Rory McIlroy Arrives at Aronimink With Second Green Jacket and a Message: Major Run Isn't Over

Twelve months ago, Rory McIlroy walked into the PGA Championship feeling directionless. He'd just won the Masters, completed his career Grand Slam in dream fashion, but that first major in a decade left him searching for the next mountain to climb. He finished tied for 47th that week and went home frustrated.

Fast forward to this week at Aronimink Golf Club outside Philadelphia, and McIlroy looks like a completely different player. He's got a second green jacket now, a Ryder Cup victory under his belt, and he's walking into Thursday's opening round with crystal clarity about what comes next. "Coming into this tournament feels a lot different than what it did last year," McIlroy said. "I feel like I've got some nice clear road ahead to try to get some more of these majors."

The Field Is Stacked, and McIlroy Is the Headline Act

McIlroy and defending champion Scottie Scheffler are headlining what might be the strongest field assembled all year. Ninety-seven of the top 100 golfers in the world showed up to take on Aronimink's brutal setup. Scheffler, the world No. 1, is chasing back-to-back major wins after claiming his third major at the 2025 PGA at Quail Hollow Club and adding the Open Championship before summer ended. The man admits majors come with extra baggage. "You come into the press room, there's more people, more fans, more noise. There's just a lot more stuff going on," Scheffler said. But he's got a mindset that keeps him locked in: show up and give the tournament his best.

There's one small wrinkle for McIlroy going in: he cut his Tuesday practice round short on the fourth hole because of discomfort from a blister on his right pinky toe, something he's dealt with since last Friday. He was back on the course Wednesday and is expected to compete.

Aronimink's Bunker Nightmare Is Going to Wreck Scores

Renovated by Gil Hanse in 2018, this par-70, 7,394-yard course is a completely different beast than it used to be. They tore out trees, which sounds like relief until you realize they replaced them with 174 bunkers. Some holes have 20-plus bunkers alone. The par-4 11th is absolutely ridiculous.

McIlroy's scouting report was blunt: "Strategy off the tee is pretty nonexistent. It's basically bash driver down there and then figure it out from there." The real battle, he says, happens on the greens. "Getting yourself in the right sections of the greens, making sure you leave yourself below the hole for the most part. That's the key this week."

Defending champion Xander Schauffele added his own warning: "Course is firming up. Greens are diabolical. It should be a really good test."

First-Timers Are Circling

The PGA has crowned 12 first-time major winners since 2001. This year, notable players chasing their first major include Tommy Fleetwood, Viktor Hovland, Ludwig Aberg, and Cameron Young, who's a trendy pick after winning The Players Championship and the Cadillac Championship this spring and climbing to No. 3 in the world. Young has seven major top-10 finishes and isn't letting the hype change how he works. "I'm trying to value the work that I put in and kind of evaluate days based on how I go about my day and not necessarily what I shot or how I finished a tournament," he said.

The tournament starts Thursday with 156 players competing. The top 70 and ties will make the cut.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.