The 2025 PGA Championship is set to unfold starting May 15 at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina. This marks the second time the storied venue will host the PGA, having previously done so in 2017 where Justin Thomas won his maiden major title.
All eyes are on Rory McIlroy, who heads to the course with both the biggest personal golfing milestone behind him and a deep connection to the Charlotte gem.
McIlroy's affinity for Quail Hollow is well-documented.
He has won the former Wells Fargo Championship four times – while no other golfer has won it more than twice – including in 2024. His 2015 performance remains particularly memorable, as he set a tournament record with a 21-under-par finish. After his win a year ago, McIlroy said, "I feel like these people have sort of watched me grow up from winning here as a 20-year-old to being the ripe old age of 35 now.”
And now there’s a chance for that group to watch him secure another piece of history.
Quail Hollow Club, established in 1959 and designed by George Cobb, is renowned for its challenging layout. The par-71 course stretches over 7,600 yards and features the infamous "Green Mile" – holes 16 through 18 – which are known for their difficulty and have often been pivotal.
The course underwent significant renovations in 2016 under Tom Fazio, enhancing its complexity and appeal to the PGA Tour’s best.
McIlroy's recent victory at the 2025 Masters completed his career Grand Slam, a feat achieved by only a select few in golf history. This monumental win has seemingly lifted a weight off his shoulders, allowing him to approach the PGA Championship with renewed freedom and confidence.
The familiar terrain of Quail Hollow, combined with his current form, positions McIlroy as a strong contender, but only three golfers in history have managed to win the Masters and the PGA Championship in the same year, however – Sam Snead (1949), Jack Burke Jr. (1956), and Jack Nicklaus (1963, 1975).
While McIlroy will garner significant attention, several other golfers arrive at Quail Hollow very firmly in the mix to win another major.
- Xander Schauffele: The defending PGA Champion, Schauffele secured his first major title in 2024 at Valhalla. Notably, he has finished second at Quail Hollow in the past two Wells Fargo Championships. He also won The Open Championship last year after breaking through for his first major win at the PGA.
- Scottie Scheffler: The current World No. 1, Scheffler, is entering the PGA Championship fresh off a dominating victory at The CJ Cup Byron Nelson, where he finished 31-under par for the week.
- Bryson DeChambeau: DeChambeau's recent triumph at LIV Golf Korea, where he finished 19-under-par, signals a return to form. He finished runner up to Schauffele last year.
- Jordan Spieth: Spieth seems to have found a little something, and a little momentum, of late. Spieth has four straight top-20 finishes and will head to Charlotte where he will try to complete the grand slam.
There are five Canadians in the field at the second major of the year, led by the country’s top-ranked golfer, Corey Conners.
Conners, No. 22 in the world, comes into the week after his tremendous Masters where he finished tied for eighth. He was in the second-to-last pairing on both Saturday (where he was paired with McIlroy) and Sunday. It was his fifth top-10 finish of the season.
Conners is joined by Nick Taylor, Taylor Pendrith, Adam Hadwin, and Mackenzie Hughes – the latter two are making their major debuts in 2025. Of note on Hughes, he is actually a member of Quail Hollow and lives just down the street from the course.
With McIlroy aiming to capitalize on his recent Masters victory and his strong history at Quail Hollow, plenty of the game’s best already in peak form, and a whole handful of Canadians ready to make some major noise, the 2025 PGA Championship is set to be another thrilling one.