Scheffler stays in contention at US PGA despite tough conditions

Scottie Scheffler remained in contention at the halfway point of the US PGA Championship despite expressing frustration with the pin positions, which he deemed "absurd." Following Saturday's second round at Aronimink, Alex Smalley and Maverick McNealy led the tournament at four under par. Rory McIlroy made some progress after a poor opening day.

The iconic golf course, designed by Donald Ross, has not hosted a major championship in over 60 years, and expectations were high that modern players would exploit its layout. Bookmakers had predicted that a winning score could reach as low as 14 under par, with speculation surrounding the possibility of a record score surpassing Xander Schauffele's set at Valhalla in 2022. However, after two rounds, merely two under par was adequate to remain competitive, and scores of three under par had emerged as the favorites heading into the weekend.

Conditions were challenging, attributed to strong winds and cooler temperatures, but players largely criticized the pin placements. Scheffler noted, "Most of the pins today were kind of absurd," as he navigated his round with three bogeys in the first four holes before finishing at two under par with a round of 71. He described the locations as the most difficult he had encountered, saying, "It’s very difficult to get the ball close to the hole, and it’s very difficult to hole putts."

Among the leaders, Smalley had superbly clinched the top position with McNealy, both showcasing strong play throughout the tournament. Scheffler, Cameron Young, Justin Thomas, and Ludvig Åberg found themselves one spot lower on the leaderboard, tied for ninth. Former wrestler Aldrich Potgieter, just 21, had an impressive start at five under, but fell back with consecutive bogeys.

Hideki Matsuyama remained two shots behind the leaders following a strong 67, while Chris Gotterup performed best with an outstanding 65. Tied with Matsuyama was Min Woo Lee. Rory McIlroy, who managed three under par on the second day, needed to make up for a difficult opening round, where he recorded four bogeys in a row.

As players prepare for the weekend, brighter skies are expected, raising hopes for improved scoring conditions.