Aronimink Golf Club on Tuesday welcomed the media for a look at how the club is planning for the PGA Championship, May 14-17, 2026.
The club, which opened in 1928, is located in Newtown Square, Delaware County.
The PGA Championship winner earns the Wanamaker Trophy, which was prominently displayed at the news conference.
Even the Lombardi Trophy – given to the Super Bowl winner – was on site, along with Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland and radio analyst Mike Quick.
At the news conference, Gary Player starred in a video about the 1962 PGA Championship, the only other time Aronimink hosted the major. The video showed Player, now 89 and one of only six golfers to win the career Grand Slam, sinking a short putt to clinch the 1962 PGA Championship.
Next year’s PGA Championship, the first to be held in the Philadelphia area since the 1962 tournament at Aronimink, will be broadcast on CBS and ESPN. More than 200,000 fans are expected over four days.
Aronimink’s Mike Lewers, general chairman for the 2026 PGA Championship, noted that American courses have a chance to host a major only twice a year.
“We’re very blessed,” he said.
Lewers said Aronimink has withstood the test of time in 97 years, and members are supportive of hosting the PGA Championship. He described the course as 7,500 yards with fast greens. Some 3,200 volunteers are expected.
Lewers said 2026 is shaping up to be a big year in the area. In addition to celebrating the nation’s 250th birthday, Philadelphia will host the NCAA men’s basketball East Regional, the Major League Baseball All-Star Game and World Cup soccer games. According to Lewers, 2026 could be the biggest year in Philadelphia sports history, “after the Eagles win a second Super Bowl.”
Jeff Kiddie, the head golf professional at Aronimink, said the course will test the world’s 156 best golfers with a thick rough, narrower fairways and added length. Kiddie noted the 8th and 17th are long par 3 holes, with the 17th over water. The 15th, he added, is a 535-yard par 4. He said he’s excited to welcome, among others, Masters champion Rory McIlroy and two-time U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau.
Ryan Ogle, the director of the 2026 PGA Championship, said planning has been ongoing since the tournament was awarded in August 2023.
Ogle said people can go to https://www.pgachampionship.com/2026 to register for tickets or apply to be a volunteer. Ticket registration is free, with no obligation. ••
