CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Quail Hollow Club, one of the longest courses on the PGA Tour, is set to host the strongest field in men`s professional golf for this week`s PGA Championship, the second major tournament of the season.
Following his recent achievement at the Masters, where he became the sixth player to complete the career Grand Slam, Rory McIlroy could be the top player to watch at Quail Hollow, a venue where he has previously won four times. He aims to be the first golfer since Jack Nicklaus in 1975 to win both the Masters and the PGA Championship in the same year.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler recently secured his first victory of the season. Similarly, LIV Golf League standout Bryson DeChambeau is coming off a win and likely wants to improve on his Sunday performance at the Masters by claiming his third major title.
Defending PGA Championship winner Xander Schauffele`s momentum from winning two majors in 2024 was slowed by a rib injury. According to ESPN`s research, he is the only player who has finished in the top 10 in the last five major championships. He seeks to become the only golfer in the last 60 years to win his first three majors within a five-start span.
Here`s a breakdown of the 156-player field, categorized from leading favorites and strong contenders to hopefuls, former champions, and the 20 PGA of America club professionals.
Tier I: The clear favorites
Currently, the world`s top golfers appear to be setting their sights on challenges beyond just Scottie Scheffler, despite him being a slight betting favorite over Rory McIlroy this week. McIlroy might face the most scrutiny after his recent Masters victory and return to Quail Hollow Club, a course he particularly favors. In the last 70 years, only five players have captured the first two major championships of the season: Ben Hogan (1953), Arnold Palmer (1960), Jack Nicklaus (1972), Tiger Woods (2002), and Jordan Spieth (2015).
Rory McIlroy
The newest member of golf`s elite club returns to a venue that has been exceptionally kind to him. He is the sole four-time winner of the Wells Fargo Championship (now the Truist Championship) held at Quail Hollow. His victories include dominant performances, winning by five strokes in 2024, one stroke in 2021, seven in 2015, and four in 2010. In 2015, he set the course record with a 10-under 61. Notably, the course layout significantly benefits players who drive the ball long. McIlroy was averaging 317.5 yards off the tee heading into last week, ranking third in the field.
Scottie Scheffler
Few expected the world`s top-ranked golfer to go a whole season without a win. After securing nine victories globally in 2024, Scheffler earned his first title of the current season at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson on May 4th. He won convincingly by eight shots, matching the PGA Tour`s 72-hole scoring record at 31-under 253. Scheffler`s only previous competitive experience at Quail Hollow was during the 2022 Presidents Cup, where he finished with a 0-3-1 record in the U.S. team`s victory.
Tier II: The guys who can win
This group comprises other credible contenders for the Wanamaker Trophy on Sunday. They possess the necessary skills, resilience, and composure to navigate four rounds under pressure.
Xander Schauffele
The defending PGA Championship winner has a strong history at Quail Hollow, finishing as runner-up in his two most recent appearances, losing to Wyndham Clark by four strokes in 2023 and Rory McIlroy by five last season. Schauffele has been gradually regaining his form after a rib injury layoff. His recent performances have been encouraging, including a tie for 12th at the Valspar Championship, eighth at the Masters, 18th at the RBC Heritage, and 11th at the Truist Championship. A two-time major champion, he hits the ball sufficiently long off the tee and is recognized as one of the tour`s most skilled players with long irons.
Bryson DeChambeau
DeChambeau has a respectable record in the Wells Fargo Championship, finishing solo fourth in 2018 and tied for ninth in 2021. He came close to catching Schauffele in last year`s PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, ultimately finishing one stroke behind. Given DeChambeau`s formidable length off the tee (he averages 333.3 yards, leading the LIV Golf League) and his recent form (tied for fifth at the Masters and won the latest LIV Golf event in Korea), he is expected to be a strong contender in a major once again.
Justin Thomas
The two-time PGA Championship winner ended a winless drought of nearly three years by winning in a playoff at the RBC Heritage on April 20. He claimed his first Wanamaker Trophy with a two-stroke victory at Quail Hollow in 2017. Thomas is less likely to be significantly penalized for driving inaccuracy (57.8%) at this course, and his putting has been particularly effective throughout much of the season.
Collin Morikawa
A two-time runner-up already this season, Morikawa is under pressure to end his winless run (his last tour victory was at the Zozo Championship in October 2023). The 2020 PGA Championship winner tied for fourth place in the event last year.
Ludvig Åberg
The emerging star won a signature event at the Genesis Invitational and secured seventh place at the Masters. However, his season has also included two missed cuts and tied finishes of 54th at the RBC Heritage and 60th at the Truist Championship. His iron play and putting have been inconsistent, ranking 131st in strokes gained: approach (-.214) and 149th in putting (-.358).
Brooks Koepka
The five-time major champion hasn`t quite displayed his characteristic “Big-Game Brooks” form in majors since winning his third Wanamaker Trophy at the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club in Pittsford, New York. He has not finished within the top 15 in his last seven major starts, including missing the cut at the Masters this April.
Justin Rose
Rose is coming off narrow runner-up finishes at last year`s Open Championship and the Masters, where he lost to McIlroy in a playoff. At 44, he doesn`t drive the ball as far as he once did, but this hasn`t significantly impacted his performance – he has five consecutive top-15 finishes in the PGA Championship. Rose withdrew from the Truist Championship before the third round due to illness.
Jon Rahm
Rahm has consistently finished within the top 10 in all seven of his starts in the LIV Golf League this season, and he tied for 14th at the Masters. In the previous year`s PGA Championship, he was 4 over after just six holes but nearly recovered to make the cut. That was his first missed cut at a major since the 2019 PGA Championship.
Hideki Matsuyama
The 2021 Masters champion was in contention at the 2017 PGA Championship before carding four bogeys within six holes on the back nine. He earned his 11th PGA Tour victory at the Sentry in Hawai`i at the start of the season.
Viktor Hovland
Hovland, the 2023 FedEx Cup champion, appears to have resolved issues with his swing, demonstrated by his win at the Valspar Championship and ties for 21st at the Masters and 13th at the RBC Heritage. He previously tied for third at the 2021 Wells Fargo Championship, finishing two strokes behind McIlroy.
Joaquín Niemann
The highly talented Niemann is still seeking his first top-10 finish in a major championship. This will be his 24th start in one of golf`s four biggest events. He has already claimed three victories in the LIV Golf League this season.
Tyrrell Hatton
Hatton has performed well in the PGA Championship, recording five top-25 finishes, including two top-10s, in 10 starts. He has won two events on the DP World Tour since October: the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and the Hero Dubai Desert Classic.
Patrick Reed
Reed made a significant Sunday push to finish third at the Masters and is certainly capable of contending at Quail Hollow. In the 2017 PGA Championship, he birdied three holes on the back nine to get within one stroke of the lead, but a bogey on the final hole resulted in a tie for second, two strokes behind Thomas. Reed has also achieved top-10 finishes in two Wells Fargo Championship appearances, in 2018 and 2021.
Tommy Fleetwood
An 11-time winner worldwide, Fleetwood is still pursuing his first PGA Tour victory. He has finished in the top 25 in nine of his last 13 major starts.
Jordan Spieth
Spieth has the opportunity to join McIlroy in completing the career Grand Slam by winning a Claret Jug (The Open Championship trophy). Spieth won the Masters and U.S. Open in 2015 and The Open two years later. When Spieth congratulated McIlroy at last week`s Truist Championship, McIlroy reportedly told him he was next. Spieth`s response, as reported by Golf.com`s Jack Hirsh, was, “Yeah, at Rory McIlroy Country Club.” Spieth had a perfect 5-0-0 record at Quail Hollow during the 2022 Presidents Cup.
Patrick Cantlay
Cantlay has not won on the PGA Tour in over two years and is still looking for his first major championship title. His driving and iron play have been strong enough to win this season; he ranks ninth in strokes gained: tee to green (1.111).
Shane Lowry
The Irishman`s most significant major opportunity will come in July when The Open returns to Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, where he lifted the Claret Jug in 2019. He has maintained consistent strong play throughout the season, including a tie for second at the Truist Championship.
Russell Henley
While Henley may not be among the longest hitters off the tee, his accuracy, exceptional iron play, and reliable putting contributed to his tie for 10th place in the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship.
Wyndham Clark
Clark`s results in major championships have been inconsistent since his unexpected victory at the 2023 U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club, and his form has fluctuated this season. Nonetheless, he hits the ball exceptionally far off the tee and won the Wells Fargo Championship two years ago.
Jason Day
Day won the PGA Championship in 2015 at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin and the Wells Fargo Championship in 2018. He tied for fourth place at Quail Hollow last year. Day withdrew from last week`s Truist Championship for undisclosed reasons.
Tier III: If everything goes right
This category includes potential dark horse candidates to win the PGA Championship. This tier features several past major champions, winners on tour this season, and players who have shown signs of strong comebacks.
Sungjae Im
Although Im has missed the cut in four of his last five PGA Championship appearances, he has achieved top-10 finishes in his two most recent majors, tying for seventh at the 2024 Open Championship and fifth at the Masters. He also recorded top-10 finishes in his last two starts at Quail Hollow.
Keegan Bradley
The captain of the U.S. Ryder Cup team, who won the PGA Championship in 2011, had a strong start to the season on the West Coast and tied for fifth at the Arnold Palmer Invitational before missing the cut at Augusta National. He has made the cut in nine of his last 10 starts in the PGA Championship.
Harris English
The five-time PGA Tour winner has historically found more success in the U.S. Open, but Quail Hollow seems to suit his game. He tied for third place at 12 under in the 2023 Wells Fargo Championship.
Sepp Straka
Straka had a breakthrough performance in a major with a tie for seventh at the 2023 PGA Championship. He also tied for eighth at Quail Hollow last year. He is coming off his fourth career PGA Tour victory at the Truist Championship. The question is whether he can secure back-to-back wins.
Maverick McNealy
The recently appointed co-chairman of the PGA Tour Player Advisory Council holds a degree in management science and engineering. He also possesses a remarkably smooth swing.
Thomas Detry
Detry tied for fourth at last year`s PGA Championship, marking his best finish in a major. This event will be his first professional competition at Quail Hollow.
Rasmus Højgaard
A PGA Tour rookie this season, Højgaard has won five times on the DP World Tour, including the Irish Open in September. He and his identical twin brother, Nicolai, finished second in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans team event. Rasmus is currently second in the European Ryder Cup team standings, trailing only McIlroy.
Brian Harman
After a slow start to the season, Harman achieved his fourth PGA Tour victory at the Valero Texas Open on April 20. He tied for 13th place in the 2017 PGA Championship.
Robert MacIntyre
MacIntyre`s tie for eighth place at last year`s PGA Championship provided a significant boost, helping him overcome a period of homesickness. It likely contributed to his subsequent victories at the RBC Canadian Open and the Genesis Scottish Open.
Corey Conners
The Canadian golfer has finished in the top 10 in two of the last three major championships, tying for ninth at the 2024 U.S. Open and eighth at the Masters. He has also finished in the top 15 in his last two starts in the Wells Fargo Championship.
Andrew Novak
The 30-year-old is currently playing the best golf of his professional career and earned his first PGA Tour victory alongside Ben Griffin at the Zurich Classic. This will be only his second appearance in a major.
Sam Burns
Burns seems to have overcome his struggles in major championships, evidenced by his tie for ninth place in the 2024 U.S. Open. He also tied for 13th in the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship.
Cameron Smith
Another former major champion with limited history at Quail Hollow, Smith has recently shown improved form in the LIV Golf League, with three consecutive top-10 finishes.
Min Woo Lee
It might be time for Lee to produce a strong performance in a major again. He missed the cut at The Open in 2024 and finished 49th at the Masters.
Daniel Berger
Berger, who dealt with a back injury for much of the previous two seasons, is scheduled to return to the PGA Championship for the first time since missing the cut in 2022.
Michael Kim
Kim`s remarkable comeback from significant struggles in his golf career continues. He tied for 27th at Augusta National, marking his first made cut in a major since tying for 35th at The Open in 2018. Kim withdrew from the Truist Championship during the third round due to a back injury.
Max Homa
Few golfers have grappled with their form or confidence as much as Homa over the past year. Despite this, he is a two-time winner of the Wells Fargo Championship (in 2019 and 2022) and seemed to make progress during his tie for 12th place at the Masters.
Matt Fitzpatrick
The former U.S. Open champion recently described his performance this season as “rubbish” and the “worst I`ve ever played.” His past results at Quail Hollow have also not been particularly strong.
Nicolai Højgaard
Højgaard`s recent form in stroke-play events has been poor, including four consecutive missed cuts and a tie for 56th at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. He is currently 33rd in the European Ryder Cup team standings and needs improved results to qualify for the team.
Byeong Hun An
The South Korean golfer could be a surprise contender for a top-10 finish this season. He won the Genesis Championship on the DP World Tour in October and finished solo third in the Wells Fargo Championship last year.
Dustin Johnson
Johnson`s five-year exemption into the PGA Championship from winning the 2020 Masters has expired, requiring him to receive a special invitation to enter the field. He is currently 28th in the LIV Golf season-long points standings.
Sahith Theegala
High expectations were placed on Theegala this season, but he has not achieved a top-15 finish in his first 13 tour starts. He is facing challenges with both approaches (-.358, 148th) and driving (-.135, 132nd). He withdrew from the Truist Championship in the final round due to a neck injury.
Gary Woodland
Woodland`s inspiring comeback from brain surgery remains one of the most compelling stories in the sport. He has achieved two top-10 finishes at Quail Hollow and continues to drive the ball with significant power (313.3 yards).
Akshay Bhatia
Bhatia seems poised for a breakthrough performance in a major championship soon. He tied for third place at The Players Championship, another significant event.
Tom Kim
The South Korean golfer returns to Quail Hollow, where he captured the appreciation of spectators with his energy and bold play during the 2022 Presidents Cup.
Will Zalatoris
Zalatoris is still working to rediscover his form after recovering from back surgery. His world ranking has dropped to 74th.
Nick Taylor
Taylor ended a streak of nine consecutive missed cuts in majors by tying for 40th at the Masters. The Canadian golfer has won three times on tour in the past three years.
Si Woo Kim
Kim has shown improved form after missing three cuts in four events. He tied for eighth place at the RBC Heritage and 15th at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson.
Keith Mitchell
Mitchell struggled last fall, ending the year with four straight missed cuts. He has since recorded five consecutive top-25 finishes, including a tie for second in the Corales Puntacana Championship, and held the outright lead at last week`s Truist Championship. He also has two top-10 finishes at Quail Hollow on his record.
Sergio Garcia
Garcia last made the cut in the PGA Championship when he tied for 54th in 2015. He has three top-10 finishes in the LIV Golf League this season and has finished within the top 25 in his last three appearances at Quail Hollow.
Aaron Rai
Rai is known for hitting the ball exceptionally straight off the tee and with irons. However, he doesn`t possess significant distance (286.6 yards, 174th in driving distance) and has missed the cut in his two most recent starts at Quail Hollow.
Adam Scott
The 2013 Masters champion has 20 top-10 finishes in 95 career major starts, but only one in the last 21. He has missed the cut in three of his last four PGA Championship appearances.
Tony Finau
Finau was previously a consistent top-10 performer in major championships, but he has achieved only one (a tie for third at the 2024 U.S. Open) in his last 15 starts.
Mackenzie Hughes
Local knowledge could be an advantage for Hughes, who lives near Quail Hollow Club. He tied for ninth in the 2022 Wells Fargo Championship and sixth last year.
Lucas Glover
After solid performances in Florida (tying for third at The Players and eighth at the Valspar Championship), Glover has struggled in recent weeks. He won the Wells Fargo Championship in a playoff in 2011 and finished as runner-up two years prior.
Tier IV: Hey, miracles happen
These are the long shot candidates. For someone from this tier to win, everything would need to align perfectly over the four days of competition at Quail Hollow Club. However, the Wanamaker Trophy has been lifted by more than a few unexpected winners in the past, including Y.E. Yang, Shaun Micheel, and Rich Beem. It is certainly possible.
This group includes players like J.T. Poston, Bud Cauley, J.J. Spaun, Phil Mickelson, Rickie Fowler, Sam Stevens, David Puig, Jake Knapp, Patrick Rodgers, Taylor Pendrith, Denny McCarthy, Tom Hoge, Eric Cole, Austin Eckroat, Garrick Higgo, Ryo Hisatsune, Nico Echavarria, Matt McCarty, Ryan Fox, Davis Thompson, Davis Riley, Cam Davis, Ben Griffin, Joe Highsmith, Jacob Bridgeman, Nick Dunlap, Kurt Kitayama, Adam Hadwin, Lee Hodges, Taylor Moore, Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Cameron Young, Matt Wallace, Chris Kirk, Dean Burmester, Brian Campbell, Max Greyserman, Laurie Canter, Stephan Jager, Eugenio Chacarra, Thorbjørn Olesen, Karl Vilips, Matthieu Pavon, and Thriston Lawrence, Erik van Rooyen.
Rickie Fowler had dropped to 125th in the world rankings and needed a special invitation from the PGA of America to enter the field. This seemed to motivate him at last week`s Truist Championship, where he was just two strokes off the lead after 18 holes. One of his six PGA Tour victories occurred at the 2012 Wells Fargo Championship, where he defeated D.A. Points and McIlroy in a playoff.
Phil Mickelson will turn 55 next month, suggesting his peak golf years are likely behind him. However, he became the oldest major champion in history when he surprisingly won the 2021 PGA Championship at Kiawah Island, South Carolina. He has 10 top-10 finishes in 17 appearances at Quail Hollow, including a tie for fifth in 2018. Among players with at least 20 rounds played there, “Lefty” ranks third in true strokes gained (2.10), behind only McIlroy (2.87) and Day (2.12), according to datagolf.com.
It`s worth noting that Campbell, Highsmith, Vilips, Higgo, and Griffin have already won PGA Tour events this season.
Tier V: Happy to make the cut
This category consists of golfers who may be past their prime, striving to maintain their tour status, and several newcomers aiming to gain more opportunities on tour. They are not expected to compete for the title unless an extraordinary event occurs, reminiscent of Shaun Micheel`s unexpected victory over two decades ago.
This tier includes Alex Noren, Tom McKibbin, Richard Bland, Patton Kizzire, Harry Hall, John Catlin, Johnny Keefer, Séamus Power, Luke Donald, Ryan Gerard, Beau Hossler, Justin Lower, Kevin Yu, Jhonattan Vegas, Max McGreevy, Rafael Campos, Sami Välimäki, Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen, Keita Nakajima, Niklas Norgaard, Patrick Fishburn, Daniel van Tonder, John Parry, Rico Hoey, Takumi Kanaya, Elvis Smylie, Victor Perez, and Marco Penge.
Alex Noren, who tied for 12th in last year`s PGA Championship, did not make his first start of 2025 until last week`s Truist Championship. He was dealing with injuries including a neck issue and hamstring and glute tears.
At 52, Richard Bland is the second-oldest competitor in the LIV Golf League. He is still performing respectably, ranking 17th in points and finishing within the top 12 in his last two events.
Tom McKibbin, 22, played at the same golf club in Northern Ireland as Rory McIlroy. He reportedly disregarded McIlroy`s advice when he chose to join Jon Rahm`s Legion XIII GC team. He is one of the longest drivers in the LIV Golf League, averaging 322.2 yards, but has experienced significant difficulty with his putting.
Tier VI: Past champions
This group features former PGA Championship winners who are not included in the tiers above. Past champions receive a lifetime exemption into the major. Historically, this list has included winners like John Daly (1991) and Rich Beem (2002), as well as Tiger Woods, who is currently recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon in his left leg.
The past champions in this tier are Martin Kaymer, Jimmy Walker, Jason Dufner, Padraig Harrington, Vijay Singh, and Shaun Micheel.
John Daly is skipping the PGA Championship to participate in the Regions Tradition in Birmingham, Alabama, which is the first major on the PGA Tour Champions circuit. Daly withdrew from last year`s PGA Championship after shooting an 11-over 82 in the first round.
Rich Beem mentioned to the Associated Press that he hasn`t had sufficient time to prepare due to his role as an analyst for Sky Sports at major tournaments. Beem missed the cut last year after a score of 20 over through the first 36 holes, admitting he “got his butt handed to him.”
Tier VII: PGA of America professionals
These players represent the top 20 finishers from the PGA Professional Championship, held at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida, from April 27-30.
The group includes Tyler Collet, Jesse Droemer, Brian Bergstol, Michael Block, Dylan Newman, Brandon Bingaman, Ryan Lenahan, Andre Chi, John Somers, Justin Hicks, Rupe Taylor, Tom Johnson, Nic Ishee, Eric Steger, Bob Sowards, Bobby Gates, Greg Koch, Timothy Wiseman, Larkin Gross, and Michael Kartrude.
This list notably features Michael Block, who became a sensation at the 2023 PGA Championship with a hole-in-one in the final round and tied for 15th place at 1-over 281. This was the best finish by a club professional at the PGA Championship since Lonnie Nielsen tied for 11th in 1986.
Tyler Collet, from Vero Beach, Florida, dominated the PGA Professional Championship field, winning by a remarkable 10 strokes, the largest margin of victory in the event`s history. This will be Collet`s fourth appearance in the PGA Championship. He played college golf at Eastern Kentucky University.
