CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The strongest area in males’s skilled golf is headed to Quail Hole Membership, one of many longest golf programs on the PGA Tour, for this week’s PGA Championship, the second main of the season.
Rory McIlroy, who lastly achieved {golfing} immortality on the Masters final month by turning into the sixth golfer to finish the profession Grand Slam, is likely to be the one to beat at Quail Hole, the place he has gained 4 instances. He’ll attempt to turn out to be the primary participant to win the Masters and PGA Championship in the identical yr since Jack Nicklaus in 1975.
World No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler is coming off his first victory of the season, as is LIV Golf League star Bryson DeChambeau, who would in all probability prefer to erase his Sunday fade on the Masters by capturing his third main championship.
Defending PGA Championship winner Xander Schauffele was slowed by a rib damage after claiming two majors in 2024. In response to ESPN Analysis, he’s the one golfer who completed within the prime 10 in every of the previous 5 majors and can look to turn out to be the one participant up to now 60 years to win his first three majors in a five-start stretch.
Here is a take a look at the 156-player area, from the favorites and guys who can win to the previous champions and 20 PGA of America membership professionals:
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The clear favorites | Guys who can win | If all the pieces goes proper
Miracles occur | Completely satisfied to make the reduce | Previous champions | PGA professionals
Tier I: The clear favorites
The perfect golfers on the planet are not chasing Scottie Scheffler anymore — regardless that he is a slight betting favourite over Rory McIlroy heading into the week. The most important goal is likely to be on McIlroy’s again after he gained an elusive inexperienced jacket on the Masters and heads to Quail Hole Membership, certainly one of his favourite golf programs on the planet. Up to now 70 years, solely 5 golfers have gained the primary two majors of the season: Ben Hogan (1953), Arnold Palmer (1960), Jack Nicklaus (1972), Tiger Woods (2002) and Jordan Spieth (2015).
Rory McIlroy
The latest member {of professional} golf’s most unique membership is returning to what has been his glad place. He’s the one four-time winner of the Wells Fargo Championship (now the Truist Championship) at Quail Hole Membership. He gained by 5 strokes in 2024, one in 2021, seven in 2015 and 4 in 2010. He set the course file with a 10-under 61 in 2015. Did I point out the course favors massive hitters off the tee? McIlroy was averaging 317.5 yards heading into final week, third within the area.
Scottie Scheffler
You did not assume the world No. 1 golfer would go a complete season with out a victory, did you? After successful 9 instances all over the world in 2024, Scheffler picked up his first victory on the CJ Cup Byron Nelson on Might 4, successful by a whopping eight photographs and tying the PGA Tour 72-hole scoring file at 31-under 253. Scheffler’s solely earlier competitors at Quail Hole was the 2022 Presidents Cup; he went 0-3-1 within the U.S. crew’s 17½-12½ victory.
Tier II: The blokes who can win
Listed here are the opposite authentic contenders to win the Wanamaker Trophy on Sunday. They’ve the video games, guts and nerves to deal with 4 pressure-packed rounds.
Xander Schauffele
The defending PGA Championship winner was runner-up in his previous two begins at Quail Hole, shedding to Wyndham Clark by 4 strokes in 2023 and to McIlroy by 5 final season. Schauffele is slowly working his method again into type since being sidelined with a rib damage. His current outcomes have been encouraging — he tied for twelfth on the Valspar Championship, eighth on the Masters, 18th on the RBC Heritage and eleventh on the Truist Championship. The 2-time main championship winner hits it far sufficient off the tee and is likely one of the higher gamers on tour with a protracted iron in his fingers.
Bryson DeChambeau
DeChambeau had a reasonably good observe file within the Wells Fargo Championship, ending solo fourth in 2018 and tying for ninth in 2021. He practically chased down Schauffele in final yr’s PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Membership in Louisville, Kentucky, shedding by one stroke. Given DeChambeau’s size off the tee (he leads the LIV Golf League with a 333.3-yard common) and up to date type (he tied for fifth on the Masters and gained the newest LIV Golf occasion, in Korea), DeChambeau needs to be again within the combine at a serious.
Justin Thomas
The 2-time PGA Championship winner ended his practically three-year winless drought with a playoff win on the RBC Heritage on April 20. He captured his first Wanamaker Trophy with a two-stroke victory at Quail Hole in 2017. Thomas will not be penalized as a lot for his inaccuracy off the tee (57.8%), and his putter has been scorching for a lot of the season.
Collin Morikawa
A two-time runner-up this season, Morikawa is on the clock to finish his winless streak (his final victory on tour got here on the Zozo Championship in October 2023). The 2020 PGA Championship winner tied for fourth within the occasion final yr.
Ludvig Åberg
The budding celebrity gained a signature occasion on the Genesis Invitational and was seventh on the Masters, however he additionally had a pair of missed cuts and tied for 54th on the RBC Heritage and for sixtieth on the Truist Championship. His iron play and work on greens have been suspect; he is 131st in strokes gained: method (-.214) and 149th in placing (-.358).
Brooks Koepka
The five-time main champion has hardly performed like “Massive-Sport Brooks” in majors since amassing his third Wanamaker Trophy within the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill Nation Membership in Pittsford, New York. He hasn’t completed within the prime 15 in his previous seven begins in majors, together with a missed reduce on the Masters this April.
Justin Rose
Rose is coming off heartbreaking runner-up finishes eventually yr’s Open Championship and the Masters, the place he misplaced to McIlroy in a playoff. The 44-year-old does not hit as far off the tee as he as soon as did, however that hasn’t affected his play an excessive amount of — he has 5 straight top-15 finishes within the PGA Championship. Rose withdrew from the Truist Championship with an sickness earlier than the third spherical.
Jon Rahm
Rahm hasn’t completed outdoors the highest 10 in seven begins within the LIV Golf League this season, and he tied for 14th on the Masters. In final yr’s PGA Championship, he was 4 over after six holes and practically battled again to make the reduce. It was his first missed reduce at a serious for the reason that 2019 PGA Championship.
Hideki Matsuyama
The 2021 Masters champion was in rivalry on the 2017 PGA Championship earlier than he carded 4 bogeys in six holes on the again 9. He collected his eleventh PGA Tour victory on the Sentry in Hawai’i within the season opener.
Viktor Hovland
Hovland, the 2023 FedEx Cup champion, appears to have found out his swing after successful the Valspar Championship, tying for twenty first on the Masters and thirteenth on the RBC Heritage. He tied for third on the 2021 Wells Fargo Championship, two strokes behind McIlroy.
Joaquín Niemann
Extremely-talented Niemann remains to be looking for his first top-10 end in a serious in what will likely be his twenty fourth begin within the massive 4. He has already gained thrice within the LIV Golf League this season.
Tyrrell Hatton
Hatton has carried out effectively within the PGA Championship with 5 top-25s, together with two top-10s, in 10 begins. He has completed first in two occasions on the DP World Tour since October, the Alfred Dunhill Hyperlinks Championship and Hero Dubai Desert Traditional.
Patrick Reed
Reed made a Sunday cost to complete third on the Masters, and he is greater than able to getting within the combine at Quail Hole. Within the 2017 PGA Championship, he made three birdies on the again 9 to get inside one shot of the lead, however a bogey on the final gap left him in a tie for second, two strokes behind Thomas. Reed had top-10s in two of his begins on the Wells Fargo Championship, in 2018 and 2021.
Tommy Fleetwood
An 11-time winner all over the world, Fleetwood remains to be searching for his first PGA Tour victory. He completed within the prime 25 in 9 of his previous 13 begins in majors.
Jordan Spieth
Spieth can be a part of McIlroy in finishing the profession Grand Slam by successful a Claret Jug. Spieth gained the Masters and U.S. Open in 2015 and The Open two years later. When Spieth congratulated McIlroy eventually week’s Truist Championship, McIlroy advised him he was subsequent. Spieth’s response, in line with Golf.com’s Jack Hirsh, “Yeah, at Rory McIlroy Nation Membership.” Spieth went 5-0-0 at Quail Hole within the 2022 Presidents Cup.
Patrick Cantlay
Cantlay hasn’t gained on tour in additional than two years and remains to be looking for his first main championship victory. His driving and iron play — he is ninth in strokes gained: tee to inexperienced (1.111) — have been adequate to win this season.
Shane Lowry
The Irishman’s greatest main championship will are available in July when The Open returns to Royal Portrush in Northern Eire, the place he hoisted a Claret Jug in 2019. He has performed persistently effectively all season, together with a tie for second on the Truist Championship.
Russell Henley
Henley won’t hit the ball far sufficient off the tee, however his driving accuracy, spectacular iron play and strong placing helped him tie for tenth within the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship.
Wyndham Clark
Clark’s ends in majors have not been nice since he unexpectedly gained the 2023 U.S. Open at Los Angeles Nation Membership, and his type has been up and down all season. Nonetheless, he bombs the ball off the tee and gained the Wells Fargo Championship two years in the past.
Jason Day
Day gained the 2015 PGA Championship at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin and the 2018 Wells Fargo Championship. He tied for fourth at Quail Hole final yr. Day withdrew from final week’s Truist Championship for unspecified causes.
Tier III: If all the pieces goes proper
Listed here are the sleeper candidates to win the PGA Championship. This tier features a few earlier main champions, winners on tour this season and a handful of gamers who’ve made comebacks this season.
Sungjae Im
Im missed the reduce in 4 of his previous 5 begins within the PGA Championship, however completed within the prime 10 up to now two majors, tying for seventh on the 2024 Open Championship and fifth on the Masters. He had prime 10s in his previous two begins at Quail Hole.
Keegan Bradley
The U.S. Ryder Cup crew captain, who gained the 2011 PGA Championship, had a pleasant begin on the West Coast and tied for fifth on the Arnold Palmer Invitational earlier than lacking the reduce at Augusta Nationwide. He made the reduce in 9 of his previous 10 begins within the PGA Championship.
Harris English
The five-time PGA Tour winner has loved extra success within the U.S. Open, however Quail Hole has suited his eye. He tied for third at 12 beneath within the 2023 Wells Fargo Championship.
Sepp Straka
Straka’s breakthrough in a serious got here with a tie for seventh on the 2023 PGA Championship. He tied for eighth at Quail Hole final yr. He is coming off his fourth profession PGA Tour victory on the Truist Championship. Can he win two weeks in a row?
Maverick McNealy
The brand new co-chairman of the PGA Tour Participant Advisory Council has a level in administration science and engineering. He has a reasonably candy swing, too.
Thomas Detry
Detry tied for fourth eventually yr’s PGA Championship, his finest end in a serious. It is going to be his first skilled occasion at Quail Hole.
Rasmus Højgaard
A PGA Tour rookie this season, Højgaard gained 5 instances on the DP World Tour, together with the Irish Open in September. He and his equivalent twin brother, Nicolai, completed second within the Zurich Traditional of New Orleans crew occasion. Rasmus is second within the European Ryder Cup crew standings, behind solely McIlroy.
Brian Harman
After a gradual begin to the season, Harman picked up his fourth PGA Tour victory on the Valero Texas Open on April 20. He tied for thirteenth within the 2017 PGA Championship.
Robert MacIntyre
MacIntyre’s tie for eighth eventually yr’s PGA Championship bought him out of the dumps from being homesick. It in all probability propelled him to 2 victories on the RBC Canadian Open and the Genesis Scottish Open, too.
Corey Conners
The Canadian golfer completed within the prime 10 in two of the previous three majors — he tied for ninth on the 2024 U.S. Open and eighth on the Masters. He completed within the prime 15 in his previous two begins within the Wells Fargo Championship.
Andrew Novak
The 30-year-old is enjoying one of the best golf of his skilled profession and picked up his first PGA Tour victory with Ben Griffin within the Zurich Traditional. It is solely his second begin in a serious.
Sam Burns
Burns appeared to interrupt the glass on his struggles in majors by tying for ninth within the 2024 U.S. Open. He tied for thirteenth within the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship.
Cameron Smith
One other former main champion with out a lot of a historical past at Quail Hole, Smith has performed higher within the LIV Golf League not too long ago with three straight top-10 finishes.
Min Woo Lee
It is time for Lee to warmth up at a serious once more. He missed the reduce at The Open in 2024 and was forty ninth on the Masters.
Daniel Berger
Berger, who battled a again damage for a lot of the earlier two seasons, is ready to return to the PGA Championship for the primary time since lacking the reduce in 2022.
Michael Kim
Kim’s exceptional comeback from golf’s abyss continues; he tied for twenty seventh at Augusta Nationwide, his first made reduce in a serious since tying for thirty fifth at The Open in 2018. Kim withdrew from the Truist in the course of the third spherical due to a again damage
Max Homa
Few golfers have struggled with their type or confidence as a lot as Homa over the previous yr. Nonetheless, he is a two-time winner of the Wells Fargo Championship in 2019 and 2022, and he appeared to determine some issues when he tied for twelfth on the Masters.
Matt Fitzpatrick
The previous US. Open champion not too long ago known as his efficiency this season “garbage” and the “worst I’ve ever performed, in actual fact.” His previous outcomes at Quail Hole have not been nice, both.
Nicolai Højgaard
Højgaard’s current type in stroke-play occasions hasn’t been nice — he missed 4 straight cuts and tied for 56th on the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. He is thirty third within the European Ryder Cup crew standings and wishes to show issues round to get again on the squad.
Byeong Hun An
The South Korean golfer is likely to be a sneaky choose for a top-10 end this season. He gained the Genesis Championship on the DP World Tour in October and was solo third within the Wells Fargo Championship final yr.
Dustin Johnson
Johnson’s five-year exemption into the PGA Championship for successful the 2020 Masters expired, so he wanted a particular invitation into the sector. He is twenty eighth within the LIV Golf season-long factors standings.
Sahith Theegala
Massive issues had been anticipated from Theegala this season, however he did not have a top-15 end in his first 13 begins on tour. He is coping with a double whammy of misses; he’s 148th in strokes gained: method (-.358) and 132nd off the tee (-.135). He withdrew from the Truist Championship within the ultimate spherical due to a neck damage.
Gary Woodland
Woodland’s exceptional comeback from mind surgical procedure stays top-of-the-line tales within the sport. He had a pair of prime 10s at Quail Hole and remains to be swinging arduous off the tee (313.3 yards).
Akshay Bhatia
The swap goes to click on in a serious for Bhatia quickly. He tied for third on the Gamers Championship, one other massive occasion.
Tom Kim
The South Korean golfer returns to Quail Hole, the place he gained over the galleries along with his enthusiasm and daring play on the 2022 Presidents Cup.
Will Zalatoris
Zalatoris remains to be looking for solutions after recovering from again surgical procedure. He has fallen to 74th on the planet rankings.
Nick Taylor
Taylor ended a string of 9 straight missed cuts in majors by tying for fortieth on the Masters. The Canadian golfer has gained thrice on tour in as a few years.
Si Woo Kim
Kim has turned issues round after lacking three cuts in 4 occasions. He tied for eighth on the RBC Heritage and fifteenth on the CJ Cup Byron Nelson.
Keith Mitchell
Mitchell struggled final fall, ending the yr with 4 straight missed cuts. He has collected 5 straight prime 25s, together with a tie for second within the Corales Puntacana Championship, and had the outright lead eventually week’s Truist Championship in Philadelphia. He has a pair of prime 10s at Quail Hole on his résumé, too.
Sergio Garcia
Garcia final made the reduce within the PGA Championship when he tied for 54th in 2015. He has three prime 10s within the LIV Golf League this season and had top-25 finishes in his previous three begins at Quail Hole.
Aaron Rai
Rai hits the ball exceptionally straight with a driver or irons. He does not hit it that far off the tee — he is 174th in driving distance (286.6 yards) — and missed the reduce in his previous two begins at Quail Hole.
Adam Scott
The 2013 Masters champion has 20 prime 10s in 95 profession begins in majors — however only one up to now 21. He missed the reduce in three of his previous 4 begins within the PGA Championship.
Tony Finau
Finau was as soon as a constant top-10 participant within the majors, however he has only one (tie for third on the 2024 U.S. Open) in his previous 15 begins.
Mackenzie Hughes
If familiarity issues, Hughes is likely to be a sleeper choose. Hughes lives down the street from Quail Hole Membership, the place he tied for ninth within the 2022 Wells Fargo Championship and sixth final yr.
Lucas Glover
After a few good performances in Florida (tie for third on the Gamers and eighth on the Valspar Championship), Glover has struggled the previous few weeks. He gained the 2011 Wells Fargo Championship in a playoff and was runner-up two years earlier.
Tier IV: Hey, miracles occur
They’re the lengthy photographs. Every thing must fall completely in place over 72 holes in 4 days at Quail Hole Membership for somebody from this tier to win. There have been various underdogs who’ve hoisted the Wanamaker Trophy. Bear in mind Y.E. Yang, Shaun Micheel and Wealthy Beem? It may be finished.
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 Younger
Matt Wallace
Chris Kirk
Dean Burmester
Brian Campbell
Max Greyserman
Laurie Canter
Stephan Jager
Eugenio Chacarra
Thorbjørn Olesen
Karl Vilips
Matthieu Pavon
Thriston Lawrence
Erik van Rooyen
Fowler had slipped to a hundred and twenty fifth on the planet rankings and wanted a particular invitation from the PGA of America to get within the area. That appeared to encourage him in final week’s Truist Championship — he was solely two strokes off the lead after 18 holes. One in all his six PGA Tour victories got here on the 2012 Wells Fargo Championship when he defeated D.A. Factors and McIlroy in a playoff.
Mickelson turns 55 subsequent month, and his finest golf might be within the rear-view mirror. He grew to become golf’s oldest main champion when he surprised the game by capturing the 2021 PGA Championship at Kiawah Island, South Carolina. He had 10 prime 10s in 17 begins at Quail Hole, together with a tie for fifth in 2018. Amongst golfers with a minimum of 20 rounds there, “Lefty” ranks third in true strokes gained (2.10), behind solely McIlroy (2.87) and Day (2.12), in line with datagolf.com.
Campbell, Highsmith, Vilips, Higgo and Griffin have already gained PGA Tour occasions this season.
Tier V: Completely satisfied to make the reduce
This group features a few ageing golfers who’re making an attempt to hold on to their playing cards, and several other newcomers who’re trying to get extra entry to the tour. They don’t seem to be anticipated to be among the many contenders until one thing really magical occurs, prefer it did for Micheel greater than 20 years in the past.
Alex Noren
Tom McKibbin
Richard Bland
Patton Kizzire
Harry Corridor
John Catlin
Johnny Keefer
Séamus Energy
Luke Donald
Ryan Gerard
Beau Hossler
Justin Decrease
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
Marco Penge
Noren, who tied for twelfth in final yr’s PGA Championship, did not make his first begin of 2025 till final week’s Truist Championship. He was coping with a neck damage and hamstring and glute tears.
At 52, Bland is the second-oldest golfer within the LIV Golf League. He is nonetheless enjoying fairly effectively — he was seventeenth in factors and completed within the prime 12 up to now two occasions.
McKibbin, 22, performed on the identical golf membership as McIlroy as soon as did in Northern Eire. He ignored McIlroy’s recommendation when he signed up with Rahm’s Legion XIII GC squad. He is one of many longest hitters within the LIV Golf League with a driving common of 322.2 yards however has struggled mightily along with his putter.
Tier VI: Previous champions
These are previous PGA Championship winners who aren’t included within the tiers above. Previous champions obtain a lifetime exemption into the key. The listing included 1991 winner John Daly and 2002 winner Wealthy Been up to now, in addition to Tiger Woods, who’s recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon in his left leg.
Martin Kaymer
Jimmy Walker
Jason Dufner
Padraig Harrington
Vijay Singh
Shaun Micheel
Daly is skipping the PGA Championship to compete within the Areas Custom in Birmingham, Alabama, which is the primary main on the PGA Tour Champions circuit. Daly withdrew from final yr’s PGA Championship after carding an 11-over 82 within the first spherical.
Beem advised the Related Press that he hasn’t had sufficient time to organize as a result of he is working as an analyst for Sky Sports activities at massive tournaments. Beem missed the reduce after going 20 over within the first 36 holes and admitted he “bought my [butt] handed to me final yr.”
Tier VII: PGA of America professionals
These are the top-20 finishers from the PGA Skilled Championship, which befell at PGA Golf Membership in Port St. Lucie, Florida, on April 27-30.
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
Michael Kartrude
This listing consists of Block, who stole the present on the 2023 PGA Championship by making a hole-in-one within the ultimate spherical and tied for fifteenth at 1-over 281. It was one of the best end for a membership skilled on the PGA Championship since Lonnie Nielsen tied for eleventh in 1986.
Collet, from Vero Seashore, Florida, ran away from the sector with a 10-stroke win on the PGA Skilled Championship, the biggest margin of victory within the occasion’s historical past. He is enjoying in his fourth PGA Championship. Collet performed school golf at Japanese Kentucky.
