Aronimink Greens Demand Precision & Strategy As PGA Championship Practice Round Exposes True Test

The PGA Championship practice round at Aronimink showed a tough test. Players focused less on bunkers and rough and more on steep greens. Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth agreed that approach shots matter most. Cool weather and slow practice rounds added another layer before Thursday’s start.

Aronimink has 180 bunkers, but many may not matter. The longest hitters can carry several traps. Large, sloping greens are the main defence. Thomas placed hole-sized discs on tricky corners of the 17th green. He chipped and putted to every spot, checking spins and slopes.

Keegan Bradley, winner of the 2018 BMW Championship here, shared his view. He said the course is not very hard from the tee. For him, the difficulty starts on and around the greens. He described them as mounded, hilly, and similar to many Northeast layouts.

Weather and early scouting trips

The first official practice day drew big crowds despite the chill. Temperatures stayed near 15 degrees Celsius, close to 60 Fahrenheit. Officials expect a warmer weekend, like Bethpage Black in 2019. Many players walked only nine holes, saving energy and time.

Thomas visited Aronimink earlier during an off week. He noticed fewer trees since his last event here in 2018. Fairways seemed wide but framed by healthy rough. He called the course generous from the tee. For him, the test will be firm, fast greens and exact yardages.

Thomas played nine holes Monday as the first out. He said PGA Championship practice rounds feel very slow. He even called them “unbearably slow,” and compared them with the U.S. Open. He rated the two major events tied for last in pace.

Players spent long stretches on short-game work during practice. Many chipped from tight lies and rough to raised tiers. Others putted across sharp slopes. Thomas said it looked like a huge short-game area. Most attention stayed on speed control and landing zones on the greens.

Spieth’s Grand Slam chase

Jordan Spieth again has a shot at a career Grand Slam. He has needed the PGA Championship since 2017. A win this week would complete his set of four majors. Only six players have done that, most recently Rory McIlroy at the 2023 Masters.

Spieth tried to keep his approach simple. He said he wants one more win, and prefers it here. But he added that pressing for history can hurt. His plan is a clear game strategy and smart aggression. He aims for the correct tier on every green.

Field changes and key names

Brandt Snedeker and Sudarshan Yellamaraju were the last to join. Snedeker, 45, qualified by winning the Myrtle Beach Classic. It was his first PGA Tour win in eight years. Yellamaraju entered because Truist Championship winner Kristoffer Reitan had already qualified by world ranking.

Tom Hoge joined the field as an alternate. Jake Knapp withdrew after a thumb injury. The PGA Championship aims for the top 100 players by ranking. Lucas Herbert and Shaun Norris reached that group through recent wins. They are not in the Aronimink field this week.

Course profile and player views

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, also defending champion, played nine holes. Most stars did the same. Matt Fitzpatrick walked all 18 holes on his first visit here. He called the green complexes very severe. He expects tight pin positions and limited hole locations on several greens.

Fitzpatrick said Aronimink favours length from the tee. Long hitters can fly many bunkers and shorten holes. For him, the greens will protect the course. Distance, iron control, and touch on sloping surfaces should decide the winner this week.