PGA Championship Takeaways: What We Learned About Golf's Elite
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It feels like yesterday, right? That PGA Championship. Feels like it ended ages ago, but damn, some of those moments still stick. You know how it is. You try to move on, get back to the grind, but a few things just keep replaying in your head. This wasn’t just about who hoisted the trophy; it was about the stories that unfolded, the battles fought, and the glimpses into what makes these guys tick.Let’s be real, we’re not all playing for major championships, but the drama, the near-misses, the sheer guts on display – that’s pure golf. And if you’re a golf nut, these are the kinds of things you chew on long after the final putt drops.
Harrington's Late Surge: Proof Age is Just a Number (Sort Of)
You gotta hand it to Padraig Harrington. While everyone else was chasing the lead, he was dreaming of a miracle. Starting way back, looking at a leaderboard packed tighter than a sardine can, he wasn’t exactly the favorite. But then, on Sunday, he pulls off something pretty damn cool. After a steady front nine, he holes out for eagle on 16. Then, a par on 17, and to cap it off, a sweet little bladed wedge for birdie on 18. Under par, top-20 finish. Not bad for a guy who’s been around the block a few times.Think about this:
- This T18 was his best major finish in five years. That’s saying something.
- He’s only the third player over 54 to crack the top 20 at a PGA Championship. Sam Snead and Gene Sarazen, legends. And Snead? He was doing it in his 60s. Absolutely insane.
- If you take away his opening round, Harrington shot 69-67-69 over the last 54 holes. Only a couple of guys went lower. That’s serious golf.
Cam Smith's Resurgence: A New Coach, Same Magic Putter
It was genuinely good to see Cam Smith back in the mix at a major. Part of it was just watching him nail those huge putts. After missing six straight cuts at majors, he brings in a new swing coach, Claude Harmon III, and boom – his irons are dialed in. That’s a perfect pairing with a putter that’s been money his whole career.His driving? Still an adventure, which, let’s be honest, adds to the thrill. But he found something at Aronimink, and it’s going to be interesting to see where that form takes him. Smith himself admitted it was tough making the call to his old coach, Grant Field, who he’d been with since he was 9. Twenty-three years. That’s a tough phone call, no doubt. But he feels he made the right move, and you can see it in his game, the way he strikes the ball. It’s been nice for him.
Jon Rahm's Near Miss: The Price of Playing Too Well
Tiger always said winning takes care of everything. Well, finishing second by playing great golf, only to get beaten by a guy who goes on a birdie-eagle tear in the last 10 holes… that takes care of almost everything. Enter Jon Rahm. He was all smiles after his final-round 68, landing him in solo second. His first major top-five since 2023.He wasn’t shy about his thoughts on the early-week predictions of ridiculously low scores. “Most of Monday and Tuesday I spent thinking what was wrong with me,” he admitted. “Because everybody was saying we were going to shoot 15-to 20-under here, and I didn’t see any chance in the world of that happening.” He even thought nine and six under for first and second was lower than he expected. He’s been playing well, T8 at LIV Virginia, won in Mexico, but majors? That’s different. The pressure cooker can expose those weak links. He’s just happy those things he felt he could improve on after the Masters finally paid off this week.
Masters Dreams Come True: Smalley and Schmid Get the Call
Alex Smalley had a two-shot lead going into Sunday. He couldn’t hold it. But he walked away with a bundle of consolation prizes, including a golden ticket – an invitation to next year’s Masters. Long after the winner was decided, Smalley birdied the last hole to snag a T2 finish. His playing partner, Matti Schmid, finished T4. Neither had ever played Augusta National before. And guess what? Any top-four finish in a major gets you in. That’s about to change.Smalley knew it. On the final green, he wasn’t thinking about the win as much as that possibility. “I’m thrilled to be going to Augusta next year,” he said. “I knew that top four and ties gets you into Augusta, so I knew that was a possibility.” He was just trying to two-putt, lag it up. That 20-footer uphill on 18? He just wanted a tap-in. Fortunate enough that it went in. And yeah, it was worth about a million bucks. For his career, who knows? Maybe this is the springboard. It gives him the confidence to know he can compete on the PGA Tour and in majors.
The Top 15: A Pathway Back to the Big Show
Finishing in the top 15 and ties at the PGA Championship gets you invited back to next year’s PGA. That’s a massive opportunity, especially for guys who might not be ranked high enough otherwise. Think about the 2025 PGA – a few players got a second shot at a major because of it. This year, the top 15 was mostly the usual suspects, the high-ranked players we expect to see anyway. But for guys like Smalley (World No. 42) and Schmid (No. 65), Kurt Kitayama (No. 29), and Max Greyserman (No. 63), it’s a huge relief knowing they have at least one major tee time locked up for 2027.
World Ranking Jumps: The Unsung Heroes
This is just a fun little tidbit, but the biggest world ranking jumps after a major are always a reminder of the guys who played a supporting role but delivered when it mattered.
- Club pro Ben Kern made the cut, finished 80th, and went from unranked to No. 1781.
- Harrington’s T18 shot him from No. 894 to 502.
- Martin Kaymer, T35, jumped from No. 1160 to 720.
- Ryder Cup hero Luke Donald made the cut, finished T70, and climbed from No. 1300 to 1081.
- And Cam Smith’s T7 took him from No. 239 to 145.
The Big Three (Plus One): Consistent Excellence
Rory McIlroy finished T7, his 15th top-8 finish in a major since 2020. Scottie Scheffler, the World No. 1, T14. These two have been remarkably consistent. It’s been over five years – since the 2021 Masters – since a major finished without either McIlroy or Scheffler in the top 10.And then there’s Xander Schauffele. His T7 was his 16th top 20 in his last 17 major starts. That’s just absurd consistency at the highest level. It’s no surprise these three have won seven of the last 10 majors. They’re in a league of their own.
Aaron Rai's Defining Moments: The Shot That Sealed It
I found myself posted up behind the drivable par-4 13th on Sunday afternoon. Listening to the action on the radio while watching the players come through. McIlroy and Schauffele both struggled there, battling just to make bogey. Then Aaron Rai comes through. From the same bunker where Schauffele had just chunked one, Rai plays the perfect shot. Birdie. That’s when he really seized control.But the shot I’ll remember most from that PGA Championship? It was Rai’s approach on the par-5 16th. A soaring, left-to-right banana ball. It didn’t just find the green; it landed perfectly to feed towards a tricky back-right pin, setting up an eagle putt he turned into a birdie. If he’d made par there, the door would have stayed open. But that birdie? It felt like the tournament was over.I was watching from a comfy patch of grass by the 17th tee as he marched towards the green on the par-3 over the water. His tee shot was a bit shaky, leaving him nearly 70 feet for birdie. The amphitheater around the 17th green and 18th tee was the place to be all week. I had a great view from a couple hundred yards back. I wondered what a three-putt would mean. He absolutely crushed the putt. For a split second, I thought it might roll into the water. But his judgment was better than mine. As the ball found the bottom of the cup, I saw the crowd’s reaction a split second before the roar hit me. It made the eruption even more intense. What an exclamation point.The PGA Championship always delivers. It’s more than just a tournament; it’s a showcase of skill, resilience, and the stories that make golf great. Keep an eye on these players. The next major is always just around the corner.