and you gotta admire that. He wasn’t surprised by the winning scores, either. He said he spent Monday and Tuesday of the tournament wondering what was wrong with him because everyone was talking about crazy low scores. He didn’t see it. And even the winning scores were lower than he expected. He’s been playing well, winning events, but majors… they’re a different beast. The pressure. It exposes those little cracks you’re working on. He’s happy those weak links are holding up better now. It’s a good sign for him. He’s still a force, no doubt.
Smalley and Schmid: Masters Dreams Come True
Alex Smalley had the lead going into Sunday. Lost it. But he didn’t walk away empty-handed. Far from it. An invitation to the Masters. That’s the kind of consolation prize you’ll take. Him and his playing partner, Matti Schmid, both snagged top-four finishes. Neither had ever played Augusta. Now? They’re going. Smalley was thinking about it on the 18th green. That 20-footer for birdie? He just wanted a tap-in. It went in. Bam. Masters invite. He said it felt like it was worth a million bucks. And for his career? It could be huge. Knowing he can compete at this level, in a major? That’s confidence for days. And for Schmid, it’s the same story. Top four in a major is a golden ticket.
Getting into the Masters is a massive deal. Here’s why:
- Any player finishing in the top four (and ties) at a major championship earns an exemption into the next year’s Masters Tournament.
- This provides a huge opportunity for players who may not otherwise qualify for Augusta National.
- For Smalley and Schmid, this achievement opens doors to one of golf’s most iconic events.
The Top 15: A Pathway to Future Majors
It’s not just about this tournament. Finishing in the top 15 at a PGA Championship gets you invited back next year. That’s a big deal. For some guys, it’s a chance to get back into a major when things might not be going perfectly. Think about Davis Riley, Joe Highsmith, Jhonny Vegas. They got into this year’s PGA because of their performance in previous majors. This year’s top 15 was mostly the usual suspects, the high-ranked guys. But for players like Smalley (No. 42 in the world) and Schmid (No. 65), knowing they have a spot in a 2027 major? That’s a massive security blanket. It means one less thing to worry about, even if their games hit a rough patch.
World Ranking Jumps: The Supporting Cast Shines
You see these crazy jumps in the world rankings after a big tournament. It’s a reminder that there are always guys doing good stuff, even if they aren’t lifting the trophy. Ben Kern, a club pro, made the cut. Went from unranked to 1781. Harrington’s T18? Rocketed him from 894 to 502. Martin Kaymer, a former major winner, jumped from 1160 to 720. Luke Donald, a Ryder Cup hero, went from 1300 to 1081. And Cam Smith? His T7 took him from 239 to 145. These are big moves. It shows that a good week, even if it’s not a win, can really change your trajectory. It’s a reminder that the game is deep, and talent is everywhere.
The Unstoppable Trio: McIlroy, Scheffler, and Schauffele
Rory McIlroy. Scottie Scheffler. Xander Schauffele. These guys are just… different. McIlroy finishes T7. His 15th top-8 finish in a major since 2020. Fifteen! Scheffler, the No. 1 player in the world, finishes T14. And Schauffele? T7, his 16th top-20 in his last 17 major starts. Seventeen majors! It’s been over five years – since the 2021 Masters – since a major finished without McIlroy or Scheffler in the top 10. That’s insane consistency at the highest level. It’s no fluke that these three have won seven of the last 10 majors. They are the standard. They are the ones to beat. Period.
Aaron Rai's Defining Moments: The Shot and the Putt
Let’s talk about Aaron Rai. The guy won. And he did it with some damn memorable shots. I was hanging around the drivable par-4 13th hole on Sunday, listening to the radio. McIlroy and Schauffele both messed it up, making bogey. Then Rai comes through. From the same bunker Schauffele had just blasted past the hole, Rai pulls off this perfect shot. Birdie. That’s when you felt like he had it. But the shot that really sticks with me? The approach on the par-5 16th. A soaring, banana ball. It landed perfectly, setting up an eagle putt. If he’d parred there, the door would have still been open. But he made birdie, and it felt like the tournament was over. Then, on the par-3 17th, over water. He misses the green, left with nearly 70 feet for birdie. You’re watching, wondering what a three-putt might mean. He hits this putt, and it just drops. The crowd’s reaction, that roar… it was an exclamation point. That’s how you win a major.
To understand Rai’s victory, consider the strategic shot-making required in major championships. For instance, learning to shape shots like Rai’s can be a valuable skill. Golfers looking to improve their ball-striking and course management might find resources on shaping golf shots helpful.