Surging Scottie Scheffler, unburdened Rory McIlroy preferred at PGA Champion
May 14( UPI)– Scottie Scheffler thinks he can ride current momentum into the 2025 PGA Championship, while an unburdened Rory McIlroy intends to follow his first Masters title with a Wanamaker Trophy on Sunday at Quail Hollow.
The second major tournmament of the golf season will be held from Thursday through Sunday at the Charlotte, N.C., club. Protection of the 107th PGA Champion will air on ESPN+, ESPN, CBS and Paramount+.
Scheffler, the No. 1 player in the Authorities World Golf Ranking, is a narrow betting preferred over the second-ranked McIlroy. He earned his first triumph of the season Might 4 at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson.
” I feel like my game is in a good spot,” Scheffler, who is searching for his very first PGA Championship crown, informed press reporters. “I think it would be silly to state I can’t ride a little bit of that momentum entering into this tournament.”
McIlroy connected for seventh Sunday at the Truist Championship, his second competition given that winning his first green jacket to complete a previously evasive career Grand Slam. He stated Wednesday that he has “attained whatever” he ever wished to carry out in golf, however still will set goals. He also said his Masters win “might be the highlight of my career.”
” I dreamed as a kid of ending up being the very best player in the world and winning all the majors,” McIlroy stated. “I have actually done that, so everything beyond this, for however long I choose to play the game competitively, is a bonus.”
No. 15 Bryson DeChambeau, No. 6 Ludvig Aberg and No. 3 Xander Schauffele are among the other anticipated contenders for the first-place cash prize, which is expected to eclipse last year’s $3.3 million overall.
McIlroy said his win last year at Quail Hollow– at the 2024 Wells Fargo Champion– was most likely his best golf of the season. The two-time PGA Championship winner likewise set the course record with a 61 throughout the third round of his win at the 2015 Wells Fargo Championship.
The 156-player field of the 2025 event consists of 13 PGA Championship winners, consisting of five multi-time champions. Schauffele, the safeguarding champion, shares a group with Scheffler and McIlroy. They will start the competition at 8:22 a.m. EDT Thursday on hole No. 10.
Brooks Koepka owns 3 of last seven PGA Champion titles. Justin Thomas, who is aiming for his 3rd PGA Champion title, won the last time competition was held at Quail Hollow (2017 ).
A minor chance of rain remains in the projection Friday and Saturday, however previous showers also might impact play. Scheffler, McIlroy and other elite golf players said today that the damp grounds need to prefer long drives and lead to use of larger clubs on the tee box.
The 7,626-yard course, which rests on 257 acres, has rolling hills, tree-lined fairways and raised putting surface areas. The grounds fall 80 feet from their highest point to a creek at their most affordable. Big greens, bunkers and trees will test the field throughout the weekend, while water functions are primarily prevalent on the back 9.
Luke Donald, Padraig Harrington and Martin Kaymer will tee off in the very first group at 7 a.m. Thursday on hole No. 1. Aberg, Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed will tee off at 1:25 p.m. on No. 1. DeChambeau, Viktor Hovland and Gary Forest will begin the preliminary at 1:47 p.m. on No. 1.
McIlroy leads the FedExCup standings, with 3 wins through eight occasions this season. He likewise made 5 Top 10 finishes. Sepp Straka, Thomas, Scheffler and Andre Novak also sit in the Leading 5 of the standings. Scheffler placed inside the Leading 10 in six of his nine events. He made one triumph.
” I’m playing with two guys that are playing some of the best golf in the world,” Scheffler stated. “Xander won 2 majors in 2015 and Rory already won a Players and the Masters this year, so he is playing some great golf.
” It ought to be a great deal of fun.”
How to enjoy
All times EDT
Thursday
First-round coverage from 7 a.m. to noon on ESPN+ and twelve noon to 7 p.m. on ESPN
Friday
Second-round coverage from 7 a.m. to twelve noon on ESPN+ and twelve noon to 7 p.m. on ESPN
Saturday
Third-round protection from 8 to 10 a.m. on ESPN+, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on ESPN and 1 to 7 p.m. on CBS and Paramount+
Sunday
Fourth-round protection from 8 to 10 a.m. on ESPN+, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on ESPN and 1 to 7 p.m. on CBS and Paramount+
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland commemorates after winning the 2025 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., on April 13, 2025. McIlroy beat Justin Rose of England in a sudden-death playoff and ends up being the 6th person to finish the career grand slam. Picture by John Angelillo/UPI|License Picture