CHARLOTTE – Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland will have everyone’s attention when the PGA Championship begins Thursday.
And it didn’t take securing a career grand slam at the Masters last month for McIlroy to be a big deal when he shows up at Quail Hollow.
That’s always the case.
“Based on the success he’s had here, you almost have to go with some part of Rory’s game,” Spain’s Jon Rahm said. “He’s done incredible here, and it’s because he’s good at everything, obviously.”
The top golfers in the world will take aim on what’s bound to be at least a partially soggy course when play begins Thursday.
McIlroy has won the PGA Tour stop here four times (2010, 2015, 2021, 2024), the most times of any golfer. He’s also a two-time winner of the PGA Championship, capturing those titles in 2012 and 2014 at other venues.
“I do believe you have to have a lot of distance out here,” Bryson DeChambeau said. “Rory is a great driver of the golf ball and his iron play is great, too. I think it’s a golf course that sets up for his shot shapes pretty well, and I think it sets up well for mine, too. We’ll see.”
This is the first major since McIlroy won the Masters. He’ll be motivated when he heads to the tee for the opening round even with a difficult act to follow, paired with two players will push him — Xander Schauffele and Scottie Scheffler.
“I want to still create a lot of other highlights and high points,” McIlroy said Wednesday. “But I’m not sure if any other win will live up to what happened a few weeks ago.”
Golfers are interested in how the course will shape up after rain that has been off and on since the weekend. There was a weather delay during practice rounds on Tuesday.
“If we can get some sun and some wind out, they’re going to dry up really quick and kind of get to that Quail Hollow that we’re all used to seeing,” defending champion Schauffele said.
Numerous golfers will show up for this tournament with confidence.
Justin Thomas won the 2017 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow.
“If I’m coming down the stretch and trying to win the tournament, I can tell myself I’ve literally done this before here,” Thomas said.
Austria’s Sepp Straka captured the Truist Championship last week in Philadelphia. He wants to maintain momentum.
“The big thing is getting energy back,” Straka said. “You get kind of drained. There’s a lot of pressure.”
DeChambeau said the importance of the majors can’t be understated along with the value of doing well in these events.
“I feel like I’ve always had the capacity to play well in major championships and contend consistently,” he said. “A lot of things have to go right in majors for you to play well. Your whole game has to be on.”
Schauffele said precision is going to be highlighted across the four rounds.
“There’s no sort of trick to play this golf course,” he said. “A lot of people will hit it to the same spot. A lot of people will miss it to the same spot as well. … It’s like who can get up-and-down better when they’re out of position, and who can capitalize when they’re in a good position.”
It often comes down to details. DeChambeau is aware of that.
“A little bit of luck and one or two shots going your way,” he said. “There’s going to be numerous players that are playing well this week that are going to have a chance. … A little bit of fortune but also paired with a lot of skill over 72 holes of golf.”
— Bob Sutton, Field Level Media
