The 2026 PGA Championship is shaping up to be a dramatic showdown between two golf legends, Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau, who are both in danger of missing the cut line. McIlroy, fresh off his Masters win, and DeChambeau, a star of LIV Golf, arrived at Aronimink Golf Course with high expectations. However, their opening rounds did not go as planned.
McIlroy struggled from the start, carding a 4-over 74 with a bogey on his first hole and never finding his rhythm. DeChambeau's performance was even more concerning, finishing with a score of +6 after four bogeys on his first nine holes and a double-bogey on his second-to-last hole. The situation is dire for both players, as only the top 70 golfers (and ties) qualify for the weekend.
The projected cut line is currently at +2, with a 34.8% chance of dropping to +2, a 39% chance of staying at +3, and a 13.4% chance of rising to +4 by the end of Friday's second round. This means that McIlroy and DeChambeau are in a critical position, needing to make significant improvements to secure their weekend spots.
The cut bubble is filled with notable names, including Michael Kim, Sungjae Im, and Billy Horschel, all teetering on the edge at +3. McIlroy, unfortunately, is already at +4, while DeChambeau is at +6, both in danger of being cut. The leaderboard is tightly packed, with several players tied for the top spots at -3, including Aldrich Potgieter, Stephan Jaeger, and Min Woo Lee.
As the second round unfolds, the tension will be palpable, with the cut line looming large. McIlroy and DeChambeau must dig deep and find their form quickly to avoid an early exit from the tournament. The golf world will be watching closely, eager to see if these two rivals can turn their fortunes around and secure their places in the weekend's action.
