McIlroy-Koepka, Spieth-Johnson pairings highlight early starters in Round 3 of the PGA Championship

NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. (AP) — The marquee pairings of Jordan Spieth and Dustin Johnson, and Rory McIlroy and Brooks Koepka provided plenty of early star power Saturday at the 108th PGA Championship.

The Spieth-Johnson and McIlroy-Koepka groupings have 16 major championships combined. But, those titles meant little after uneven opening rounds left the star twosomes off the pace and with tee times four hours before unlikely second-round leaders Alex Smalley and Maverick McNealy.

The standout pairings drew large galleries on every hole at crowded Aronimink on a warm, sunny day in the Philly suburbs.

McIlroy sped up the leaderboard after playing the front nine in 4 under and adding birdies at Nos. 11 and 13. But, he made bogey at the par-3 17th on the way to a 66 and 4-under total heading into the final round.

Koepka's 2-under 68 left him at 1 under. Johnson got to even for the championship with a 2-under 68 and Spieth posted an even-par round and was at 1 over.

This PGA carried a different meaning and levels of importance for each of the players.

Spieth needs a PGA Championship win to complete the career Grand Slam after major victories at The Masters (2015), U.S. Open (2015) and British Open (2017).

Johnson, whose five-year exemptions into the event after winning the 2016 U.S. Open and 2020 Masters expired, has struggled the past two seasons after a fast start with LIV in 2022-23 and received a special invitation to Aronimink.

Koepka, a five-time major champ, is searching for his fourth PGA title to go along with consecutive U.S. Open wins in 2017-18.

McIlroy, who completed the career Grand Slam with the first of two straight Masters victories in 2025, is out to add another PGA to his 2012 and 2014 title.

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Brooks Koepka chips to the green on the sixth hole during the first round of the PGA Championship golf tournament practice round at Aronimink Golf Club, Thursday, May 14, 2026, in Newtown Square, PA. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Dustin Johnson hits from the fourth tee during the second round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Aronimink Golf Club, Friday, May 15, 2026, in Newtown Square, PA. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Jordan Spieth hits from the 13th fairway during the second round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Aronimink Golf Club, Friday, May 15, 2026, in Newtown Square, PA. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, hits from the fourth tee during the second round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Aronimink Golf Club, Friday, May 15, 2026, in Newtown Square, PA. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

SANTOS, Brazil (AP) — As the FIFA World Cup approaches, the image of one of Brazil's most recognizable footballers lives on in Santos, the one-time home of Edson Arantes do Nascimento, far better known as Pelé.

Tourists like Mario Álvarez Gamiño, a 67-year-old retired salesperson from Mexico, flock to Santos to see anything that connects the Brazilian port city to the man. The soccer legend's legacy is everywhere — in vibrant murals by street artist Eduardo Kobra, among the memorabilia of his beloved club and even on posters glued to local lampposts.

“His legacy is fundamental. His life will always be an example to follow,” Álvarez said. “At the moment we have Cristiano Ronaldo ... but he lacks something that Pelé had, which is humility. ... He was really a genius.”

Pelé, who died in 2022 at age 82, played at Santos Futebol Clube for most of his career, from 1956 to 1974. He also played for Brazil's team in the World Cup — including three wins in 1958, 1962 and 1970.

Santos is also home to the Pelé Museum, where fans can learn more about Pelé's life and see various memorabilia, including jerseys and trophies.

“When you tell a foreigner you’re from Santos, the first thing they say is ‘Pelé’. That’s why we at the museum have a great responsibility: to carry the name of Pelé and the city of Santos,” said museum director Paulo Monteiro. "After his death, we now have a greater and more difficult mission, which is to keep his legacy active and alive.”

Many of the more than 400,000 residents of Santos never had the chance to see Pelé in action, but they want the legacy to live on.

Among them is bar owner Anderson Albino.

“As local business owners, we see how much international media comes here and how that draws huge numbers of visitors,” Albino said. “For those of us from the city, it’s a privilege that Pelé played for Santos.”

Savarese reported from Sao Paulo.

AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup

People visit the Pele Museum in Santos, Brazil, Thursday, May 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)

Children visit the Pele Museum in Santos, Brazil, Thursday, May 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)

Santos fans walk past a mural of late football legend Pele, right, and Neymar outside Vila Belmiro Stadium in Santos, Brazil, Thursday, May 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)

Santos' Vila Belmiro stadium sits in Santos, Brazil, Thursday, May 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)

A man sits in front of a mural of late football legend Pele and Neymar at a restaurant in Santos, Brazil, Thursday, May 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)