PGA Championship might have solved its biggest problem with its setup at Aronimink 

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The PGA Championship is usually considered the weakest of the majors by fans. 

Since its place in the calendar was moved from the last major of the season, which removed its status as the last shot at glory, the PGA of America have been searching for an identity for its major championship.

But this year has felt totally different. This has been one of the most captivating majors in recent years, and the PGA of America may have cracked the code to give this championship a true identity moving forward.

The PGA Championship has found its identity

This is one of the wildest leaderboards these players have ever seen. There are about 30 players still in with a legitimate chance of lifting the Wannamaker Trophy, because this leaderboard is jam-packed.

There are 31 players within six strokes of the leader, Alex Smalley, and there are five players tied for second.

The difficult setup at Aronimink, with diabolical pin placements, has meant players have not been able to separate themselves from the field over the first three days.

While that’s been frustrating for the players, for the fans, it’s been incredible. The entire tournament still hangs completely in the balance heading into the final round, so if the PGA of America can replicate this setup in future tournaments, they might have found their recipe.

The US Open is tough, The Open Championship is for the purists, The Masters is for the traditionalists. But the PGA Championship can be the major where players must fight tooth and nail to separate themselves, and fight off 20 other players on Sunday to win. 

Scottie Scheffler said he’s never seen anything like this PGA Championship leaderboard

Even the players were gobsmacked coming off the golf course on Saturday to see just how packed this leaderboard is.

World number one Scottie Scheffler, who has been full of superlatives this week after saying the pin placements were the toughest he’s ever seen, also said he’s never seen a leaderboard like this one. 

He said, “First, I’ve never seen anything like this. When we were out there, I think it’s just the nature of a lot of different things, but yeah, I’ve never seen a leaderboard like this, this bunched up.

“Going into tomorrow, it’s quite literally anybody’s tournament. There are a lot of guys who have a chance. Going into tomorrow, just somebody is going to have a great round, and I’m going to make sure to do my best to give myself my best shot at being the one who has a great round.”

With this many players in the mix, it’s going to have to take an incredible round to find the edge around Aronimink.