US PGA CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW AND QUIZ

Right then, settle in folks—this one’s an absolute belter.

This is your full USPGA Championship preview.

Welcome back to the podcast, we are going full major mode. We’re heading to Pennsylvania, USA, to the stunning Donald Ross Designed Aronimink Golf Club. 

So here’s the plan. First up, the boys are putting you through a USPGA Championship quiz—get your thinking caps on, no cheating. Then they tear into the golf course. They’ve picked apart the layout, dug up some fascinating facts, and found a few hidden gems that could catch the pros out.

Who will be lifting the Wanamaker Trophy? The Lads reckon they've got that well and truly covered too so listen carefully !

Load it up, press play, and let’s go.

To learn more about us or to get in touch head to: tommydoesgolf.com   

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

Welcome to Tommy Does Golf, the podcast where three old timers give you our opinions on everything golf. I'm Tommy Long, joined by fellow PGA professionals James Morgan and Paul Charman. With over a hundred years and counting in the golf industry between us, we are well into our back lines. We'll do our best to stay on topic, but just like our tea shots these days, this podcast could go anywhere. We're hoping you enjoy the banter, and maybe, just maybe, we'll share a few pearls of wisdom along the way. Let's get into it. The 2026 USPGA Championship will tee off on the 14th of May at the Donald Ross-designed Aeronominc Golf Club in Pennsylvania. The course looks beautiful, but don't be fooled. It's an absolute brute. In this episode, we'll break down what the golf course demands, who it suits, and why it could produce some serious fireworks. Then, back by popular demand, the quiz. I've been digging through the archives and history books, and I've put together a fresh set of questions on this major. I'll test the crew, but wherever you're listening from, you can play along too. After that, we briefly revisit our preseason picks and throw out a few more names that we think have a real shot at taking this thing out. Joining us for this one, our tips to supreme, Neil Hickman. Neil, it's great to have you with us, mate. But before we get into any of that, a very quick thank you is most definitely in order. When we launched this podcast at the start of the year, we didn't expect this kind of response. The feedback's been incredible, and the crazy number of downloads coming in from all over the world is something we can't get our heads around. We're hugely grateful, so thank you very much. Okay, let's get into it. It's quiz time. I'll ask the questions, there'll be a few seconds of thinking time, and then I'll go to the crew to see if they can come up with the answers. Gents, it's time to switch your brains on. Here we go. The first edition of the US PGA Championship was back in 1916. Who was the winner?

SPEAKER_02 2:01

Jim Barnes.

SPEAKER_01 2:02

Fantastic.

SPEAKER_02 2:03

Only English winner of the US PGA Championship.

SPEAKER_01 2:06

Amazing. Okay, until what year was the PGA Championship played as match play?

SPEAKER_02 2:16

James. 1957 was the last lot of match play. 58 was the first round of stroke play. Very good. Any idea why they changed it? Just to fit in with the other tournaments. Match play was starting to be less popular.

SPEAKER_01 2:32

Yeah, there's a little bit of that to improve television appeal. And the other thing that they mentioned was that stroke play ensured the top players remained in contention longer. There was a danger that one of the top seeds would go out in the first round in match play, so that was another reason why they did it. Okay, another question. What year did the PGA championship move from August to May? And why?

SPEAKER_02 3:00

That's reasonably recent. It was. Have a stab. Uh 2016.

SPEAKER_01 3:07

Paulie, what do you reckon?

SPEAKER_00 3:09

I want to go twenty twelve.

SPEAKER_01 3:13

Yeah, not bad. James was close, it's 2019. It was done to improve scheduling and avoid conflicts with the NFL season, and apparently to increase the interest in the FedEx Cup playoffs. Okay, which venue has hosted the PGA Championship the most times?

SPEAKER_02 3:36

Not a Scooby. Pauling? Never stabbing the dark.

SPEAKER_01 3:40

What about you, Neil? Anything? No. Okay, it's Southern Hills Country Club, which has hosted the PGA Championship five times. Wow. Okay. I reckon he might get this one though. This is an easy one. We've gone from quite hard to quite easy. Which golfer has the most runner-up finishes in PGA Championship history? I'm gonna guess Jack. Yeah, Nicholas finished second four times in this tournament as well as winning at the five. That's pretty incredible, really, isn't it? Okay, here we go. Who won the Rain Delayed 2009 PGA Championship at Hazeltine? Come on. Anyone? I know who is. Come on then. Why Yang. He did. Absolutely. And in doing so, he became the first Asian-born men's major winner.

SPEAKER_00 4:34

Wow.

SPEAKER_01 4:34

So pretty cursed. Alright, here's one for ya. How many times did Tom Watson win the PGA championship?

SPEAKER_00 4:47

Trick question.

SPEAKER_01 4:48

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 4:49

You think it's trick question? I think it's zero.

SPEAKER_01 4:51

Okay. Well done, boys. I did try and trick you. Yeah, he didn't win it. Out of his eight majors, he never won the PGA, which denied him the career slap. Wow. Amazing. Okay. All right. Which famous golfer finished runner-up three times but never won the PGA championship? Neil, come on. Colin Montgomery? No. Nick Felder? No. You can never start. Arnold Palmer. Arnold Palmer. Oh. Absolutely. Boom. And this also prevented him from completing the career slam. That's amazing. Okay. Who won the first sudden death playoff in PJ Championship history? And to give you a clue, it was in 1977. So that'll give you a bit of an idea on who it might be. Anybody? Tom Wisecoff. No. Lanny Watkins.

SPEAKER_02 5:50

Lanny!

SPEAKER_01 5:51

At Pebble Beach. He defeated Gene Littler. Okay. I'm pretty sure if you've done a bit of research, you're gonna get this one right, but we'll have a crack anyway. Who is the youngest winner in PGA championship history?

SPEAKER_02 6:09

James? Gene Saracen. It was Gene Saracen. Do you know how old he was? He was 20 years and 174 days.

SPEAKER_01 6:16

Oh fantastic. Well done. Alright, we're gonna go who's the oldest winner in PGA Championship history? James, you go again. Phil Mickelson. Okay, how old was he? He was 50 years and 11 months. I'm quite impressed with that. Who holds the record for the largest margin of victory and how many strokes did he win by? What year? Give us a clue. 2012. That's your clue. Okay. DJ. No. Rory. It was Rory. Okay, so go on, have a stab of how many. It was eight shots, which is a tournament record. Wow. Yeah. Pretty cool. Okay, well this is easy. I shouldn't really announce this one, but who is the only golfer to win the PGA championship in three different decades? Has to be Jack Nicholas. It is Jack Nichols. Because they were 17 years apart. 60s, 70s, and 80s. Yeah. Okay, next question. Tricky one. Who won the US PGA Championship in 2003? Neil. Sean Michel. Sean Michel? He might quite like that. I don't know. I think Sean McHeel. It remains his only PGA tour victory.

SPEAKER_02 7:47

A one shot lead up the last, and they thought he was going to crumble and he stuck it to two foot.

SPEAKER_01 7:50

Yeah. Thanks for it. Best approach of his life. Well, probably wasn't. That's a bit unfair on him, but yeah, under pressure I would say it would have been. Alright, another one. Which player is the only alternate to win the PGA Championship and where was it played? Give us a clue. I'm not going to give you a clue. So say the question. What year? I'm not even going to tell you that because that's too much of a clue. Which player is the only alternate to win the PGA Championship and where was it played? Come on, Neil. John Daly. Yeah, the light went on there, didn't he? Oh I where did he win that? He drove through the night, didn't he? He drove through the night. Do you not remember him when he's gone up the last and he's clicking his fingers together, waving his arm about, and the crowd were going mental. Crooked stick golf club. Alright, 1991. He entered as the ninth alternate. Nick Price pulled out, and so he drove through the night and he won it without a practice round. Amazing.

SPEAKER_02 8:46

So for the listeners that don't know what an alternate is, it's when they have a reserve list, and if people pull out the alternates go in. That's what I'm always hoping for. Alternate spots. Yeah, I got an alternate spot. Did you? Who did you poison? I was 76th alternate.

SPEAKER_01 9:01

Alright, okay, here we go. Who won the 2011 PGA Championship at Atlanta Athletic Club? Neil. Tegan Bradley. Tegan Bradley did. Who did he beat? Down the stretch. It was actually a playoff, so there's a clue. I'll give you more of a clue. Loved a club waggle. Oh, Jason Duffy. Yes, he did. Well done. Well done. It was a good clue, eh? Alright. I remember counting 48 of the month before we took the club away. It's incredible. Didn't get to 50 though, thank God. Alright, so who won the 2020 PGA Championship? The first major played during COVID-19. You've been up all night, anyway. Go on, give it, give it to me. Colin Morikau. Colin Morris Tower. He did. He won at TPC Harding Park with no spectators present. Did he have COVID?

unknown 10:08

No.

SPEAKER_01 10:09

That part four he drove, was it on the back line? Like he knocked it to like a foot, didn't he? Or a car? Yeah. I didn't watch it. Was in bed with COVID. Alright. Who won the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill?

SPEAKER_02 10:26

Brooks.

SPEAKER_01 10:28

He did. Well, in doing so, he secured his third PGA championship and his fifth major. Yeah. Whoa. Pretty cool. Okay. Who was the first champion to successfully retain the PGA championship title in the stroke play era? James, tell me. You look like you know.

SPEAKER_02 10:52

I want to say Jack Nicholas. Okay.

SPEAKER_01 10:54

Ewan? I'm going Tiger. Yeah, you're right. It is Tiger. Tiger defended his title in 2000 after winning it in 1999. I like this one. Which player became the first to win the PJ Championship wire to wire in the stroke play era? James. Ray Floyd is my answer. Absolutely. Alright. So I love that about Ray Floyd because I always think he's a little bit overlooked. He was a bit of a legend. Okay. Which golfer won the PGA championship despite hitting it into the water on the 18th hole in the final round? Do you want a clue? Yes. Okay. He narrowly defeated Tiger Woods. It was the 2002 championship at Hazel Time. And he's one of those out-of-the-box winners. One major. Another one of those. Which beam? Oh. Don't remember. Which beam. Where are they now? Well he's commentating, isn't he? Great commentator. But I think he was also a mobile phone salesman as well. I think he was. It's probably a very good one as well. Which golf course has hosted the PGA Championship in three different decades? Anyone? No. Valhalla. Valhalla. It hosted in 96, 2000, and 2014, showing its long-standing importance in major championship golf. Well, that's the end of the quiz. I hope everyone enjoyed it. Fellas, you did better than I thought you would. You came up with some pretty good answers there. But now it's time to talk about the golf course. The test that is a Ronomink golf club. I've done a little bit of research on the course layout in green complexes. Truth be told, I've probably spent a little bit more time on this than I should have. But to make sure this segment of the podcast doesn't drag on, I've condensed it down. So here's my summary. Aronamink is a classic Donald Ross design. Its layout will test every facet of the game. The scorecard reads as a par 70, but don't be fooled by that. This year the course will play somewhere between 73 and 7500 yards. It's got 12 par 4s, 4 par 3s, and only 2 par 5s. The opening hull, a 434-yard par 4 with an elevated green, has a fairway that falls away aggressively. If players miss the short stuff from the T, they'll immediately be scrambling. And scrambling onto Donald Ross greens from missed fairways can be a nightmare. Adam Scott said it best. He said, it's not just about hitting greens, it's about controlling your wedge distances into those tricky sloping greens. Ten feet below the hole, you're in business, but finish above it, good luck. It's three-part city. Now Donald Ross believed that long iron play was a golfer's ultimate test, and a Ronomink is most definitely a second shot golf course. If the players don't have their iron styled in from 185 to 235 yards, then it's likely they'll be sitting out the weekend. So, who wins? Well we'll come to that in a minute because the boys are going to share their picks. But I think it's safe to say it has to be a player comfortable shaping the golf ball both ways, someone who can control their distance and trajectory into the challenging greens, and add to that someone who can puck really well. One thing's for sure, it's a really demanding test, and that's why I can't wait for this one. So there's my thoughts on the golf course. Anything to add, fellas? Neil, have you got anything for us in terms of toughest holes or anything else to look out for? Lots of bunkers. They're saying approximately between 174 and 178 bunkers. 11th hole especially has 20 bunkers on it. Toughest holes. The eighth hole plays the toughest. 246 yard par three is the eighth. And then the second toughest hole is number 15, which is a par four, 502 yards. And just to put another one onto it as well, the 17th hole par three. They're the three toughest holes. Easiest holes, the 16th, which is a par five, and then the ninth hole par five. It's going to be a great tournament. It will be a great tournament. I mean, interesting, one stat I did find the last winner in 2018 was Keegan Bradley. And on his final round, he birded all of the par threes. Didn't he really?

SPEAKER_00 15:08

He birded the four par threes in the final round for 64 and beat Justin Rose in the path. Paul is past 70, two par fives. Whose hands does that play into? Because I mean, if you're playing past 72 with five par fives, generally you start thinking the longer hitters, possibility of getting on the greens for two, Eagles, but when there's only two par fives and they're not gimme's, what sort of player is going to perform best on this sort of golf course? Because it's still not short. James, you're looking like you want to say something.

SPEAKER_02 15:42

What have you got for us? I just found a quote for the USPGA. I looked at the course setup and it popped up and said it would be a supreme test of log iron play and strategic, accurate course management. So whoever you think fits into that category will be your winner.

SPEAKER_01 15:59

At the start of the year, you selected Scotty Sheffler to win this one, which has Paul and myself quaking a little bit because obviously you picked Rory to win the Masters. If you go two from two, there's no coming back for me and Paul, is there really from that? And obviously Scotty has been hitting the straps a little bit in the last couple of weeks. He's been showing a bit of form. And to be honest, the more I've looked into this golf course, the more I feel like he is one of the players who really has the attributes needed to win this tournament. But James, the other three names, I'm interested. I'm assuming that you've done a little bit of homework on this, or I'm hoping you have. Paul might have just plucked him out of thin air. It works for him fairly well in the past. As long as they're playing in the ball. Exactly. Alright, but James, can you tell us who you have got for us? What other players do you expect to be in contention? Take it away.

SPEAKER_02 16:44

So my first pick is Matthew Fitzpatrick, who's just won his last two starts. Winning with his brother, if he's having some time to recuperate and get himself ready. His driving was a little bit erratic under the pump, but he must be super confident. Really, really confident. He's paying $23. And then I've then gone with two which are more from the heart. Because do you know what I'm like when I'm backing anyone at golf? I've got a shocking record. Tyrrell Hatton. He is a great ball striker. He doesn't get given enough credit, and I think this golf course could sit up nicely for him. He's paying 41 bucks. And then the real one with a heart is Gary Woodland.

SPEAKER_01 17:22

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 17:22

Who's come back, he's had a win. Rochingham player last week is starting to hit the ball really well. And a couple of the part threes, there was one that was like 230. He stuck it like two feet from the heart. Yeah. So looking at that, long holes, I'm hoping he's fit enough to be able to last the four rounds.

SPEAKER_01 17:41

Okay, Paul. Now we'll come to you. We will find out who you pulled out of the hat. Obviously, my first choice was Rosie.

SPEAKER_00 17:49

Yes, you did pick Justin Rose at the start of the year, which is a good bit. Okay, so look, my top favourite just on current form and the way he's playing is Cam Young. I just think he's in a groove. He just seems to be at the top of the leaderboard at the moment. And I think he's waiting for the opportunity to just go out there and show us what he's really made of. And I think this could be the tournament. He's long, he's straight, he's just cool, he's calm, connected. Yes. So I do think that this tournament could suit him very, very well. I'm gonna stick with one of my favourites, Min Ru Lee, let me down a little bit at the Masters. Just a little bit. But I just think again, this guy he's got it in. At some point or other, he's gonna fire and it's all gonna go his way. And then I'm gonna go slightly outside the box here. This guy could do it. I watched him the other day and there was a different demeanour about him. Jordan Speith.

SPEAKER_02 18:46

Watching him play, he's actually swinging it better than he's ever swung it. Yeah. And the one thing that's let him down, which has always been his strength, is his putting. So if he fixes that in the next few days, I think you've actually got a good pick there. Okay.

SPEAKER_01 18:58

So we go Cam Young, Min Woo Lee, and Jordan Speith. Three good picks. Cam Young's probably paying the least amount. He's fourth, paying 15. 15. Okay. And what about Jordan Speith? Have we got a number for him? He's got to be what? 40? 51. 51. Okay. Not bad. Neil, I hope don't mind, but I'm going to jump in and give my selections quickly. I've got Ludwig Oberg in play because I picked him at the start of the year, but I've got a couple of other players I think might do alright. First up, Justin Thomas. Hasn't been an amazing form of late. However, he has won this tournament twice before, winning it in 2017 and 2022. To do well around this golf course, you've got to be a fantastic wedge player. And Justin Thomas is pretty handy with a wedge. He also has a knack of picking apart challenging layouts. I think his imagination and his wedge play is perfectly suited to this test. So I've gone for him. I don't know what odds he is, but I reckon he's worth the punt. The other player I've gone for, and this isn't from the heart, this is definitely with the head, is Patrick Reed. He's a brilliant shot maker, fantastic with a wedge, and when he gets that flat stick going, he doesn't miss many. He started the season well on the DP World Tour, notching up a couple of wins. He's got a great pair of hands a re in the green, and he does have the ability to play so many different shots. Again, I don't know what odds he's paying. Would it be 40-ish, Neil? No, 67. Wow. He's 67. All right, well, I might actually go to the bookies and have a little flutter on him. Right, we're gonna go to you, Neil. Our tips to Supremo. We are gonna find out who you are going for. Yeah, my first pick. Well, I feel like changing because Paul's picked him. But I mean Cam Young, how good is he playing at the moment? He's leading all the stats on the par 3' on the PGA Tour and the key is the pares, I think, on this golf course. But I will change that one. I'm gonna go Xander. He's playing well in the big tournaments. He seems to be coming back to form. He won this tournament in 2024. And that's obviously a different golf course. So the first pick, Xander, he's playing 17, isn't he? Okay. It's funny, I've been watching a lot of Xander over the past probably two, three months. And I just feel with him, if he can get that flat stick going, you get that part of hot, then he's really in with a shout. Because he's so solid, isn't he, Xander? And he does have that awesome temperament. Nothing faces him, you know. But like I said, I just feel like he just hasn't quite got the flat stick going and he hasn't been holding those sort of 12-foot birdie parts regular enough. But if he gets it in the right spots and he starts dropping a few, yeah, that could be a really good shout. It could be. So second pick is going to be Sam Burns. Yeah. Um, you know, putting seems to be the key at this tournament. He's up there regularly, he's a good ball striker. So Sam Burns paying 51.

SPEAKER_00 21:37

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 21:37

And a complete outsider for me, let's keep it interesting, Ben Griffin.

SPEAKER_00 21:42

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 21:43

Bit of an unknown name, but you know, he he had such a good year last year. He did. He's just found some form again. He's paying seventy one. They're my picks are winning. So you're going Zander? Yep, Xander one, Sam Burns two, Ben Griffin three. Yeah. And we've all named two players there. Not one of us has mentioned Valley. I mean at this moment in time, yeah, the Grand Slam is still on. No one's ever done it in the calendar year. So it is still on. So it's going to be interesting to see how Rory goes round there. He's had a bit of time off though, hasn't he? He has. Statistically he struggles on pass routes. He's something like 60th ranked for scoring on pass through. Okay. But maybe the rest of the dooms are good. Yeah. I think it's really nice that we're playing a golf course that's a par 70 because that doesn't happen that often. But this golf course had the USPGA in 1962. Gary Player won this tournament in 1962 at two under par. They've stretched this golf course out, obviously, distance-wise since then, but retained the par 70. I think we should all have a bit of a stab. I know it's difficult to say because we don't know what the weather's going to be doing, and we haven't looked at the rough. And we also don't know the speed of the greens. But what do we think? If we were going to have just a guess, what's the winning score going to be on this golf course? 60 plus years on, what are we going to go for? I'm going to go for 13 under par.

SPEAKER_02 23:03

Wow. I was going to go 12 under. Okay. What about 8 under 0?

SPEAKER_01 23:08

14. 14. Oh, that's because you've now got the overs. Fair play. I'm going to be amped watching this thing now, and I'm going to either be pulling for people or pulling against them, depending on what you lads have said. So thanks for joining. Really good pod. We'll see whether James keeps his streak going. Yeah. Alright, take it easy. We'll see you all soon, eh? Cheers, boys. Cheers. If you've made it this far, we hope it's because you've enjoyed listening to Tommy Does Golf. To make sure you never miss our podcast, please hit follow. For more of our content or to get in touch, head to TommyDuzgolf.com. So until next time, no matter how you are playing, smile, laugh, and most important of all, enjoy the walk.