It’s professional golf’s second major of the year, and it’s essential to pick up where we left off. Rory McIlroy’s opening words, in the form of a question, after finally winning the Masters Tournament, were What will we talk about next year? While that remains to be seen, we are still talking about him given his imposing record on Quail Hollow.
The most recent self-inducted member of the career grand slam club might be the best golfer heading into the 2025 PGA. A three-time winner on the PGA TOUR this year, McIlroy prevailed over many of the world’s best golfers at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, then at The Players Championship before his victory for the ages at Augusta National.
History is also on the Northern Irishman’s side. He’s a four-time winner on this golf course in Charlotte and finished runner-up once.
Defending champion Xander Schauffele is here seeking a repeat performance after winning his first major at Valhalla last year.
“Yeah, (the) game’s coming along slowly but surely. Just getting as many reps in as I can,” Schauffele said. “It’s already been off to an interesting week with the weather. It’s definitely one of the hurdles everyone’s going to have to overcome this week.”
It’s indeed been rainy, but the forecast is expected to improve when 156 players tee it up on Thursday’s opening round.
Scottie Scheffler is still world No.1; a position he has not relinquished in 103 weeks, and the two-time Masters champion believes his game is trending in the right direction.
“Xander won two majors last year, and Rory already won THE PLAYERS and the Masters this year so he’s playing some fantastic golf,” Sheffler said. “I think when I look back on my career, these will be some of the fondest memories getting to play with some of the best players in the world and compete to try to win tournaments.”
Scheffler is fresh off his victory in Dallas at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, but the only time he has played Quail Hallow was at the Presidents Cup three years ago. Meanwhile, reigning U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau arrives with four top-10 results in his last five major appearances, and he’s played here before.
“I remember you’ve got to drive it well. So far, I’ve been driving it well this season. Hopefully it continues,” DeChambeau said. “Greens are tricky. Got to have great irons. You’ve got to come in with a full, complete set of clubs that you feel comfortable with attacking flags at and just strategizing your way around the golf course.”
Two-time PGA Championship winner Justin Thomas won this event in 2022 and 2017, the last time it was staged on this course.
“It was a completely different golf course. It was Bermuda in August versus overseed in May, but the fact that I know the golf course and have had, I feel like, some success on it is definitely helpful,” Thomas said. “Yeah, just walking up that 18th to people chanting my name and looking at the leaderboard and kind of realizing that I was about to win this, it was a really, really cool feeling.”
The PGA Championship on TV: (All times are Eastern)
Thursday and Friday: 7 a.m. – Noon on ESPN+, noon- 7 p.m. on ESPN
Saturday and Sunday: 8 a.m. -10 a.m. on ESPN+, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. on ESPN, and 1-7 p.m. on CBS Sports and Paramount+
