Who's going to win the 2026 PGA? Our writers make their picks
Alex Smalley is the 54-hole leader at the PGA Championship, but can he hang on to win on Sunday?
Jon Rahm eyes his third major title come Sunday at the PGA Championship. Getty Images Read GOLF’s Tour Confidential for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors as they break down the hottest topics in the sport. This week, with the PGA Championship at Aronimink, we’ll hit one key topic every night.
There’s just one round remaining in the 2026 PGA Championship , and through 54 holes Aronimink has produced what might be one of the most wide-open major Sundays we’ve seen in years. Alex Smalley, who is making his fifth major start and is winless on Tour, leads at six under, while five players — Matti Schmid, Nick Taylor, Jon Rahm, Aaron Rai and Ludvig Aberg — are two back at four under. Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele are only three off the lead, and 21 total players are within four shots of Smalley.
Who wins Sunday? Zephyr Melton, associate game-improvement editor ( @zephyrmelton ): Alex Smalley is a nice Saturday-night story, but with the number of big names in the chase for the final round, I’ll be surprised if he hangs on. As for who that big name will be, give me Jon Rahm.
After the embarrassment he suffered at Augusta last month, he seems to have come to Aronimink with something to prove. Nothing would silence the haters better than hoisting the Wanamaker Trophy Sunday evening. Josh Berhow, managing editor ( @Josh_Berhow ): With apologies to Alex Smalley, I think there’s simply too many contenders here and he has yet to be in this situation.