Starting times have been released for the third round of the 108th PGA Championship at Aronimink on Saturday. Here are five pairings you won’t want to miss.
10:50 a.m.: Jordan Spieth & Dustin Johnson
Jordan Spieth’s career Grand Slam dreams are still alive. The 32-year-old Texan, who last won a Major in 2017, is missing only a Wanamaker Trophy to become just the seventh player in men’s golf history to achieve a career Grand Slam. Through two rounds at Aronimink, he goes into the weekend at 1-over par (69-72—141) and is just five strokes behind co-leaders Alex Smalley and Maverick McNealy.
After rounds of 72-70, former U.S. Open and Masters champion Dustin Johnson goes into the weekend six strokes off the lead at 2 over and is looking for his first top-10 finish in a major since a T10 in the 2023 U.S. Open.
11 a.m.: Rory McIlroy & Brooks Koepka
Two-time defending Masters Champion and World No. 2 Rory McIlroy bogeyed his last four holes in Thursday’s first round to shoot a gut-punching 4-over 74. He needed a big rally on Friday to make the cut and that’s exactly what the career Grand Slam winner did. McIlroy was bogey-free in Round 2 and posted a 3-under 67. At 1 over and five shots back, he is very much in the thick of things as we look to Moving Day.
The PGA Championship brings out the best in Brooks Koepka. A three-time PGA Champion, Koepka is the last player to win the PGA Championship in back-to-back years (2018-2019). Like McIlroy, Koepka is 1 over through 36 holes and five off the lead at the midway point. Koepka was three back through 36 holes when he won in 2023 at Oak Hill. You’ve got to figure with the inexperience at the top of the leaderboard combined with Koepka’s major championship prowess, a fourth PGA Championship is still very much there for the taking.
11:10 a.m. – Rickie Fowler & Xander Schauffele
On this jam-packed leaderboard, Rickie Fowler and Xander Schauffele are among the group of 14 players heading into the weekend at 1 over and five shots out of the lead.
Fowler rallied with birdies on two of his final three holes Friday to give himself a chance at his first major title.
Schauffele, the 2024 PGA Champion, came into the week a little low on confidence after a poor finish a week ago. Clearly, he found something. Schauffele shot a 2-under 68 on Thursday and a 3-over 73 on Friday. Don’t be surprised if he makes a big move on Saturday. Since the 2023 Masters, Schauffele has nine top 10s (including two wins) in major 13 starts.
2 p.m.: Justin Thomas & Cameron Young
Just two strokes off the lead heading into the weekend at 2-under 138, Saturday’s 2 p.m. starting time features two players who are the sons of PGA of America Golf Professionals.
First, there’s two-time PGA Champion Justin Thomas. Things are clicking for Thomas after a successful microdiscectomy surgery in November 2025 to address a disc issue that was causing hip and back pain. His 2026 PGA Tour campaign didn’t start until March as he recovered and it’s been trending in the right direction since, evidenced by a T8 at the Players Championship and a T13 last week in the Truist Championship at Quail Hollow where he won the 2017 PGA Championship. Thomas is one of the few players at Aronimink this week with two rounds under par (69-69). What will Saturday bring?
For his part, Cameron Young has been one of the hottest players on the planet in 2026. The Players Champion who boasts six top 10s (two wins) this season, fired a 3-under 67 on Friday after shooting 1-over 71 on Thursday. With the way he’s played lately and the way he shows up for majors (7 tops 10s in 19 starts), it feels like Young is trending toward a major title. Could this weekend be it?
2:40 p.m. – Maverick McNealy & Alex Smalley
As co-leaders at 4-under 136 going into the weekend, Maverick McNealy and Alex Smalley are in unchartered waters. Neither has had the lead in a major before now and the two have combined for one PGA Tour victory (McNealy at the 2024 RSM Classic).
For Smalley, Friday’s round to get to this position was something special as he overcame three consecutive bogeys to start his back nine and still shot a 1-under 69.
McNealy, meanwhile, had it to 6 under at one point on Friday. He bogeyed two of his final four holes and was more than happy to sign for a 3-under 67 and a share of the lead.
The pressure will be there for both players, no doubt. Especially with all the big names right behind them. But you’ve got to think this is the perfect pairing for both players in terms of comfort. It’s new to both.
