NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. — The U.S. Open at Shinnecock doesn’t begin for another 33 days.
So no, the golf tournament you’ve been watching at Aronimink the past two days is not the U.S. Open.
It’s actually the PGA Championship, which has always been known — in golf course degree of difficulty — as the most docile of the four major championships.
Not this week.
For the past two days, as players have trudged off Aronimink following their rounds, they’ve looked beaten up the way places like the Shinnecocks and Oakmonts and Winged Foots traditionally leave them.
A birdie-fest this PGA has not been.
With 36 holes to play, Alex Smalley and Maverick McNealy lead the field at 4-under par, with Smalley shooting 69 in Friday’s second round and McNealy shooting 67.
They are trailed by six players at 3-under, including Chris Gotterup, Hideki Matsuyama, Aldrich Potgeiter, Stephan Jaeger (who made 18 pars Friday), Min Woo Lee and Short Hills, N.J., native Max Greyserman.
Scottie Scheffler, the world No. 1, Justin Thomas, a two-time PGA winner, Cam Young, Ludvig Åberg (66 on Friday) and David Puig, a LIV Golf player who got a special exemption into the field, are among several players at 2-under entering the weekend.
Big names such as John Rahm, Jason Day, a former PGA winner, and Patrick Cantlay lurk at 1-under.
Stars Rory McIlroy, who rebounded from his opening-round 74 with a 67 on Friday, Jordan Spieth, who’s attempting to complete the career Grand Slam, and Brooks Koepka, who’s won the PGA three times, are 1-over and well within position to win.
“It’s a really bunched leaderboard because guys are finding it difficult to make birdies,’’ McIlroy said. “Everyone who makes the cut has to feel they’re still right in the tournament.’’
In all, 22 players are under par and 58 players are within six shots of the lead. The last 36 winners of the PGA came from within six shots of the lead through 36 holes.
Friday was McNealy’s 42nd career round in a major and this is the first time he’s ever had a share of the lead.
“This is unfamiliar territory for me,’’ he said. “My putter is going to have to be my best club this weekend. That’s the reason I still have a job. Every golfer has to have their superpower, and the putter is mine. I’m going to have to rely on that this weekend.’’
There has been, as always in these majors, some spectacular play.
But this PGA is becoming known for the misery meted out by Aronimink and the way it’s been set up by the PGA of America with diabolical pin positions on knobs and edges of the greens.
“Some of the hole locations the last two days have been brutal,’’ McIlroy said.
“This is the hardest set of pin locations that I’ve seen since I’ve been on Tour … and that includes U.S. Opens, that includes Oakmont,’’ Scheffler said. “I asked Fooch (Mark Fulcher, who caddies for Justin Rose) — he’s been around a long time — and I asked Teddy (Scott, his caddie), ‘Have you seen anything like this before?’ They said maybe Shinnecock is the only place they have seen that has pins that could compare to this.’’
Gotterup described the carnage, which was exasperated by 25-mph winds this way: “Today would definitely be one of those days where I would be on the couch and I would be like, ‘How did he hit it there and how did he do this?’ And then you’re out there and it just feels like it’s impossible.
“Being out here for a couple years, you kind of know what to expect with certain tournaments and courses. Like, if you’re getting ready for AmEx (American Express), you know there’s going to be a ton of birdies.
“But out here … I think it’s a little more almost U.S. Open-esque.’’
Gotterup said he believes “16-under is a good tournament and a good number to shoot for for the week’’ of a tournament.
The winning number doesn’t figure to be close to that come Sunday.
“I feel like if it’s hard for me out there, then it’s going to be hard for other players,’’ Scheffler said. “It was pretty obvious to tell this morning the conditions were pretty tough, and so I just kept trying to remind myself of that. I think also when the pins get this hard, you really have to choose your moments when you’re going to try and maybe get after a pin or try and play a little bit smarter.
“I love hard tests of golf, but it’s also the hardest game in the world and [the PGA of America is] trying to make it harder. Is that the best test? Who knows? It’s a different test.’’
