PGA Championship pin placements draw complaints at Aronimink

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler called Friday’s pin locations for the second round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club “kind of absurd” and “the hardest set of pin locations that I’ve seen since I’ve been on Tour.”

The course had already been toughened by wind. Groundskeepers responded by placing the pins for Saturday’s third round in even more demanding spots. The PGA Championship’s official account posted images of the placements, highlighting holes 8 and 12.

ESPN analyst Ken Brown walked the eighth green before the round and showed how small the level area around the hole is. He compared the usable surface to a postage stamp and said he did not know how players could get close to the hole.

Rory McIlroy said after the second round that a bunched leaderboard was “a sign of a not-great setup.”

Players will need favorable bounces over the final rounds, because complaints are unlikely to persuade the setup crew to ease the challenge.