I still remember the first time I attended a PGA Championship. It was 2011 at Atlanta Athletic Club, and my dad and I had scored tickets for the weekend rounds. We watched as a rookie named Keegan Bradley, who had started the day trailing by five shots with just three holes to play, somehow rallied to force a playoff with Jason Dufner. When Bradley sank that final putt to win, I felt a surge of pride—here was the son of a fellow PGA professional hoisting the Wanamaker Trophy.
A decade later, my dad and I were at it again, this time at Kiawah Island for the 2021 PGA. The Ocean Course was brutal that week, but not too brutal for a nearly 51-year-old Phil Mickelson, who became the oldest major champion in history. Walking those fairways with my father, watching history unfold—these are the moments that make the PGA Championship special to me, not just as a PGA member of 16 years, but as a son who's shared these memories with his dad.
Now, as we reach the halfway point of the 2025 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, I find myself captivated once again by the storylines emerging from Charlotte. This championship never disappoints, and this year is proving no exception.
Here's my analysis of the remaining field after 36 holes.
Vegas Leads the Way, But the Pack is Closing In
Jhonattan Vegas has been a revelation through 36 holes, firing an opening 64 to take the early lead. The Venezuelan, who hadn't qualified for this championship in three years and has never finished in the top 20 in a major, charged into Thursday's lead with five birdies in his final six holes. Though a double-bogey on his final hole Friday dropped him to 8-under, he still maintains a slim advantage heading into the weekend.
"You've got to keep the pedal down, keep your head down, and keep working hard. You never know when things are going to turn your way," Vegas said after his round. "I'm enjoying the process, and just got to keep going."
The leaderboard behind Vegas resembles something you might expect at the ONEFlight Myrtle Beach Classic rather than a major championship. More than 25 players sit within five strokes of the lead, creating what one writer aptly called "a glorious mess."
Homa Finding His Way Back
Perhaps the most compelling story of Friday's action was Max Homa's resurgence. After months of struggling with his swing and his confidence, Homa fired a 7-under 64 to vault into contention at 6-under, just two shots off the lead.
"It's been difficult because I felt like I was so broken, and whatever the swing change was going to be was going to be some grand thing, like something I've never done before," Homa said after his round.
The solution, it turns out, was simpler than expected. During a range session three weeks ago, Homa had an epiphany, telling his coach John Scott Rattan, "I think I should swing it like this." The new swing—which actually resembles his old one from 2022-23—immediately clicked.
"It feels more like me," Homa explained.
For a player who drove down Magnolia Lane at the Masters last month, fearing it might be his last time, this turnaround is particularly sweet. His new caddie, Bill Harke, summed it up perfectly: "Everybody's telling him he's close for months now, and he's got to tell himself that. A round like today is the type of round that he's going to take to heart and hopefully realize that he is back."
Historic Ace Propels Kim
Si Woo Kim delivered one of the most electric moments of the championship on Friday, making a hole-in-one on the 252-yard, par-3 sixth hole, the longest ace in major championship history. The shot helped Kim card a second-round 64, matching Homa for low round of the day and putting him just two shots off the lead.
Remarkably, this was Kim's second hole-in-one in major championship play, following his historic ace at the 2024 Open Championship at Royal Troon. Starting the day at 1-over and flirting with the cut line, Kim now finds himself firmly in the mix for the weekend.
Big Names Struggle, Spieth's Slam Dreams Dashed
While the leaderboard features plenty of unfamiliar names, many of golf's biggest stars have struggled to find their footing at Quail Hollow, and man, oh man, was I off on some of my picks this week. Most notably, Jordan Spieth will have to wait another year in his quest to complete the career Grand Slam. Despite a valiant 68 on Friday, Spieth missed the cut by a single shot, extending his wait for the one major that has eluded him since 2017.
Defending champion Xander Schauffele barely made the cut at 1-over, needing a back-nine 34 on Friday to extend his TOUR-best streak of 64 consecutive made cuts. Masters champion Rory McIlroy also squeaked in at 1-over after bogeying his final two holes.
Other notable players heading home early include Justin Thomas (3-over), Hideki Matsuyama (3-over), Shane Lowry (2-over), Ludvig Åberg (3-over), Brooks Koepka (9-over), and Phil Mickelson (9-over).
Scheffler Lurking
Despite the unfamiliar names atop the leaderboard, there's still a sense that order might be restored over the weekend. Scottie Scheffler fought through what he described as a day where he wasn't "swinging it his best" to post a 3-under 68, putting him at 5-under and just three shots off the lead.
"I think most of me is just glad to be close to the lead. If you're going to play a 72-hole golf tournament, there's going to be days and stretches of golf where you're not swinging it your best," Scheffler said. "Over the course of a tournament this long and on a major championship setup, there's going to be... some bumps in the road. It's all about how you respond to those."
Final Thoughts on the Last 36 Holes of the 2025 PGA Championship
With Scheffler in the mix and Bryson DeChambeau lurking at 3-under, this championship remains wide open heading into the weekend. Don't be surprised if any of the names on that scoreboard end up hoisting the Wanamaker on Sunday.
As a PGA professional who's spent nearly three decades in this industry, I can tell you, this is exactly what makes our championship so special. Whether it's a rookie like Bradley, a veteran like Mickelson, or perhaps this year, a first-time major winner like Vegas or Homa, the PGA Championship consistently delivers compelling drama.
I just wish my dad and I were there to see it in person.
