2026 PGA Championship Preview with Ryan Boitz
Alex Elias
Each of the four major championships carries its own distinct significance. The Masters represents tradition and the opportunity to join the game’s most exclusive fraternity—those who have won the green jacket. The U.S. Open is regarded as America’s championship, just as The Open is celebrated as Britain’s. The PGA Championship stands apart as the Professional Golf Association of America’s major, representing an association of more than 30,000 trained golf professionals dedicated to elevating and advancing the game for the enjoyment of all. For that reason, it holds particular meaning for golf professionals—especially in years when their own club has the honor of hosting, as is the case for Ryan Boitz, Assistant Golf Professional at Aronimink Golf Club (Newtown Square, Pennsylvania).
“There’s certainly an added element to Aronimink hosting the PGA Championship. At the end of the day, it’s my organization—and my colleagues’ organization as well.” said Boitz. “To be able to share the PGA of America’s mission at the place I call work is very special.”
As the 2026 PGA Championship is not only a time to showcase the PGA of America, it is also an opportunity to highlight Aronimink Golf Club, a 1928 design by Donald Ross—who himself considered it among his finest works, saying, “I intended to make this my masterpiece, but not until today did I realize that I built better than I knew”—and recently restored by Gil Hanse.
“When most people think of Ross, they immediately picture his turtleback greens—most famously at Pinehurst No. 2. At Aronimink, however, the defining feature is the bunkering,” said Boitz. “That’s not to say the greens lack character, but the bunkers truly stand out, especially following Gil’s restoration.”
Restoring Ross’ clustered bunker scheme, Aronimink now features 178 bunkers. Evident throughout the property, the Par-4 11th is expected to garner the most attention. Playing slightly uphill and boasting 20 bunkers and the steepest green on property, Boitz said, “Anything short can easily result in a ball finishing 30 or 40 yards down the fairway or, worse, in one of the four bunkers short-right of the putting surface.”
Ryan Boitz’s Prediction:
My sentimental pick is Jordan Spieth, as it would be awesome for him to complete the career Grand Slam at Aronimink Golf Club. I also think the game of golf is in a better place when he’s in the winner’s circle. But if I were to make a safer pick, I’d go with Brooks Koepka, as he’s been a great iron player this year, and I think that’s what it will take to win here. I don’t think there’s going to be a lot of big numbers, but the greens are large enough, and feature pronounced spines, that players could hit a lot of greens and settle for a lot of two-putt pars — though even two putts aren’t guarantees on many of them. To win the tournament, a player will need to know where to land it and be precise.
Winning score: 18-under par
3 Things to Know
Aronimink: The name Aronimink Golf Club comes from the chief of the Lenape tribe, who occupied a small farmhouse that served as a clubhouse prior to the club’s move to Newtown Square. Aronimink roughly translates to “place of water” in the Lenape Native American language.
PGA of America: With the 2020 KPMG Women's PGA Championship, Aronimink became the first venue to stage each of the PGA of America's three rotating major championships (1962 PGA Championship won by Gary Player, 2003 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship won by John Jacobs, 2020 KPMG Women's PGA Championship won by Sei Young Kim).
2026: Aronimink is set to host the 2026 PGA Championship, which will coincide with the United States semiquincentennial celebration, and marks the 250th anniversary of America’s founding in 1776 in Philadelphia.
