It may not feel like it, but it is a major championship week. The 108th PGA Championship is taking place at Aronimink Golf Club, the historic Donald Ross design just outside Philadelphia. While the pre-tournament buzz may feel muted for what is one of the biggest tournaments of the year, there are interesting storylines to keep an eye on heading into the week. Scottie Scheffler returns as defending champion and Rory McIlroy is looking to capture a second Wanamaker Trophy to keep his seasonal grand slam alive. Jordan Spieth will also be in the spotlight as he attempts to become just the seventh player in history to complete the career Grand Slam.
There are four Canadians in the field, looking to become the second men’s player from Canada to win a major championship. Below is a breakdown of Aronimink Golf Club and how the four Canucks are trending heading into the event.
The Course
Aronimink Golf Club
Par: 70
Length: 7394 yards
Location: Newtown Square, PA
Set just outside Philadelphia, Aronimink Golf Club is the work of legendary architect Donald Ross, who once called Aronimink his “masterpiece.” The par-70 layout, restored in recent years by Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner, stretches across rolling terrain and is defined by demanding par 4s, expansive greens and tricky bunkering. Ross designed the course to reward precision and creative shot-making, though the modern player can overpower the layout.
Aronimink has hosted several professional men’s and women’s events, including the 1962 PGA Championship won by Gary Player, the 2018 BMW Championship, where Keegan Bradley beat Justin Rose in a playoff, and the 2020 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, won by Sei-Young Kim.
The Canadians
Corey Conners
PGA Championship appearances: 7
Best PGA finish: T12
Last five PGA Tour starts: T31, T30, T55, T49, T14
Corey Conners has not had his best so far in 2026. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
It has been an uncharacteristically inconsistent season for the 34-year-old, who has just two top 10s. The issue for Conners has been on and around the greens. He ranks outside the top 100 in strokes gained around the green (120th) and putting (116th). He still rates out as one of the best iron players on the circuit (30th in strokes gained approach), but it is tough to compete when you are unable to get the ball in the hole. Conners does not have a top 10 finish at the PGA Championship, but he was the co-leader after 36 holes in 2023 at Oak Hill, eventually finishing T12.
Taylor Pendrith
PGA Championship appearances: 3
Best PGA finish: T5
Last five PGA Tour starts: T37, T38, CUT, T71, CUT
Taylor Pendrith has one top 10 so far this season. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
After opening the year strong with a T6 at the Sony Open, Pendrith has not finished inside the top 30 since. He has been one of the worst putters on the circuit this year, ranking 156 out of 166 players in strokes gained putting. The 34-year-old did finish T5 at last year’s PGA Championship, becoming the first Canadian men’s player to finish in the top five at a major since Mike Weir in 2003. He is still plenty long off the tee and is 30th in driving distance, which could come in handy. This year’s host site, Aronimink, is not long, so he may be able to overpower the golf course. However, what it does have is large and complex greens, which will test Pendrith’s shaky putting.
Nick Taylor
PGA Championship appearances: 5
Best PGA finish: T68
Last five PGA Tour starts: T14, T9, T60, T41, T28
Nick Taylor is looking for his first top 10 in a major championship. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)d
The 38-year-old heads into the second major of the season playing some solid golf, recording back-to-back top 15s in his last two starts. Precision is the key to Taylor’s game. He ranks 28th in strokes gained approach and 43rd in driving accuracy. While the five-time PGA Tour winner is in form, his major championship resumé still leaves a lot to be desired. In 19 major championship starts, Taylor has no top 10s and no top 20s: a bizarre stat for someone who has proven he thrives under pressure.
Sudarshan Yellamaraju
PGA Championship appearances: 0
Best PGA finish: N/A
Last five PGA Tour starts: T19, T30, T34, T52, T14
Sudarshan Yellamaraju will appear in his first major championship at the 2026 PGA Championship. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
The 24-year-old will be making his first start in a major championship. His T5 at The Players Championship is the highlight of what has been a very successful rookie campaign on the PGA Tour so far. He is the highest-ranking Canadian in the FedEx Cup standings, sitting in 38th place. Yellamaraju is inside the top 50 in strokes gained off the tee (31st), approach (26th) and putting (40th). His short game needs a little work (107th in strokes gained around the greens), but that is the only area that hasn’t been buttoned up. So, what’s a reasonable expectation for his major championship debut? Well, his performance at TPC Sawgrass showed he is not afraid of the big stage and he has all the goods to compete with the world’s best.
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