Stars struggling at brutal PGA Championship as Alex Smalley, Maverick McNealy hold lead

NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa.— The U.S.

Open at Shinnecock doesn’t begin for another 33 days. So no, the golf tournament you’ve been watching at Aronimink the past two days is not the U.S.Open. It’s actually the PGA Championship, which has always been known — in golf course degree of difficulty — as the most docile of the four major championships. Not this week. For the past two days, as players have trudged off Aronimink following their rounds, they’ve looked beaten up the way places like the Shinnecocks and Oakmonts and Winged Foots traditionally leave them. A birdie-fest this PGA has not been. With 36 holes to play, Alex Smalley and Maverick McNealy lead the field at 4-under par, with Smalley shooting 69 in Friday’s second round and McNealy shooting 67. They are trailed by six players at 3-under, including Chris Gotterup, Hideki Matsuyama, Aldrich Potgeiter, Stephan Jaeger (who made 18 pars Friday), Min Woo Lee and Short Hills, N.J., native Max Greyserman. Scottie Scheffler, the world No.

1, Justin Thomas, a two-time PGA winner, Cam Young, Ludvig Åberg (66 on Friday) and David Puig, a LIV Golf player who got a special exemption into the field, are among several players at 2-under entering the weekend. Big names such as John Rahm, Jason Day, a former PGA winner, and Patrick Cantlay lurk at 1-under. Stars Rory McIlroy, who rebounded from his opening-round 74 with a 67 on Friday, Jordan Spieth, who’s attempting to complete the career Grand Slam, and Brooks Koepka, who’s won the PGA three times, are 1-over and well within position to win. “It’s a really bunched leaderboard because guys are finding it difficult to make birdies,’’ McIlroy said.“Everyone who makes the cut has to feel they’re still right in the tournament.’’ In all, 22 players are under par and 58 players are within six shots of the lead.

The last 36 winners of the PGA came from within six shots of the lead through 36 holes. Friday was McNealy’s 42nd career ro...