Major championship season is officially here, and the PGA Championship is rolling into Aronimink Golf Club for what feels like the perfect setup for a brutal four day heavyweight fight. This course has not hosted a major championship in decades, and outside of a handful of players who saw it during the 2018 BMW Championship, this is going to feel like a brand new test for most of the field. Designed by legendary architect Donald Ross, Aronimink Golf Club stretches over 7,200 yards as a par 70 with long demanding par fours, nasty fairway bunkers, thick rough, and the type of setup that punishes sloppy golf from tee to green. This is not shaping up to be some soft birdie fest where everybody catches fire with the putter and races to twenty under. Everything about this week screams elite ball striking, long iron precision, and complete golfers separating themselves from the field once the pressure starts building over the weekend.
PGA Championship Notes
The last major event played at Aronimink Golf Club was the 2018 BMW Championship, where Keegan Bradley outlasted Justin Rose in a playoff after both players finished at 20 under par. While that scoring number might jump off the page at first glance, this is expected to be a completely different animal this week. Since that event, renowned architect Gil Hanse has continued restoring and refining the course back toward the original Donald Ross vision, with a major focus on creating firmer conditions, faster bentgrass greens, tougher approach angles, and more demanding pin locations built specifically to hold up under championship pressure. The bones of the golf course were always there, but the current setup feels much more like a throwback major test designed to reward elite ball striking and punish sloppy golf from tee to green.
Everything about this PGA Championship setup screams survival over scoring. The long demanding par fours, brutal fairway bunkering, thick rough, and pressure packed approach shots should force players into uncomfortable decisions all weekend long. This is not shaping up to be a putting contest where somebody catches fire with a flat stick and runs away from the field. The cream is going to rise to the top here, and golfers who consistently drive it long, control their irons, avoid big mistakes, and stay mentally locked in under pressure are going to separate themselves very quickly once the weekend arrives.
There are also several major storylines floating around this week beyond just the golf course itself. Jordan Spieth once again arrives at the PGA Championship with a chance to complete the career Grand Slam, something that is always going to bring extra attention and pressure once the cameras start rolling. The LIV Golf storyline is impossible to ignore as well, especially with players like Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm, and Patrick Reed entering the week looking to remind everybody they can still dominate major championship golf. LIV players have heard the noise for the last couple years, and after going without a major victory since 2024, there is definitely a little extra motivation for those guys to show up and prove they still belong in the middle of the biggest moments in the sport.
Metrics That Matter
Strokes Gained Tee to Green
This feels like the biggest separator on the entire slate because Aronimink Golf Club is built to punish weak ball striking. Players consistently gaining strokes from tee to green should create a huge advantage over four rounds once the course starts firming up and the pressure begins building over the weekend.
Strokes Gained Approach
Approach play is going to be absolutely critical this week, especially with how many difficult long iron shots players are expected to face. Golfers flushing irons and controlling distance consistently should separate themselves quickly on a setup where missed greens are going to lead to stressful scrambling situations all weekend.
Driving Distance
This course is simply too long to ignore distance. Players who can bomb the golf ball while still keeping it playable off the tee are going to create shorter approach opportunities into demanding greens, which becomes a massive advantage over four rounds on a major championship setup.
Scrambling
Nobody is hitting every green at Aronimink Golf Club, especially once the greens get firmer and the pins become more difficult over the weekend. Players who can consistently save par and limit damage around the greens are going to survive the inevitable mistakes much better than the field.
Bogey Avoidance
This tournament feels much more like survival golf than a pure scoring contest, which makes bogey avoidance extremely important this week. Golfers who stay patient, avoid blow up holes, and continue grinding through difficult stretches are going to separate themselves quickly once the course starts punching back over the weekend.
The Scottie Scheffler Conundrum
Normally, when we get these massive price tags on Scottie Scheffler, the conversation becomes whether or not fading him makes sense from a roster construction standpoint. This week, honestly, I do not even care. I am all in. Scottie is playing unbelievable golf right now, and the scary part is it somehow still feels like he has another level he can reach. The ball striking is absurd. The distance control is absurd. The consistency is absurd. Three straight runner up finishes for the best player in the world is honestly terrifying because it feels less like a cold streak and more like a pissed off superstar getting ready to snap somebody’s neck at a major championship.
This course feels absolutely perfect for him too. Long demanding par fours. Elite long iron play. Tough approach shots. Firm greens. Pressure packed scoring conditions. Everything about Aronimink Golf Club screams complete golfer, and there is nobody on the planet right now more complete from tee to green than Scottie Scheffler. This does not feel like a week where you need to galaxy brain yourself into getting cute. Sometimes the answer is simply the best player in the world on a golf course that perfectly fits his game.
The crazy part is I actually think the pricing makes this easier than people realize. If Scottie was sitting above 14,000 again, maybe the conversation changes a little bit, but there is enough value in this field where you can still comfortably build strong lineups around him. There are multiple players below 6,000 who realistically have a path to making the cut and outperforming salary expectations, and that opens the door to pairing Scottie with another elite golfer like Cameron Young, Jon Rahm, Collin Morikawa, or Ludvig Aberg without completely destroying the rest of your lineup construction.
So this is my stand this week. Call it crazy. Call it reckless. Call it Outsider DFS insanity. I do not care. I am going all in on Scottie Scheffler at the PGA Championship and building as many lineups around him as humanly possible. I think he wins this golf tournament, and honestly, I think he reminds everybody exactly why he is still the best golfer on the planet.
Rory McIlroy $12,400 underweight
This is where I am planting my flag this week, and honestly, it feels uncomfortable because fading Rory McIlroy on a long demanding golf course always feels a little dangerous. The length is elite. The ball striking is elite. The driving ability is elite. If Rory gets hot off the tee and starts flushing long irons, he absolutely has the talent to win this golf tournament. Nobody should be shocked if he is standing near the top of the leaderboard on Sunday afternoon because this setup fits his game beautifully on paper.
At the same time, I just do not see a realistic way for me to comfortably build around both Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy this week without sacrificing too much lineup flexibility elsewhere. So I am choosing my side, and my side is Scottie. Instead of trying to galaxy brain the top of the board, I am taking what I believe is the safer elite option and then getting weird and aggressive with the rest of my roster construction. That is the stand I am taking this week.
Maybe it burns me. Maybe Rory goes nuclear and wins the PGA Championship by four shots. That is always on the table with a golfer this talented. But something about this setup, combined with the way Scottie Scheffler is currently playing golf, just keeps pulling me back toward an all in approach on the number one player in the world. So as crazy as it sounds, I am planning on running essentially no Rory McIlroy exposure this week and living with the results if it blows up in my face.
Rory McIlroy $12,400 underweight
Fading Rory McIlroy on a long demanding golf course always feels dangerous because the length, ball striking, and driving upside are all elite. If he gets hot off the tee and starts flushing long irons, he absolutely can win this golf tournament. At the same time, I just do not see a realistic way to comfortably pair both Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy together without sacrificing too much flexibility elsewhere. So I am choosing my side this week, and my side is Scottie. Maybe Rory wins the golf tournament and burns me, but I am willing to live with it.
Bryson DeChambeau $10,900 underweight
I will still have some exposure to Bryson DeChambeau because the distance upside on a course like this is absolutely terrifying. He can overpower golf courses in ways very few players in the world can, and if the driver stays under control, he absolutely has winning upside. The issue for me is simply ownership and lineup construction because I am already prioritizing Scottie Scheffler, and I would rather spread my exposure around several other golfers in this range instead of heavily committing to another massive salary.
Jon Rahm $10,400 underweight
I will still have some exposure to Jon Rahm this week because pairing him with Scottie Scheffler is one of the few ways to still build terrifying top end lineups without completely sacrificing upside. The talent and major championship pedigree are obvious, and if Rahm gets rolling from tee to green, he can absolutely win this golf tournament. I just personally do not think I will get to him as much as the field because my builds are going to revolve so heavily around Scottie.
Cameron Young $10,200 on par with the field
This honestly feels like my starting point alongside Scottie Scheffler. The distance is elite. The long iron game fits beautifully. The overall ball striking profile screams major championship upside. If he can avoid ugly stretches with the putter, I think he has legitimate top five upside on this golf course, and I expect a lot of my builds to naturally start with Scottie and Cameron Young before branching out from there.
Xander Schauffele $10,100 underweight
Something just does not feel right with Xander Schauffele lately, especially on the greens. The putter has looked uncomfortable for more than just one week, and it feels like he is missing too many important putts right now to justify matching the field on ownership. Obviously, the talent is elite enough to burn me, but this feels like a week where I would rather take my chances being underweight.
Collin Morikawa $9,900 overweight
I absolutely love Collin Morikawa this week. The approach play is elite. The tee to green game is elite. This course feels tailor made for his iron game if he is dialed in. I actually like the fact that he took the week off because I think it scares some people away a little bit. If the putter can simply stay respectable, I think Collin has very real win equity this week.
Ludvig Aberg $9,800 overweight
It feels like Ludvig Aberg is slowly evolving from elite talent into consistently elite golfer. The distance off the tee is massive, the tee to green game continues improving, and the top end finishes keep stacking up. Pairing Ludvig with Scottie Scheffler is one of my favorite lineup constructions on the entire slate.
Tommy Fleetwood $9,700 underweight
I understand the appeal because the overall game is solid, but this just does not feel like the ideal setup for me to go overweight on Tommy Fleetwood. The upside feels more limited compared to some of the bombers and elite long iron players around him, and I would rather prioritize ceiling on a difficult setup like this.
Justin Thomas $9,400 underweight
This just does not feel like the right course fit for Justin Thomas. The talent is obviously there, but this setup feels much more geared toward elite long ball strikers who can dominate from tee to green without constantly scrambling. There are simply other players in this range that fit what I am looking for much better this week.
Brooks Koepka $9,300 overweight
It never feels comfortable fully fading Brooks Koepka at a major championship because we have seen this movie too many times before. The ball striking upside and major pedigree are still there, and if he finds something early in the week, he can absolutely contend.
Hideki Matsuyama $9,200 on par with the field
The ball striking and approach game are always appealing with Hideki Matsuyama, especially on a demanding setup like this. The issue always comes down to whether or not the putter completely disappears for stretches. I still think the overall skill set fits well enough to keep exposure around field level.
Tyrrell Hatton $9,100 underweight
This is more of a gut feel fade than anything else because the talent is obvious, but I just do not love the overall fit and volatility combination here. There are simply other golfers in this range I trust more on a setup demanding this much precision and patience.
Patrick Reed $9,000 on par with the field
I actually think this could be a sneaky good setup for Patrick Reed because difficult grinding golf tournaments are usually where he becomes dangerous. The scrambling and short game creativity are always there, and if the irons cooperate enough, he can absolutely hang around the leaderboard.
Patrick Cantlay $8,900 on par
Nothing about Patrick Cantlay really jumps off the page for me this week. The overall game is solid, but the upside just feels lower compared to several other golfers in this range, especially on a golf course demanding elite distance and long iron play. He is in good form however and if he brings his best game, a top ten isn’t out of the question.
Chris Gotterup $8,800 overweight
This feels like one of those spots where Chris Gotterup could really show up and make noise at lower ownership. The distance is excellent, the game has become much more complete, and this setup gives him the opportunity to lean into one of his biggest strengths by overpowering long golf courses.
Russell Henley $8,700 on par with the field
I respect the consistency and scrambling ability of Russell Henley, but this feels more like a balanced exposure week for me. The concern is simply whether or not the distance limitations eventually become a problem over four rounds on a golf course this demanding.
Shane Lowry $8,500 underweight
I just do not see the ceiling with Shane Lowry this week compared to some of the other options around him. The length is not ideal for this setup, and nothing about the profile really jumps out as somebody likely to seriously threaten the top of the leaderboard.
Robert MacIntyre $8,400 underweight
I just do not love the fit for Robert MacIntyre compared to some of the other names around this range. The distance is not elite, and the long iron approach game worries me a little bit on a golf course demanding so many difficult shots into these greens.
Ben Griffin $8,300 underweight
This feels like a very similar setup to the type of long difficult golf course where Ben Griffin struggled recently. It looked like he was starting to turn things around for a little bit, but the form cooled off again last week, and I just do not think this is the ideal bounce back spot.
Jason Day $8,200 underweight
The recent form and overall tee to green profile simply are not lining up for me this week. Jason Day has not looked sharp lately, and this feels like the exact type of golf course that exposes weak ball striking instead of hiding it.
Joaquin Niemann $8,200 on par with the field
The talent level is obvious with Joaquin Niemann, and the ball striking can absolutely compete on a setup like this when he gets rolling. I will have exposure, but probably closer to neutral because there are simply other names around him I trust slightly more this week.
Jake Knapp $7,800 overweight
The upside with Jake Knapp is obvious on a course like this. He is an absolute monster off the tee, and if the irons cooperate while the putter heats up, he has legitimate leaderboard climbing upside at this salary.
Adam Scott $7,500 overweight
Every time we get one of these difficult championship setups, I find myself gravitating back toward Adam Scott. The tee to green profile is strong, the long iron game still flashes, and the ceiling remains very real if the putter wakes up.
Rickie Fowler $7,400 on par with the field
I do not hate the fit for Rickie Fowler, but I also do not think I will aggressively attack this price range with him. The overall game has shown flashes, though, and there is enough upside to keep some exposure in the player pool.
Keegan Bradley $7,400 overweight
I like going right back to Keegan Bradley this week because the fit makes a lot of sense. He already has positive history at Aronimink Golf Club, and when the irons heat up, he can absolutely compete with anybody from tee to green.
Rasmus Hojgaard $7,400 overweight
The power upside with Rasmus Hojgaard immediately stands out on a setup like this. The question always becomes accuracy, but if he keeps the golf ball in play enough, the upside at this salary is extremely interesting.
Kurt Kitayama $7,300 overweight
Three straight top 20 finishes combined with elite distance off the tee feels extremely appealing at this price. This feels too cheap for the upside Kurt Kitayama brings to a difficult major championship setup.
Gary Woodland $7,200 on par with the field
The power and ball striking profile fit this course nicely, but there is still enough volatility here that I do not feel comfortable going all in. I will definitely have some exposure, though, because the upside is real.
Keith Mitchell $6,700 overweight
This feels like the perfect uncomfortable bounce back candidate. The recent form has not been great, but the distance and ball striking upside fit this setup beautifully if the putter cooperates enough to stay alive.
Nicolai Hojgaard $6,500 overweight
This feels way too cheap for the type of upside Nicolai Hojgaard brings to a setup demanding power and aggressive tee to green golf. I expect ownership to be strong, but honestly, I think it is deserved.
Ryan Gerard $6,400 on par with the field
The overall ball striking profile is quietly interesting for this type of setup, and there is enough upside here to keep him in the player pool as a value option.
Pearson Coody $6,300 overweight
Pearson Cootie has quietly been playing some very solid golf lately, and the distance upside keeps making him pop as an interesting value option on this slate.
Marco Penge $6,300 on par with the field
The raw distance upside is definitely intriguing here, especially on a course demanding this much power. The volatility is very real, but so is the ceiling.
David Puig $6,200 overweight
I like the overall profile for David Puig this week because the game is solid across the board, and he absolutely has the ability to catch fire with the putter.
Thomas Detry $6,100 on par with the field
There is definitely enough talent and upside here to sprinkle into builds, especially on a difficult setup where balanced golfers can quietly outperform expectations.
Alex Smalley $6,100 on par with the field
The overall tee to green profile is quietly solid enough to keep him in the mix as a value play this week, especially if the irons cooperate. I think he is too cheap.
Michael Brennan $6,000 overweight
The raw power off the tee keeps jumping off the page with Michael Brennan, and after a solid Masters performance, there is definitely some intriguing upside hiding here.
Michael Thorbjornsen $6,000 on par with the field
The upside is obvious because the talent level is very real, but there is still enough inconsistency that I will probably stay closer to neutral exposure wise.
Alex Fitzpatrick $5,900 overweight
Five straight top 10 finishes with multiple wins is not random noise anymore. At some point, people have to accept that Alex Fitzpatrick is simply playing incredible golf right now, and this salary feels way too cheap.
Matt Wallace $5,600 overweight
This feels like the type of difficult setup where Matt Wallace can quietly grind out a very strong finish by simply avoiding mistakes and staying patient throughout the week.
Jordan Smith $5,500 overweight
The overall tee to green game fits this setup better than people probably realize, and the distance combined with solid approach play creates sneaky upside here.
Michael Lindberg $5,400 overweight
The distance upside with Michael Lindberg immediately grabs attention, especially on a golf course demanding this much power off the tee.
Andrew Putnam $5,400 underweight
The short game is always interesting with Andrew Putnam, but this feels like a very difficult setup for his overall profile compared to some of the longer value options around him.
Matthew McCarty $5,300 overweight
The profile does not completely fit what I normally target on a course like this, but the current form is simply too strong to ignore at this salary.
Frankie’s Fade of the Week
Hey meatballs, Frankie’s fade this week is Scottie Scheffler. Yeah, I said it. You got Jay over here building lineups like he’s running some kinda optimizer sweatshop. What happened to being different, huh? What happened to the Outsider mentality? The whole world is gonna play Scottie this week. Grandma’s got Scottie. The bartender’s got Scottie. Some guy named Earl eating mozzarella sticks at the airport’s got Scottie. Everybody and their mother’s on this guy.
Now listen, I ain’t stupid. Scottie Scheffler could absolutely win this golf tournament by six shots. The guy’s playing unbelievable golf right now. Tee to green monster. Iron game ridiculous. Cool as ice. But that ain’t how Frankie rolls, capisce? This is major championship golf, baby. One bad bunker shot. One cold putting day. One double bogey on one of these nasty par fours and suddenly everybody starts sweating through their khakis.
Meanwhile, I got Jay over here acting like he’s marrying the guy. One hundred percent exposure? What is this, a honeymoon package? Fuggedaboutit. Jay’s over here talking about “I’m all in on Scottie.” Yeah? Well this week I ain’t rooting for you, baby. Frankie’s gonna be all over Rory McIlroy and the guys below him while Jay sits there praying Scottie doesn’t start putting like Stevie Wonder on Thursday afternoon.
Arrivederci, meatballs.
Final Thoughts
This is what major championship golf is supposed to feel like. A brutal golf course. A loaded field packed with killers from top to bottom. Pressure everywhere. Every missed fairway punished. Every bad iron shot exposed. Aronimink Golf Club is going to force these players to earn every single birdie they make this week, and honestly, that is exactly the type of setup I want when building DFS lineups. No gimmicks. No soft scoring fest. Just elite golfers trying to survive one of the toughest tests they are going to face all season.
This is also the type of tournament where taking a stand matters. Everybody is going to have ownership. Everybody is going to have projections. Everybody is going to have some perfect optimizer lineup that looks amazing on paper. But majors are different. Pressure changes things. One bad hole changes things. One golfer getting hot from tee to green can completely flip an entire tournament on its head. That is why I am trusting my gut this week and going all in on Scottie Scheffler while still getting weird and aggressive elsewhere in my player pool.
There is enough value on this slate to make some really dangerous lineups if you are willing to trust uncomfortable names and embrace volatility in the right spots. Bombers can absolutely separate here. Elite iron players can absolutely separate here. This feels like one of those weeks where the cream rises to the top while a few lower priced golfers sneak through the chaos and completely change tournament winning lineup construction.
Now let’s go take down a fucking GPP.
Because it only takes one.
