CHARLOTTE, N.C. – This week, the PGA Championship, the second major tournament of the season, brings the world`s best male professional golfers to Quail Hollow Club. Known as one of the longest courses on the PGA Tour, it will host a highly competitive field.
Fresh off completing his career Grand Slam at the Masters last month – becoming only the sixth golfer ever to do so – Rory McIlroy is arguably the player to watch at Quail Hollow. He boasts an impressive record there, with four previous victories. McIlroy now aims to achieve a feat not seen since Jack Nicklaus in 1975: winning both the Masters and the PGA Championship in the same year.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler recently secured his first win of the season. Similarly, LIV Golf star Bryson DeChambeau is also coming off a win and hopes to rebound from his final-round struggles at the Masters by claiming his third major title.
Defending champion Xander Schauffele, who won two majors in 2024, has been recovering from a rib injury. Notably, he is the only player to have finished in the top 10 in each of the last five major championships. Schauffele has a chance to make history by becoming the only player in the last six decades to win his first three major titles within a five-start span.
This analysis breaks down the 156-player field, categorizing competitors from the top favorites and serious contenders to past champions and the PGA of America club professionals.
Tier I: The Clear Favorites
The top golfers globally are no longer solely focused on chasing Scottie Scheffler, despite him being slightly favored in betting odds over Rory McIlroy this week. McIlroy might be facing the most pressure after securing his long-sought green jacket at the Masters and heading to Quail Hollow, a course he loves. In the past 70 years, only five golfers have managed to win the first two majors 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 professional golf`s most select group returns to a course that has been his happy place. He is the sole four-time champion of the Wells Fargo Championship (now the Truist Championship) held at Quail Hollow Club. He won by five strokes in 2024, one in 2021, seven in 2015, and four in 2010. He set the course record with a 10-under 61 in 2015. The course layout particularly benefits long hitters off the tee, and McIlroy was averaging 317.5 yards leading into last week, ranking third in the field.
Scottie Scheffler
It was unlikely the world No. 1 would go a full season without a victory. After winning nine times globally in 2024, Scheffler claimed his first win at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson on May 4, dominating with an eight-shot victory and matching the PGA Tour 72-hole scoring record at 31-under 253. Scheffler`s only prior appearance at Quail Hollow was the 2022 Presidents Cup, where he had a 0-3-1 record as part of the victorious U.S. team.
Tier II: The Guys Who Can Win
These players are strong, legitimate contenders for the Wanamaker Trophy on Sunday. They possess the game, mental fortitude, and composure required to handle four demanding rounds under pressure.
Xander Schauffele
The defending PGA Championship winner finished as runner-up in his last two starts at Quail Hollow, finishing four strokes behind Wyndham Clark in 2023 and five behind McIlroy last season. Schauffele is gradually regaining form after being sidelined by a rib injury. His recent results are promising: a tie for 12th at the Valspar Championship, eighth at the Masters, 18th at the RBC Heritage, and 11th at the Truist Championship. The two-time major champion drives the ball sufficiently far and is known as one of the best players on tour with long irons.
Bryson DeChambeau
DeChambeau has a solid history at the Wells Fargo Championship, finishing solo fourth in 2018 and tying for ninth in 2021. He came close to catching Schauffele in last year`s PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club, finishing just one stroke back. Given his impressive length off the tee (he leads the LIV Golf League with a 333.3-yard average) and recent performance (a tie for fifth at the Masters and a win at the most recent LIV Golf event in Korea), DeChambeau is expected to be a strong presence in contention for another major title.
Justin Thomas
The two-time PGA Championship winner ended a nearly three-year winless stretch with a playoff victory at the RBC Heritage on April 20. He secured his first Wanamaker Trophy at Quail Hollow in 2017, winning by two strokes. Quail Hollow`s layout is less penalizing for his driving inaccuracy (57.8% fairways hit), and his putting has been excellent for much of the season.
Collin Morikawa
With two runner-up finishes this season, Morikawa is overdue to end his winless streak (his last tour victory was the Zozo Championship in October 2023). The 2020 PGA Championship winner tied for fourth in the event last year.
Ludvig Åberg
The rising star won a signature event at the Genesis Invitational and placed seventh at the Masters, but his recent results also include a pair of missed cuts and ties for 54th at the RBC Heritage and 60th at the Truist Championship. His iron play and putting have shown weaknesses; he ranks 131st in strokes gained: approach (-.214) and 149th in putting (-.358).
Brooks Koepka
The five-time major champion hasn`t displayed his `Big-Game Brooks` form in majors since winning his third Wanamaker Trophy at the 2023 PGA Championship. He hasn`t finished in the top 15 in his last seven major starts, including a missed cut at the Masters in April.
Justin Rose
Rose is coming off disappointing runner-up finishes at last year`s Open Championship and the Masters, where he lost to McIlroy in a playoff. The 44-year-old may not drive the ball as far as he once did, but it 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 maintained a top-10 finish in all seven of his LIV Golf League starts this season and tied for 14th at the Masters. In last year`s PGA Championship, he started 4 over through six holes but nearly recovered to make the cut. It 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 over six holes on the back nine. He secured 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 his swing issues after winning the Valspar Championship, tying for 21st at the Masters, and 13th at the RBC Heritage. He tied for third at the 2021 Wells Fargo Championship, 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 major start. He has already claimed three victories in the LIV Golf League this season.
Tyrrell Hatton
Hatton has consistently 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 mounted a strong Sunday charge to finish third at the Masters and is certainly capable of contending at Quail Hollow. In the 2017 PGA Championship, three birdies on the back nine brought him within one shot of the lead, but a bogey on the final hole resulted in a tie for second, two strokes behind Thomas. Reed has two top-10 finishes at the Wells Fargo Championship (2018 and 2021).
Tommy Fleetwood
With 11 wins worldwide, Fleetwood is still seeking his first PGA Tour victory. He has finished in the top 25 in nine of his last 13 major appearances.
Jordan Spieth
Spieth has the opportunity to join McIlroy in completing the career Grand Slam by winning the Open Championship (Claret Jug). Spieth won the Masters and U.S. Open in 2015, and The Open two years later. When Spieth congratulated McIlroy last week at the Truist Championship, McIlroy reportedly told him he was next. Spieth`s reply, according to a report, was, `Yeah, at Rory McIlroy Country Club.` Spieth went 5-0-0 at Quail Hollow during the 2022 Presidents Cup.
Patrick Cantlay
Cantlay has not won on tour in over two years and is still pursuing his first major championship title. His driving and iron play are strong enough to win this season; he ranks ninth in strokes gained: tee to green (1.111).
Shane Lowry
The Irishman`s biggest major focus will likely be in July when The Open returns to Royal Portrush, Northern Ireland, where he lifted the Claret Jug in 2019. He has played consistently well throughout the season, including a tie for second at the Truist Championship.
Russell Henley
While Henley might not have exceptional length off the tee, his accurate driving, superb iron play, and reliable putting contributed to his tie for 10th at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship.
Wyndham Clark
Clark`s major championship results have been inconsistent since his unexpected victory at the 2023 U.S. Open. His form this season has also been up and down. However, he hits the ball a long way and won the Wells Fargo Championship two years ago.
Jason Day
Day won the 2015 PGA Championship at Whistling Straits and the 2018 Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow. He tied for fourth at Quail Hollow last year. Day withdrew from last week`s Truist Championship for unspecified reasons.
Tier III: If Everything Goes Right
This tier features potential sleeper candidates for the PGA Championship title. It includes previous major winners, players who have won on tour this season, and some making comebacks.
Sungjae Im
Im has missed the cut in four of his last five PGA Championship starts but has achieved top-10 finishes in the last two majors, tying for seventh at the 2024 Open Championship and fifth at the Masters. He also has two top-10 finishes in his last two starts at Quail Hollow.
Keegan Bradley
The U.S. Ryder Cup team captain, champion of the 2011 PGA Championship, 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 PGA Championship appearances.
Harris English
The five-time PGA Tour winner has generally had more success in the U.S. Open, but Quail Hollow has suited his game. He tied for third at 12 under in the 2023 Wells Fargo Championship.
Sepp Straka
Straka`s breakthrough in a major came with a tie for seventh at the 2023 PGA Championship. He tied for eighth at Quail Hollow last year. He recently secured his fourth career PGA Tour victory at the Truist Championship. Can he win for a second consecutive week?
Maverick McNealy
The new co-chairman of the PGA Tour Player Advisory Council holds a degree in management science and engineering and also possesses an excellent golf swing.
Thomas Detry
Detry tied for fourth at last year`s PGA Championship, marking his best major finish. This will be his first professional tournament at Quail Hollow.
Rasmus Højgaard
A PGA Tour rookie, Højgaard has won five times on the DP World Tour, including the Irish Open in September. He and his twin brother, Nicolai, finished runner-up 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 claimed his fourth PGA Tour victory at the Valero Texas Open on April 20. He tied for 13th in the 2017 PGA Championship.
Robert MacIntyre
MacIntyre`s tie for eighth at last year`s PGA Championship helped him overcome feelings of homesickness and potentially propelled him to 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 majors, 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 at 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 major championship start.
Sam Burns
Burns seems to have overcome his struggles in majors, evidenced by his tie for ninth at the 2024 U.S. Open. He tied for 13th in the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship.
Cameron Smith
Another former major champion with limited history at Quail Hollow, Smith has shown improved form in the LIV Golf League recently with three consecutive top-10 finishes.
Min Woo Lee
It`s time for Lee to find his form 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 set to return to the PGA Championship for the first time since missing the cut in 2022.
Michael Kim
Kim`s remarkable comeback from golf`s challenges continues; he tied for 27th at Augusta National, his first made cut in a major since tying for 35th at The Open in 2018. Kim withdrew from the Truist during the third round due to a back injury.
Max Homa
Few golfers have struggled with form or confidence as much as Homa over the past year. Nevertheless, he is a two-time winner of the Wells Fargo Championship (2019 and 2022) and showed signs of finding his game with a tie for 12th 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 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 ranks 33rd in the European Ryder Cup team standings and needs to improve his play to rejoin the team.
Byeong Hun An
The South Korean golfer could be a dark horse pick 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 a special invitation to enter the field. He is currently 28th in the LIV Golf season-long points standings.
Sahith Theegala
High expectations were set for Theegala this season, but he has not recorded a top-15 finish in his first 13 tour starts. He is struggling with both approaches (148th in strokes gained: approach (-.358)) and off the tee (132nd, -.135). He withdrew from the Truist Championship in the final round due to a neck injury.
Gary Woodland
Woodland`s remarkable return from brain surgery remains one of golf`s most inspiring stories. He has two top-10 finishes at Quail Hollow and continues to drive the ball powerfully (313.3 yards).
Akshay Bhatia
Bhatia is expected to have a breakthrough performance in a major soon. He tied for third at The Players Championship, another significant event.
Tom Kim
The South Korean golfer returns to Quail Hollow, where he became a fan favorite with his energy and bold play at the 2022 Presidents Cup.
Will Zalatoris
Zalatoris is still working to find his best form after recovering from back surgery. He has dropped to 74th in the world rankings.
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 as many years.
Si Woo Kim
Kim has shown improved form after missing three cuts in four events, tying for eighth at the RBC Heritage and 15th at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson.
Keith Mitchell
Mitchell struggled last fall with four straight missed cuts but has since recorded five consecutive top-25 finishes, including a tie for second at the Corales Puntacana Championship. He held the outright lead at last week`s Truist Championship. He also has two top-10 finishes at Quail Hollow.
Sergio Garcia
Garcia last made the cut in the PGA Championship in 2015 (tied for 54th). He has three top-10 finishes in the LIV Golf League this season and has recorded top-25 finishes in his last three starts at Quail Hollow.
Aaron Rai
Rai is known for hitting the ball exceptionally straight off the tee and with irons. However, his driving distance is not his strength (174th, 286.6 yards), and he has missed the cut in his last two starts at Quail Hollow.
Adam Scott
The 2013 Masters champion has 20 top-10 finishes in 95 major starts, but only one in his last 21. He has missed the cut in three of his last four PGA Championship starts.
Tony Finau
Finau was previously a consistent top-10 finisher in majors but has only one (a tie for third at the 2024 U.S. Open) in his last 15 major starts.
Mackenzie Hughes
Familiarity with the course could make Hughes a dark horse. He lives near Quail Hollow Club, where he tied for ninth in the 2022 Wells Fargo Championship and sixth last year.
Lucas Glover
After strong performances in Florida (tie 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 was runner-up two years prior.
Tier IV: Hey, Miracles Happen
These are the long-shot players. For someone from this tier to win, everything would need to align perfectly over the four days at Quail Hollow Club. However, the Wanamaker Trophy has been hoisted by underdogs before, including Y.E. Yang, Shaun Micheel, and Rich Beem, proving it`s possible.
- 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
- Thriston Lawrence
- Erik van Rooyen
Fowler had fallen to 125th in the world rankings and required a special invitation from the PGA of America to enter the field. This seemed to motivate him last week at the Truist Championship, where he was just two strokes off the lead after the first round. One of his six PGA Tour victories occurred at the 2012 Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow, defeating D.A. Points and McIlroy in a playoff.
Mickelson will turn 55 next month, and his peak golf years are likely behind him. He made history as golf`s oldest major champion by surprisingly winning the 2021 PGA Championship. He has 10 top-10 finishes in 17 starts at Quail Hollow, including a tie for fifth in 2018. Among players with at least 20 rounds on the course, `Lefty` ranks third in true strokes gained (2.10), trailing only McIlroy (2.87) and Day (2.12).
Campbell, Highsmith, Vilips, Higgo, and Griffin have already won PGA Tour events this season.
Tier V: Happy to Make the Cut
This category includes some older players striving to maintain their tour status and several newcomers aiming for greater access to professional events. They are not expected to be among the frontrunners unless something truly extraordinary happens, reminiscent of Shaun Micheel`s unexpected win over two decades ago.
- 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
- Marco Penge
Noren, who tied for 12th in last year`s PGA Championship, made his first start of 2025 at last week`s Truist Championship after dealing with a neck injury and hamstring and glute tears.
At 52, Bland is the second-oldest player in the LIV Golf League but is still playing effectively, ranking 17th in points and finishing in the top 12 in his last two events.
McKibbin, 22, played at the same Northern Ireland golf club as McIlroy. He reportedly disregarded McIlroy`s advice when joining Rahm`s Legion XIII GC team. He is one of the longest hitters in the LIV Golf League (322.2-yard driving average) but has faced significant challenges with his putting.
Tier VI: Past Champions
These are former PGA Championship winners who are not categorized in the tiers above. Past champions receive a lifetime exemption into the major. This group has previously included 1991 winner John Daly and 2002 winner Rich Beem, as well as Tiger Woods, who is currently recovering from an Achilles tendon injury.
- Martin Kaymer
- Jimmy Walker
- Jason Dufner
- Padraig Harrington
- Vijay Singh
- Shaun Micheel
Daly is skipping the PGA Championship this year to compete in the Regions Tradition, the first major on the PGA Tour Champions circuit, held in Birmingham, Alabama. Daly withdrew from last year`s PGA Championship after an opening round of 11-over 82.
Beem mentioned in an interview that he hasn`t had sufficient practice time due to his role as an analyst for Sky Sports at major tournaments. Beem missed the cut last year after finishing 20 over through the first 36 holes, admitting the course `handed my [butt] to me.`
Tier VII: PGA of America Professionals
This list features the top-20 finishers from the PGA Professional Championship, which took place from April 27-30 at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida.
- 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 group includes Michael Block, who was a standout at the 2023 PGA Championship, achieving a hole-in-one in the final round and tying for 15th place. This was the best finish for a club professional at the PGA Championship since Lonnie Nielsen tied for 11th in 1986.
Collet, from Vero Beach, Florida, dominated the PGA Professional Championship field with a 10-stroke victory, the largest margin in the event`s history. This will be his fourth appearance in the PGA Championship. Collet played college golf at Eastern Kentucky.
Wesley Dunham 
Marcus Blakely