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Rory McIlroy skipped media duties to return to the range after a poor three-over round - Getty Images/Kevin C. Cox
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Mudballs in the fairway, goofballs in the officials’ suite, and a screwball leaderboard. And for Rory McIlroy? Well, to be frank, it was all a bit of a balls-up.
On his first day in the majors as a career grand-slam immortal, the Northern Irishman looked worryingly human. After a three-over 74, that leaves him 10 off the lead, the freshly minted Masters champion declined to talk to the media and stomped to the range to work on his errant driving.
It was not quite a case of “from green jacket to strait-jacket” but McIlroy was clearly maddened by his opening to the 107th US PGA Championship. And with good reason.
Granted, the world No 2 declared in the build-up that his victory last month at Augusta - where, after an 11-year wait, he finally collected his fifth major title and so joined Ben Hogan, Gene Sarazen, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tiger Woods as the only legends to complete the clean sweep - meant that the pressure is off and “everything else is a bonus”.
Yet that does not mean the anger will not rise when he is a few meaty blows from his best - especially on a Quail Hollow layout where he has prevailed four times, more than at any other course in the world. This is McIlroy’s manor and on a humid and humility-filled Thursday on which veteran Luke Donald, the Ryder Cup captain and 871st in the world rankings, showed what was possible with a fantastical 67, he was expecting far, far more.
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Europe’s Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald went four-under par in the opening round - AP/David J. Phillip
At least McIlroy knew what went wrong and what required an urgent overhaul. One of the greatest drivers the game has ever seen, equalled his most erratic display off the tee in his 18 years of playing in majors by locating only two fairways. Indeed, on a couple of occasions he was fortunate that the heavy rough guarding some of the water hazards stopped his ball before it submerged.
The big dog also gnawed at McIlroy last week in Philadelphia - in his first individual outing since his Masters glory - but he was still able to finish seventh courtesy of his short game. The 36-year-old will realise better than anyone that around this long and saturated track a golfer simply must be accurate if he is to contend.
McIlroy’s challenge is not yet done, but outside the top 90 he faces a Friday fight merely to make the cut and he is a couple of brilliant rounds to approach the pace set by Jhonattan Vegas two clear of another American in Ryan Gerard and Australian Cam Davis, with England’s Aaron Rai in the group in fourth with Donald on four-under.
Ranked at 29th, Rai is the only player in the top eight who is in the world’s top 40. Early doors, but the cream appears to be settling too close to the bottom.
What made McIlroy’s display appear yet more mediocre was the fact that after the deluges earlier in the week, the fairways had little, if any run, and drives were certainly not bouncing into the cabbage. The pros were surprised that the PGA of America - the association in charge of the male season’s second major - did not invoke the “lift, clean and place” rule. Scottie Scheffler even went as far to label the decision “unfair”.
Rory McIlroy tees off at Quail Hollowpic.twitter.com/n5X5Y1jmps
— Sky Sports Golf (@SkySportsGolf) May 15, 2025
Great drives down the middle are punished if they pick up mud and there were a number of occasions when balls shot off on weird paths and trajectories. It makes sense not to play the ball “down”, but all the majors are precious about the competitors playing it where it lies and, as Matt Fitzpatrick said after his promising 68, “they just don’t like the look”.
They probably will not like Scheffler’s comments, either, and that he spoke up after a highly satisfactory 69 only underlined his dissatisfaction. The world No 1 fared easily the best in the marquee threeball - defending champion Xander Schauffele shot a 72 - but the most memorable sight of their 5hrs-plus together was the top three players in the world all double-bogeying the 16th.
Of course, nothing will likely never rival the shock of seeing the police-released picture of Scheffler in a prisoner’s jumpsuit at this event 12 months ago - the Texan was arrested for a traffic violation on the morning of the second round before ultimately being cleared - but some of the names on this leaderboard did raise the eyebrows, with the likes of Alex Smalley, Stephan Jaeger and Ryan Fox on four-under as McIlroy struggled, alongside other big names such as Brooks Koepka with a 75 and Justin Rose and Jordan Spieth with 75s.
Donald’s number was the most staggering. The 47-year-old is not prone to hyperbole and would only describe himself as “pleasantly surprised”, but on a 7,626-yarder that he called “a brute” in the build-up, the short-hitter’s 67 verged on the “unbelievable”. Donald has failed to make the weekend in eight of his last 10 starts and came outside the top 40 in the other two. His last top 10 was six years ago. This was not even imagined, never mind envisioned, unlike the US Ryder Cup captain, Keegan Bradley, who is on three-under, but does happen to be world No 19.
“You’d expect it off Keegan but for me going bogey-free in a major around here is very good and, no, considering the missed cuts I’ve had of late I wasn’t banking on this ,” said Donald, the former world No 1, who was given the honour of playing the first shot.
“Someone just told me it was my lowest first round in a major since 2004. Let’s face it, I’m only in this field because I was invited as the Europe Ryder Cup captain. I am here to keep one eye on my players, but that’s OK, because it’s what I signed up for.”
With the Bethpage cap on, Donald would have been buoyed by Fitzpatrick’s start, who with a 68 is on the same mark as fellow Brits, Tyrrell Hatton and Bob MacIntyre. Fitzpatrick, the 2022 US Open champion, has been on a desperate streak, tumbling from eight in the rankings at the beginning of last year to his current position of 85th, his lowliest mark since 2015, the 30-year-old’s second season in the paid ranks.
“It is the worst I’ve ever played and certainly the lowest I’ve ever felt on a golf course,” said Fitzpatrick, who sacked revered caddie Billy Foster in March in the attempt to turn the corner. “I really haven’t wanted to be out here at some points this year..”
The good news is that for the last month, Fitzpatrick has felt his rhythm returning and this is the latest evidence. “I am not putting any pressure on myself,” he said. “To be blunt, I’m not interested in the Ryder Cup at the minute. I just need to play well and carry on making these positive strides.”
It was a fine start for England, as the country seeks a first US PGA winner in 106 years, with Harry Hall and Marco Penge also up there after shooting a pair of 69s. Tommy Fleetwood is one further back as is McIlroy’s fellow Ulsterman Tom McKibbin. In all, 59 players are within five strokes of second in what is already proving to be a bizarre major. Strap in.
12:52 AM BST
Vegas into sold lead at six-under
Jhonattan Vegas has now earned the solo lead on six- under with a fourth birdie in his last five holes. The 40-year-old still has one more to play and should be sitting atop of the leaderboard in some form going into Friday.
12:42 AM BST
Vegas takes share of lead
Jhonattan Vegas lines up a long eagle putt on the par-five seventh for the outright lead but it slightly drifts left.
The Venezuelan knocks in the birdie putt and all of a sudden it’s a three-way affair at the top of the leaderboard.
Incredible play from the 40-year-old.
12:33 AM BST
DeChambeau: I thought tee shot at 17 was in!
Bryson DeChambeau, speaking to Sky Sports:
12:25 AM BST
Rai reflects on his opening round
England’s Aaron Rai, speaking to Sky Sports after his four-under 67:
12:17 AM BST
Tough day for DeChambeau
The American’s tee shot on the 18th is a touch too right, but he still has a clear run into the green with his second shot. However, he lands it short.
DeChambeau then misses his 10-footer for par and drops back to level par. Not the way he would have wanted to sign off his opening round at Quail Hollow.
12:14 AM BST
The culprits are back
12:13 AM BST
Rai signs off round of 67
Aaron Rai is right in the mix at the top of the leaderboard. A par to finish has him one off the lead going into Friday. It was a fine opening round from the Englishman.
12:05 AM BST
Hatton: It was nice to birdie the last
Tyrell Hatton speaking to Sky Sports after his three-under 68.
11:56 PM BST
Spieth closes with bogey
The three-time major champion cards a five-over 76 and can probably say goodbye to his hopes of securing the career grand slam.
Meanwhile, Bryson DeChambeau nearly aces the 17th hole. The American has struggled to find any form today but he certainly had a moment at the 17th. He very nearly bagged a hold-in-one after a stunning tee shot.
However, he has to settle for a birdie that moves him into the red at one-under.
11:47 PM BST
Hovland moves to three-under
Viktor Hovland faced a challenging up-and-down from off the green at the par-four 16th. But he takes all the jeopardy out of the situation by simply chipping in flush for birdie.
His birdie on the 16th moves him to three-under, two off the lead.
11:40 PM BST
Morikawa with double-bogey finish
Collin Morikawa’s trip to the water at the 18th ends up carding a double-bogey six to finish his round at one-under.
Meanwhile, Bryson DeChambeau has hit a booming drive on the par-four 16th. However, he pushes his approach to the right of the green.
11:38 PM BST
Thomas in trouble at 18
Justin Thomas has hit a poor approach shot at the 18th. The American just misses the water – he is fortunate to see his ball nestle in the grass banking it.
A shoe-less Thomas hits a hugely awkward third shot as he has to straddle the stream. Terrific execution – the ball pops up and on the green. The American needs to hold the 15-footer for par.
11:30 PM BST
Hatton moves to three-under
Tyrell Hatton finishes with a terrific three-under round of 68. The Englishman regained the shot he gave away at the 17th as he birdies the last.
Meanwhile, his playing partner Adam Scott also has the chance at a closing birdie but he cannot roll his in – meaning he stays on two-under.
11:27 PM BST
Rai one off lead at four-under
England’s Aaron Rai dropped to three-under with a bogey to close out his front nine. He has been just steady since, until now birdieing the seventh.
The Englishman has two holes left to play and has the opportunity to join our leaders at five-under.
11:22 PM BST
Davis bogeys 18 to lose solo lead
It has been a terrific opening round for Cameron Davis, who ends hid day with a bogey at 18.
He shares the lead with America’s Ryan Gerard after round one at Quail Hollow.
11:04 PM BST
Bogey for Scott at 17
Adam Scott is the latest player to fall foul of the Green Mile stretch – bogeying the 17th. He overshot the green with his second, knocking the birdie chip 10 feet past the hole. He drops back as a result with one hole to play in his opening round.
10:59 PM BST
Incredible from Thomas
Justin Thomas is a very streaky player! He was four-over through six holes earlier on and suddenly he is now only one-over with two holes to play.
Elsewhere, Jordan Spieth scrambles for par at the 15th. He found a bunker off the tee and still could not reach the green in three shots. However, his putt on the fringe was good enough, meaning he could scramble a par to remain at three-over.
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It has been a bonkers few minutes for Justin Thomas - AP/George Walker
10:51 PM BST
DeChambeau back to one-over with bogey at 13
The American has faltered at the par-three 13th. His tee shot was good, just off the green, but he gets his chip badly wrong and it ends up rolling back to him.
Meanwhile, Collin Morikawa is enjoying a strong opening round at Quail Hollow. He has recovered nicely after bogeying the fourth and fifth. The American is now sitting pretty at two-under after consecutive birdies at 14 and 15.
10:44 PM BST
Spieth scores a birdie
Jordan Spieth ends a run of successive bogeys with a birdie on par-four 14th, bringing him back to three-over.
Meanwhile, Ludvig Aberg gets a birdie while Patrick Reed walks off with a five after finding the bunker off the tee.
10:32 PM BST
DeChambeau and Hovland falter
Bryson Chambeau and Viktor Hovland are both in trouble off the tee at the par-four 12th, firing either side of the fairway.
The American scrambles to save par but Hovland ends bogeying the hole – it is second bogey in as many holes for Holand who drops back to one-under now.
10:19 PM BST
Spieth’s grand slam hopes slipping away
Three consecutive bogeys for Jordan Spieth, whose hopes of completing the career grand slam at Quail Hollow are slipping away.
The American is currently 10 shots off leader Cameron Davis.
10:13 PM BST
Pars for England’s Rai
The Englishman has made pars on holes one, two and three and is quietly putting together a solid opening round at Quail Hollow.
10:11 PM BST
DeChambeau looking for a few more birdies
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Bryson DeChambeau is so much fun to watch, as the golf fans of Charlotte have underlined by turning out in huge numbers to follow the two-time major champion this afternoon.
They know he has the power to bring Quail to its knees, but they also know that he is the most entertaining out here. He is level par and looking for a few more birdies.
10:09 PM BST
Trouble for Hovland at 11th
Viktor Hovland gets himself trouble at the par-four 11th. It was a poor approach which landed into the bunker, having chipped out to around 25 feet, he misses the par putt.
The Norwegian is back to two-under during his opening round at Quail Hollow.
10:06 PM BST
Birdie chance for DeChambeau
I have not mentioned Bryson DeChambeau in a little while – the American is on par-four 11th and zips his iron into 15 feet of the hole.
It is another birdie opportunity for DeChambeau.
10:03 PM BST
Scott making a move
Adam Scott is threatening the leaderboard during his opening round at Quail Hollow. The 2013 Masters champion drives the green at the par-four 14th and two-putts from 20 feet for a birdie.
09:57 PM BST
Davis into solo lead at six-under
Cameron Davis continues his impressive charge up this leaderboard, now moving into the outright lead at six-under.
The Australian is at the par-three sixth, having hit a sublime tee shot to about 20 feet, before calming rolling in a birdie putt.
09:56 PM BST
Thomas drops another shot
It really isn’t going the way of Justin Thomas today. The American drops another shot at the par-four 12th – he needs two goes at his chip and so is back to four-over.
Meanwhile, his playing partner Dustin Johnson is also having a disaster round! He follows up his double-bogey at the 11th with a further bogey and is back to three-over as a result.
09:49 PM BST
DeChambeau bags first birdie of day
DeChambeau has struggling to find any rhythm in his opening round at Quail Hollow. He starts his back nine in the best possible fashion – with a birdie holed from 10 feet – to move him back to level.
09:34 PM BST
Davis into share of lead at five-under
America’s Ryan Gerard has company at the top of the leaderboard. Cameron Davis has matched it through 13 holes of his round.
He picks up another birdie on the fourth to join Ryan Gerard in a tie for the US PGA Championship lead. The Australian hit a sublime tee shot on the par three around 15 feet and then rolled in the birdie putt to grab a shared of the lead.
09:28 PM BST
Aberg in trouble at the tenth
The Swede is in trouble off the tee at the par-five 10th. A poor second and third shot follows to have him in the rough, but a sublime chip onto the green appears to have saved the Swede.
However, Aberg wastes the opportunity by missing the putt for par. This means, he drops back to one-under as a result.
09:25 PM BST
Hole-in-one for Cole
Eric Cole fires an incredible ace – he has first hole-in-one of this year ‘s PGA Championship.
The American nails his tee shot at par-three fourth and celebrates in style! That moves Cole back to level par through 13 holes and it is a moment he will never forget.
09:15 PM BST
Morikawa into the red
Here we go Collin Morikawa, he is into the red for the first time today as he kicks off his back nine with a birdie at the par-five tenth.
Meanwhile, Justin Thomas in his group, cards an important birdie to move back to three-over par. The American will be desperate to undo the damage done early in the round.
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Can Collin Morikawa make a move up the leaderboard? - Getty Images/Jared C. Tilton
09:12 PM BST
England’s Rai drops back
Frustrating for Aaron Rai – his first bogey of the day on the 18th. It began with a scruffy tee shot in the bunker, approach shot in trouble right on the green and then unable to get up and down in two.
No major drama for the Englishman, as he still remains three-under.
09:09 PM BST
Strong start for Hovland
Viktor Hovland taps in a crucial birdie at the par-five seventh. The Norwegian looks to be finding some form again after missing three consecutive cuts earlier this season.
However, his playing partner Bryson DeChambeau has struggled to get going in his opening round at Quail Hollow and remains at one-over.
09:04 PM BST
Aberg closes out front nine with birdie
Ludvig Aberg is making his move up the leaderboard. He birdies the ninth, sinking the putt from distance to hit the turn two-under. He has now three off Ryan Gerard’s lead.
Meanwhile, his two playing partners Patrick Reed and Jordan Spieth drop shots, after failing to get close with their approaches to the green.
08:49 PM BST
So close for Rai!
After chipping in for a bird on the 16th, England’s Aaron Rai gives himself another birdie opportunity on the par-three 17th with a sublime shot within 20 feet.
It was so close for Rai! The ball goes around the cup but it stays out. So, the Englishman will have to settle for par.
08:47 PM BST
DeChambeau in trouble at seventh
The American is wayward off the tee at the seventh. But it is a par five, so he could still play himself out of trouble.
The American plays it safe from this lie, leaving an achievable approach into the green that could even set up a fourth birdie for DeChambeau.
08:42 PM BST
Brilliant birdie for Rose
Justin Rose downs a monster putt from the fringe at the par-four fifth. He has had a difficult start at Quail Hollow – bogeying the first and the third.
But he has corrected course somewhat with a sublime putt at the fifth to move back to one-over. Can the Englishman work himself into contention?
08:35 PM BST
First birdie for Thomas
The American has endured a terrible start to his opening round at Quail Hollow. However, he bags his first birdie at the par-four eighth after a sublime chip on to around four feet.
Meanwhile, his playing partner Collin Morikawa, is finding his rhythm as he makes it back-to-back birdies. That takes him back level for his round after a slow start.
08:30 PM BST
Rai is one off lead
Aaron Rai’s birdie run continues – three holes in a row – that looked set to end as he faced a difficult up and down to save par at the par-four 16.
But, the Englishman is having none of it! Rai chips in for a bonus birdie that extends his birdie stretch and moves him one off the lead at four-under.
08:25 PM BST
Rai’s impressive day continues
The Englishman follows up his birdie at the 14th with another at the 15th, taking him to three-under in his opening round at Quail Hollow.
Meanwhile, Adam Scott is hitting the mark, as he makes it three consecutive for his round at the eight. Also, his playing partner Tyrell Hatton has carded back-to-back birdies to sit not far behind at two-under.
08:20 PM BST
Brilliant par save from Thomas
A sublime save from Justin Thomas at the par-five seventh. The American took a drop from the water and wedged it from around 97 yards to 14 feet before rolling in the putt for a five – brilliant work for Thomas.
Meanwhile, his playing partner Collin Morikawa plays the seventh hole a lot better, as he finds the back of the green in two and hits a long eagle putt and knocks in the birdie.
08:17 PM BST
Culprit has been found as repair work needed on bunker
The TV cameras has just turned to show several greenkeepers smoothing out the sand in one of the greenside bunkers at Quail Hollow.
Then we see the reason why – a giant turtle has left it’s footprints all through the bunker.
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The culprit has been found at Quail Hollow - AP/George Walker
08:13 PM BST
DeChambeau escapes with par at fifth
Two disappointing shots from Bryson DeChambeau at the fifth. He is yet to find his rhythm at Quail Hollow. The American’s approach on the par-four fifth sees him in the rough off the green.
He then stubs his chip on – which leaves him with a challenging 12-footer for par, but he rolls it in to escape with par.
08:09 PM BST
Steady start for Spieth
A solid start for Jordan Spieth in his bid to complete the career grand slam. The America began this round by bogeying the first and had just secured his fifth consecutive par.
Meanwhile, it is disaster for Justin Thomas! He has now found the water on the par-five seventh. He has a shot to play with here, but if he is not careful his chances of climbing up the leaderboard could be gone already.
08:06 PM BST
DeChambeau almost chips in at four
The American was inches away from chipping in birdie on the par-three fourth. He cannot believe it – it does not drop in to immediately earn him back that dropped shot he had at three.
The American remains at one over.
Meanwhile, I just heard on commentary that Rory McIlroy is heading to the practice ground. The Northern Irishman skipped the media post round and his heading to the practice range.
He will hoping for a better performance tomorrow after finishing three-over par 74.
07:58 PM BST
Thomas’ round continuing to unravel
Justin Thomas is four over through six. He cannot find any form today at Quail Hollow, he has now bogeyed the sixth now to fall further off the pace at four over.
The 2017 PGA Champion needs to find something and fast.
07:52 PM BST
Morikawa’s round taking a hit
Collin Morikawa’s opening round at Quail Hollow has taken a hit as he cards bogeys at both the fourth and fifth.
The two-time major winner falls back to two over par as a result.
Meanwhile, Europe’s Ludvig Aberg and Viktor Hovland are having mixed fortunes in their opening rounds. Aberg has dropped back to one over with a bogey at the fourth, while Hovland is at one under with a birdie at par-four third.
07:44 PM BST
DeChambeau in trouble
The American finds the rough off the tee at the par-four third and then sends his approach way too long.
He cannot get up and down in two from three, so has to drop back to one over.
Meanwhile, Justin Thomas at the par-four fifth escapes par to make sure his scoreboard does not take another hit early in his opening round – he remains at three over.
07:40 PM BST
Gerard still leads despite bogeying the last
Ryan Gerard still leads the PGA Championship, despite bogeying the 18th.
However, he’s had quite the day and made four consecutive birdies and a sublime eagle on the back-nine charge. He heads into the clubhouse still one shot clear at the top of the leaderboard.
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It has been a memorable day for Ryan Gerard at Quail Hollow - Getty Images/David Cannon
07:35 PM BST
Birdie for Reed
The American is back to level par after his birdie putt from about 15 feet drops – he is back to level par as he makes his way to the fifth.
Meanwhile, Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg’s tee shot at the par-three fourth sails way too long over the green and he cannot get up and down to save par.
07:27 PM BST
Utter nightmare for Thomas
A terrible start for the American, as he double-bogeys the second, before bogeying the third to drop to three-over.
Meanwhile, leader Ryan Gerard is in trouble again at the 18th. His tee shot finds the fairway bunker – he has to get up and down in two from around 100 yards to save par.
Otherwise, a bogey or anything worse will see him further back to the pack.
07:23 PM BST
Gerrard lead down to two with bogey
Leader Ryan Gerard is faltering at the finish, his three-stroke lead is now reduced to two with a bogey five at the 16th.
Meanwhile, US Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley heads into the clubhouse at three-under in his opening round at Quail Hollow.
07:13 PM BST
Is it difficult for McIlroy to reset after Masters success?
Former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley speaks to Sky Sports on Rory McIlroy’s disappointing three-over 74:
07:09 PM BST
Steady start for DeChambeau’s group
Despite that monster drive, Bryston DeChambeau pars the opening hole at Quail Hollow.
The American hits his approach too long, passing the pin by about 10 feet or so. DeChambeau had a decent opportunity for a birdie but failed to roll it in so settles for a par.
Meanwhile, his playing partners Gary Woodland and Viktor Hovland also settle for par.
07:01 PM BST
DeChambeau begins his round
One of the favourites this week, Bryson DeChambeau tees off at the first. He delivers a monster drive as he gets his opening round under way at Quail Hollow.
The American is very much fancied this week due to his recent form in the majors and his distance off the tee.
His playing partners Viktor Hovland also finds the fairway, while Gary Woodland, the former US Open Champion, is slightly too right and ends up in the rough.
06:58 PM BST
Difficult start for Spieth
An ugly start for Jordan Spieth in his grand slam bid.
The American begins with a bogey five at the par-four first after finding the greenside bunker with his approach and then failing to get up and down in two from there.
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A difficult few holes for Jordan Spieth in his opening round at Quail Hollow - Getty Images/Warren Little
06:50 PM BST
Early trouble for Thomas
A double-bogey for Justin Thomas at the par-four second drops him to two-over early in this opening round.
Meanwhile, his playing partners Collin Morikawa and Dustin Johnson nab another par to stay level at Quail Hollow as they make their way to the third.
06:41 PM BST
Fitzpatrick: Nice to see my short game improvements
Matt Fitzpatrick speaking to Sky Sports:
06:37 PM BST
McIlroy closes with a bogey
That is a very underwhelming three-over 74, but there can be no hard luck stories. Not a single facet of McIlroy’s game was on song.
Alongside McIlroy, Schauffele holes a big par putt to stay at one-over but Scheffler closes with a birdie to reach two-under. Scheffler’s radar was off with his irons but he will be pleased to escape with that score.
06:33 PM BST
Ryan Gerard has reached seven-under
He does so by chipping in for eagle on the par five 15th! Gerard is now six-under through six holes of his back nine. The North Carolina boy is delighting the home fans.
Back at the second, Tyrrell Hatton opens his birdie account to move into red figures.
06:30 PM BST
McIlroy in more trouble on the ninth
A punch back into the fairway was his only option after pulling his drive to the left. He will need to get up and down from there for a two-over 73. Scheffler hits a sparkling iron shot and will have the chance to finish with a birdie.
06:18 PM BST
McIlroy’s birdie putt slides by
His frustrating day at the office continues, and he remains at two-over with just one hole to play. The birdie putt broke sharply from left-to-right across the hole.
No birdie too for Scheffler, who remains at one-under.
06:17 PM BST
Morikawa and Justin Thomas are starting their opening rounds
The two former US PGA champions find the fairway, though Thomas will have a plenty in having played safe down the left. Dustin Johnson alongside them has also found the count stuff.
06:14 PM BST
McIlroy has a birdie putt upcoming
Faces a putt from 10 or 12 feet to get back to one-over at the eighth. The contact on the pitch sounded a little clunky but it just about made the journey.
In other news, Phil Mickelson has signed for an eight-over 79.
06:08 PM BST
Decent angle for McIlroy on the eighth
Another drive tweaked slighlty left, but that leaves him a good angle with the pitch on this short par four. McIlroy’s tee shot came to rest in a sprinkler head but he will take a free drop from there.
06:06 PM BST
Ryan Fox quite amusing about his preparation
Fox won at Myrtle Beach across the border in South Carolina last week and has opened with a four-under 67.
“The weather meant Monday was a bit of a write-off here, which was probably a good thing because I was a write-off as well!” said Fox after his round.
06:01 PM BST
Scheffler into red figures
He takes advantage of the par five seventh with a birdie to move to one-under, but the same cannot be said for McIlroy. He left his second in a really tricky spot in wet rough, and it took a tidy chip shot to save his par.
05:55 PM BST
Birdie for Jon Rahm at the eighth
Just one hole of Rahm’s opening round to play, and he is in red figures.
Back at the seventh, McIlroy has followed Matt Fitzpatrick in flipping his second shot miles left which is an ainti-water shot on this hole. McIlroy’s shots have had too much shape from right-to-left on several occasions, which suggests he attacking the ball too far from the inside.
05:50 PM BST
Jaegar has company at the top of the leaderboard
The less than heralded Ryan Gerard has reeled off four consecutive birdies at the start of the back nine to reach five-under. Gerard is playing in his first US PGA Championship, but is from Raleigh in North Carolina and went to college at Chapel Hill, so this is very much a home game for him.
05:45 PM BST
Lovely tee shot on the seventh from McIlroy
This reachable par five is now within range, after a low peeler off the left bunkers which fades back into the middle of the fairway. That was more like it from McIlroy with the driver.
05:41 PM BST
McIlroy and Scheffler’s short game saves them
Par-par for both on the long par three sixth. McIlroy remains two-over with Scheffler level par.
A couple of players have just finished up their opening round: Shane Lowry is in the clubhouse at two-over, while Brooks Koepka has toiled to a four-over 75.
05:34 PM BST
Missed greens from McIlroy and Scheffler at the par three sixth
Scheffler has been strangely errant with his irons, and misses another green, this time long and left. Opposite story for McIlroy, who says “too much” as the ball is in the air, referring to too much fade. Tricky chips for bother players coming up.
05:32 PM BST
Luke Donald speaking after his round
05:30 PM BST
New tournament leader
The German Stephan Jaegar, who plies his trade in the United States, has reached five-under after consecutive birdies on the 14th and 15th. I wonder what drink he will order if he wins?
05:24 PM BST
McIlroy burns the edge
No birdie at the fifth, but better pace on the putt. The Masters champion is almost biting the grip of his putter in frustration. McIlroy stays two-over. A long par three next, but then a reachable par five and short par four.
05:19 PM BST
Donald holes a gutsy par putt on the 18th
His putting has always been a strength, and he drains one from 15-feet to keep an unblemished card and sign for a four-under par 67. Great playing from Europe’s Ryder Cup captain. Intriguingly, his opposite number Keegan Bradley is just one shot further back. It would be quite the story to have the two captains paired together this weekend. Early days yet.
05:18 PM BST
Excellent second shot from McIlroy
His drive caught the bunker actually, and he second from sand is superb. Right over the pin and McIlroy will now have a 20-footer for birdie when he looked at risk of dropping another shot.
05:15 PM BST
McIlroy lacking control off the tee
Another flippy-hook with the driver on the fifth, after a two-putt par on the previous hole, and his ball sails over the bunkers left and into the thick stuff. That is a long way offline. Scheffler makes the opposite mistake and leaks his drive into the right bunker.
05:09 PM BST
Ryan Fox the clubhouse leader
It is a bogey on the ninth, Fox’s final hole of the day, but Fox has set the target with a four-under 67. Alongside him on the same score are: Luke Donald, Alex Smalley, Alex Noren, JT Poston and Stephan Jaegar.
05:07 PM BST
An up and down day for Jon Rahm
Four birdies and three bogeys now for the two-time major champion, but he moves into red figures by holing a lengthy birdie putt across the fifth.
Back at the par three fourth, McIlroy has found the putting surface but it will be an outside birdie chance only. More likely two putts for a par.
04:59 PM BST
Sloppy bogey from Scheffler
He air-mailed the green on the par four third, and then failed to get up and down for his par. Scheffler back to level par.
McIlroy produced a cracking effort for birdie from around 25 feet, but his effort burned the right edge and refused to drop.
Luke Donald has made a par-par start to the Green Mile and remains at four-under. They were stress-free pars, too.
04:51 PM BST
A good result for McIlroy on the third
After another missed fairway, this time to the right, McIlroy’s punched third clipped a branch but it had enough gas to skip up onto the front of the green before releasing to within 25-feet or so. He should, at least, be able to save his par.
04:48 PM BST
It is not uncommon to see turtles at Quail Hollow
04:41 PM BST
Scheffler birdies
A lovely drive and well-judged approach shot sees Scheffler move into red figures as he walks to the third tee (his 12th). Schauffele and McIlroy settle for two-putt pars and remain at two-over.
04:36 PM BST
A new tournament leader
Alex Noren has made birdies at the short par four 14th and the par five 15th to reach four-under. They said hitting a high draw was the key to success at Quail Hollow, but Noren hits a fade with a steep angle of attack so he is confounding that theory. The Swede leads the field by one.
04:31 PM BST
Constrasting fortunes for the leading group on the second
Schauffele takes the Tiger line straight over the trees on the left of the par four, and he makes the carry with a glorious drive. You were expecting McIlroy to take the same aggressive line, but he leaked the drive right and it runs out of room on the corner of the dogleg. McIlroy will play from his second from the rough.
04:27 PM BST
Another bogey for McIlroy
As he walks to the second tee, McIlroy is two-over for his round. The pushed second shot on the first was too blame, and if anything he played the bunker shot too well with his ball checking up rather than feeding down the slope.
04:24 PM BST
Shane Lowry rattles home another birdie
Nick Dougherty on Sky Sports reveals that Lowry was ill yesterday and spent most of the day in bed, but he is back to one-over after 13 holes of his first round. Another putt from long range holed.
04:18 PM BST
McIlroy misses the green on the first
That was a loose iron shot. McIlroy was trying to hit a soft draw towards the back-left pin but fanned his shot out to the right and found the greenside bunker. Work to do to save par from there.
04:15 PM BST
A much-needed birdie for Shane Lowry
A pretty rough start to his US PGA challenge, but Lowry birdies the third, his 12th, to rebound to two-over.
Over at the 15th, Luke Donald has made a straightforward two-putt par to remain at four-under and in a share of the lead.
04:12 PM BST
Corking drive from McIlroy on the first
The sweeping dogleg from left-to-right is his 10th hole of the day, and it looked for a second that McIlroy may have pushed his tee shot. Not so, he simply has the length to chew off the corner of the 503-yard par four. Carries the trees and the rough and is now in perfect position.
04:09 PM BST
A third player reaches four-under
Alongside Donald and Fox now is the Colombian Nicolas Echavarria.
04:06 PM BST
Scheffler cleans up for par on the 18th
He had a rush of blood with his birdie putt from the back of the green, but pours in the one on the way back to turn at level par. McIlroy’s birdie putt was a good try, but just a hair too much pace on his chosen line. McIlroy turns at one-over with defending champion Schauffele one worse at two-over.
03:59 PM BST
Fantastic recovery from McIlroy
With the ball well above his feet in the rough near the creek, McIlroy turns over a nine-iron from 165 yards which lands in the heart of the green. So easy for the grass to grab the toe of the club and flip the ball left, or to overcompensate and shove it right. McIlroy will have a birdie putt on the way from 20 feet or so.
Up ahead at the first, Matt Firzpatrick bounces back from a bogey with a birdie to return to three-under.
03:56 PM BST
McIlroy’s driver misbehaving
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Rory McIlroy needs to sort out his driving - and quickly. He struggled off the tee last week in Philadelphia but still managed to finish seventh, largely because of his short game. As the Quail Hollow specialist, he, more than anyone, will appreciate that you simply have to drive it well to have a chance. He has hit one fairway through the first nine holes.
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Rory McIlroy has missed too many fairways so far - Getty Images/Arew Redington
03:55 PM BST
Luke Donald joins Ryan Fox at four-under
Donald was in the final pairing with Tiger Woods at Medinah at this tournament in 2006, when he copped some flak for wearing a red shirt on a Sunday alongside the great man. Europe’s Ryder Cup captain birdies the short par four 14th and reaches four-under.
03:52 PM BST
McIlroy’s drive drifts left on the 18th
It comes to rest on dry land, but it looks like it is beyond the hazard line near the creek that runs the length of the closing hole at Quail Hollow. McIlroy will have his work to do to get out of here with a par.
03:48 PM BST
Ryan Fox now the solo leader
He walks down a birdie putt from around 20 feet on the fifth and the big-hitting New Zealander moves to four-under. Fox leads the field by one.
03:47 PM BST
McIlroy close to a chip-in
It dived across the cup from left-to-right when it looked like toppling in for a two, but that is still a settling par on the 17th for McIlroy. He stays at one-over for the tournament. Schauffele scrambles for par from the right of the green to stay at two-over. Scheffler shows great touch to two-putt from some 80 feet away from the front of the green. He stays at level par.
03:43 PM BST
A dropped shot for Matt Fitzpatrick on the 18th
The 2022 US Open champion fails to get up and down from the greenside bunker but that is still a solid front nine of two-under 34. On the same score is John Rahm, who missed a chance to be one better with a birdie putt on the 18th sliding past. Better form from Rahm that his recent major efforts.
03:39 PM BST
Strong response from McIlroy
One the 227-yard par three 17th there is more water left, but McIlroy hits a high draw with a six-iron which is right down the banner. Once again though, the ball sounds like it is landing on granite when it hits the green and runs through to the back edge. Should be a simple up and down from there, but he tee shot deserved more.
03:35 PM BST
Tommy Fleetwood has made the turn
By comparison with the leading group, a run of four-four-four to play the Green Mile in one-over is perfectly acceptable for Fleetwood and he turns at two-under having started on the 10th. One the first, Fleetwood splits the fairway. The Englishman is well-placed on the first morning.
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Tommy Fleetwood is enjoying conditions at Quail Hollow - Getty Images/Kevin C. Cox
03:31 PM BST
Double bogey for McIlroy
He played a good pitch across the green but his putt for a five on the 16th slides by the left edge. McIlroy drops two shots on the first hole of Quail Hollow’s ‘Green Mile’. He falls back to one-over for his day.
After finding water with his second, Scheffler had to hold his nerve to hole an eight-footer for his double bogey. Likewise Schauffele. Fittingly for such a tough hole, the leading group’s scores read six, six, six.
03:23 PM BST
Bad news for Scheffler and Schauffele
McIlroy’s playing partners were in better position on the cut and prepared but both turned their seconds on the par four too far from right-to-left and found the water. Astonishing mistakes with most of North Carolina out to their right. Some suggestion on the television coverage that mudballs may be coming into play after heavy rain earlier this week. If mud is on the right of the ball it will curve left, and vice versa. That’s the theory anyway, it becomes something of a lottery.
03:20 PM BST
McIlroy chops out
His ball did stop short of the water, but found a heavy lie with a clump of grass right behind the ball. McIlroy needed all of his strength just to advance his ball to the top of the slope, but he is still in the rough. It took such a violent swing to move the ball he lost balance with his right leg.
With McIlroy’s third, he advances the ball to within the vicinity of the green, but it will be a pitch of some 40 yards from rough across the green. McIlroy understandably bailing out with water left.
He needs to get up and down for a bogey.
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Rory McIlroy’s second on the 15th - Sky Sports
03:16 PM BST
Unforced error from McIlroy
On the 16th, McIlroy hits a hooky pull off the tee that goes careering through the trees and towards a water hazard. Has the thick stuff saved him again? We shall see. It might be playable, though he will not be able to ground his club if his ball is beyond the red hazard line. It’s a chop out at best.
03:14 PM BST
A contentious aspect of the Quail Hollow set-up
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There is a bit of consternation here at the rough that has been grown before some of the water hazards. McIlroy’s tee-shot on the 15th would have been wet without the thick stuff stopping it - he went on to make a birdie - while Brooks Koepka has twice benefited from the same good fortune. Does this befit a major?
03:08 PM BST
Eagle for Scheffler
An eagle three for world No 1 Scottie Scheffler at the 15th who, after a bit of a shaky start, is starting to purr. An 11-yard attempt from off the green finds the bottom of the cup.
Rory McIlroy, from four feet, birdies.
Xander Schauffele can only par.
03:04 PM BST
Lucky for McIlroy
It looked like Rory McIlroy’s tee shot at the 15th may have found its way into the drink, but instead it was right on the edge. He manages to get his feet into a position where he can strike the ball and leave himself 12 yards from the pin.
02:54 PM BST
All-English
Alert! Three Englishmen – Luke Donald, Tommy Fleetwood and Matt Fitzpatrick – are joint-leaders at Quail Hollow.
England’s Fitzpatrick, who has plummeted down the world rankings, drove the 14th and two-putted for a birdie and then, on the par-five 15th, pitched his third shot to two feet for a birdie. What a turnaround in form.
02:53 PM BST
‘A proper test’
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Just come in from watching the top three in the world navigate their first four holes and apart from McIlroy’s Masters green polo shirt, the highlight was probably Scheffler’s chip-in on the 12th (his third after they started on the 10th). The course is in remarkable condition considering all the rain in the build-up. What struck me most is the firmness of the greens. The shots are not even leaving pitching marks. Quail Hollow has the same SubAir system as Augusta National – it sucks out the moisture on the putting surfaces. Makes this 107th US PGA even more of a proper test.
02:51 PM BST
Rory lets one slip
Missed birdie chance from McIlroy at the 14th as be pushes his putt left of the hole from four feet.
Scottie Scheffler pars from eight feet and Xander Schauffele has to settle for a bogey.
The All-Stars group currently looks like this: McIlroy E, Schauffele E, Scheffler E.
02:47 PM BST
Schauffele chance to save par
Xander Schauffele takes a drop after finding the water and gets to within 15 feet of the pin with a wedge from the rough, leaving him an outside chance for par.
Rory McIlroy’s downhill chip is a beauty and leaves him with a birdie chance from four feet.
Scottie Scheffler’s putt from off the green is short and leaves him around 10 feet for birdie.
02:42 PM BST
Bad day for Lowry
Ireland’s Shane Lowry has bogeyed three of four holes from the 13th.
02:40 PM BST
Splash!
Xander Schauffele pulls his tee shot left at the 14th and watches his ball swallowed up by the water.
Scottie Scheffler finishes just short and right of the green.
Rory McIlroy, meanwhile, leaves himself a fiddly pitch from the rough.
02:37 PM BST
Fleetwood ties for the lead
England’s Tommy Fleetwood is -3 with birdie at the par-five 15th.
Ryan Fox has company at the top of the leaderboard.
02:33 PM BST
Scheffler saves par
Pars for Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele at the 13th. Terrific recovery from Scheffler after a terrible tee shot and his chip from below the green pulled up eight feet short.
02:28 PM BST
Scheffler on the back foot
Scottie Scheffler has made a mess of his tee shot at the par-three 13th. Whereas Xander Schauffele lands nine feet from the pin.
Rory McIlroy also makes hard work of it and has 40 feet between him and the flag as he looks to salvage par.
02:15 PM BST
Scheffler recovers
The book is balanced for Scottie Scheffler as he birdies the 12th to go back to even par following a stupendous chip in, from the greenside rough, nailing the spin.
Rory McIlroy pars after chipping out of the rough and up the slope to within a few inches of the pin.
Xander Schauffele also pars.
02:04 PM BST
Oldies but goodies
Luke Donald (-2) and Padraig Harrington (-1) are rolling back the years.
Donald is one shot off the lead after a five-foot birdie at the 8th.
01:59 PM BST
McIlroy drops a shot
Xander Schauffele pars the 11th, but it was so close to another birdie. He stays at -1.
Rory McIlroy drops a shot and is back to even par after leaving himself with seven feet to salvage par.
Scottie Scheffler also drops a shot and is +1.
01:55 PM BST
Fleetwood under par
England’s Tommy Fleetwood moves to -1 after par, par, par, birdie. Solid start.
01:53 PM BST
Rory leaves it short
Scottie Scheffler gets lucky with his lie and, from the medium rough, punts it to the edge of the front of the green at the 11th.
Xander Schauffele, from the middle of the fairway, hits the green but the ball runs on some 20 feet past the hole.
And Rory McIlroy, from a left-side bunker, is just slightly underpowered and, although on the green, is also a good 20 feet to the hole.
01:45 PM BST
Rory’s driving off target
At the 11th, Rory McIlroy’s tee shot is wayward again, as is Scottie Scheffler’s, but Xander Schauffele absolutely creams it down the middle. It will be interesting to see where McIlroy and Scheffler’s balls are lying.
01:41 PM BST
McIlroy opens with a birdie
Opening birdie for Rory McIlroy from 10 feet. An excellent up and down and a confidence-building start after some wayward shots to the green.
Scottie Scheffler misses his shot at birdie, after he gave himself a crack at it from eight feet following a fine bunker shot, and has to settle for par.
Xander Schauffele also birdies.
01:36 PM BST
Kaymer horror show
It’s been a shocking start for Germany’s Martin Kaymer, who is +4 thru six. Bogeys at the 1st, 4th and a double bogey at the 6th.
01:32 PM BST
Rory’s radar off
Not the best start from Rory McIlroy as he goes from light rough to slightly heavier rough with his second shot at the 10th. He’s got a tough chip to the green.
01:30 PM BST
Flying Fox
Australia’s Ryan Fox has made a superb start with three birdies in his opening five holes. He had a putt for eagle at the par-four 14th, missed, but left himself a very gettable four-footer for the birdie, which he sank.
01:26 PM BST
All-stars group tees off
Rory McIlroy tees off first and hits it long but into the light rough.
Rory McIlroy tees off at Quail Hollow
— Sky Sports Golf (@SkySportsGolf) May 15, 2025
Xander Schauffele is straight and true and on the fairway.
And Scottie Scheffler also pings it straight down the middle.
01:20 PM BST
Here comes Rory...
McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele are heading to their opening tee at the 10th.
01:14 PM BST
Fox the leader
Australia’s Ryan Fox holes out from 30 feet at the 13th (he started at the 10th) for his second birdie of the day to get to two under and become the early outright leader.
01:11 PM BST
Power cut
Ireland’s Seamus Power, who started at the 10th, has undone his fine birdie start with a double bogey at the 11th to drop back to +1.
01:02 PM BST
Koepka starts poorly
Not the best opening for Brooks Koepka, who makes a bogey start off the 10th.
Meanwhile, England’s John Parry is back to even par after his opening bogey following a stupendous chip in.
And veteran Luke Donald has just moved to -1 with a birdie at the par-three fourth after nailing his tee shot to about five feet.
12:55 PM BST
‘We’ll have a good time’
Here’s Scottie Scheffler discussing being grouped with McIlroy and Schauffele today. The trio go out at 1.22pm...
12:47 PM BST
Birdie watch
Ireland’s brilliantly named Seamus Power is among the early birdies as he holes from around 10 feet at the par-five 10th to move to -1.
Sweden’s Alex Noren also sinks a 20-footer at the par-four 1st, so our early leaders on -1 are Power, Noren and Australia’s Ryan Fox.
12:27 PM BST
Fantastic Mr Fox
First birdie of the day goes to Australia’s Ryan Fox, who started at the par-five 10th, as he holes from seven feet. Unfortunately, England’s John Parry, one of Fox’s playing partners, is already +1.
12:19 PM BST
And we’re off!
Europe’s very own Ryder Cup captain, Luke Donald, has got the 2025 US PGA Championship underway and he nailed his first drive, crisp and true, down the middle of the fairway...
Indeed, it’s a solid start for Donald, claiming par on the first, unlike Martin Kaymer who bogeys. Padraig Harrington also pars.
12:16 PM BST
Quail Hollow is tough
McIlroy may enjoy playing at Quail, but that’s not to say it’s a walk in the park. Even the best struggle here...
12:06 PM BST
What are conditions like?
Over three-and-a-half inches of rain has fallen at Quail Hollow this week, leaving parts of the course saturated.
Fortunately, the weather was slightly better for yesterday’s final practice round and the PGA of America has confirmed that it will not play preferred lies – where players can lift and clean the ball from the fairway.
“We do not plan to play preferred lies,” the PGA of America said. “The playing surfaces are outstanding and are drying by the hour. We are mowing the fairways this evening.
“We are looking forward to an exciting opening round to the 107th PGA Championship.”
12:02 PM BST
‘I’m not going to be his best mate’
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Rory McIlroy refused to interact with Bryson DeChambeau during The Masters - Reuters/Brian Snyder
In the build up to today’s action, Rory McIlroy has shrugged off comments from Bryson DeChambeau about their lack of interaction during the final round of the Masters.
Ten months after DeChambeau edged out McIlroy to win his second US Open title at Pinehurst, the pair made up the final group at Augusta National, where McIlroy almost threw away a five-shot lead before beating Justin Rose in a play-off to complete the career grand slam.
Asked after slipping to a tie for fifth following a closing 73 how McIlroy was feeling as he signed his scorecard, DeChambeau said: “No idea. Didn’t talk to me once all day.”
Pressed by another reporter on whether he had tried to initiate conversation during the round, the American added: “He wouldn’t talk to me.”
Asked about those comments during his press conference ahead of the 107th US PGA Championship, McIlroy said: “I don’t know what he was expecting.
“We’re trying to win the Masters. I’m not going to try to be his best mate out there.
“Look, everyone approaches the game different ways. I was focused on myself and what I needed to do. That’s really all that it was.
“It wasn’t anything against him, it’s just I felt that’s what I needed to do to try to get the best out of myself that day.”
11:46 AM BST
The ones to watch
Here’s a reminder of when some of the most intriguing groups tee off...
- 12.38pm: Brooks Koepka, Rickie Fowler, Shane Lowry
- 12.49pm: Phil Mickelson, Tommy Fleetwood Jason Day
- 1pm: Jon Rahm, Patrick Cantlay, Matt Fitzpatrick
- 1.22pm: Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, Scottie Scheffler
- 6.03pm: Tyrrell Hatton, Will Zalatoris, Adam Scott
- 6.14pm: Justin Thomas, Dustin Johnson, Collin Morikawa
- 6.25pm: Jordan Spieth, Patrick Reed, Ludvig Aberg
- 6.47pm: Bryson DeChambeau, Viktor Hovland, Gary Woodland
- 7.09pm: Justin Rose, Cameron Smith, Brian Harman
For the full tee times, click here
11:31 AM BST
All eyes on Rory
The 2025 US PGA Championship is brimming with compelling storylines, none bigger than whether Rory McIlroy will be able to build on his career grand slam success and take another step towards what no golfer has ever done before – win all four majors in the same year and achieve the calendar grand slam.
McIlroy ended a near 11-year majors drought with his Masters triumph last month and must be licking his lips given Quail Hollow – a happy hunting ground for the 36-year-old – is hosting this week’s PGA Championship, which starts today.
The Northern Irishman has enjoyed more success at Quail Hollow than any golfer in the 156-player field, having won the PGA Tour’s regular stop here for a record fourth time last year by a comfortable five-stroke margin.
With the Masters already in the bag, should he also add the US PGA this week he would be halfway to becoming a golfing immortal.
“It’s always nice to come back to Quail Hollow, for obvious reasons, I have great memories from this place,” says McIlroy. “First win on the PGA Tour 15 years ago. Winning last year, I probably played my best golf of the year, especially at the weekend.”
McIlroy will start his opening round today from the 10th tee at 1.22pm BST alongside Scottie Scheffler and defending champion Xander Schauffele in a group featuring the world’s top three players.
Twice major winner Scheffler will feel in good touch having matched the PGA Tour 72-hole scoring record in his last start, while Schauffele is hoping to become the event’s first repeat winner since Brooks Koepka in 2019.
Jordan Spieth is the next man up when it comes to the career grand slam, and the chance to follow McIlroy into golf’s most exclusive club is most definitely on his mind.
“For me, if I could only win one tournament for the rest of my life, I’d pick this one for that reason,” says Spieth, who will be making his ninth attempt at completing the career slam of golf’s four majors.
Fan favourite Bryson DeChambeau, meanwhile, who finished runner-up last year and briefly held the lead in the final round at the Masters, will be looking to earn his third major title after winning his second US Open in 2024.
DeChambeau, who won the LIV Golf Korea event in his last start, will play the opening two rounds at Quail in the company of Viktor Hovland and Gary Woodland, starting today at 6:47pm BST from the first tee.
The first shot of the tournament will be struck at 12pm BST by European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald, who will set off from the first tee in the company of Ireland’s Padraig Harrington and Germany’s Martin Kaymer.
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