Rory McIlroy Is Back and Aronimink's 174 Bunkers Won't Stop Him

Rory McIlroy showed up to the PGA Championship a year ago still figuring out his next move. Fresh off completing the career Grand Slam at the Masters, the Northern Irishman finished tied for 47th and left wondering what was next. Fast forward twelve months, add a Ryder Cup victory and a second green jacket to his resume, and McIlroy is walking into Aronimink Golf Club Thursday feeling like a completely different competitor.

"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."

He's got a legitimate shot, too. McIlroy's six major championships mean a win this week ties him with Arnold Palmer, Sam Snead, and Bobby Jones. The guy cut his Tuesday practice round short due to a blister on his right pinky toe, but he was back out Wednesday and is expected to compete. A toe isn't stopping this version of Rory.

The Bunker Gauntlet

Aronimink Golf Club is ready to mess with everyone's head. The Gil Hanse redesigned course ditched a lot of the trees it used to have, but make up for that with an absolutely brutal 174 bunkers dotting the landscape. The par-4 11th alone has 20-plus bunkers waiting to swallow bad shots. Approach shots come uphill to greens with slopes that'll make you want to throw your clubs in the water.

McIlroy's take on the strategy? Forget finesse off the tee.

"Strategy off the tee is pretty nonexistent. It's basically bash driver down there and then figure it out from there," he said. "The greens are the main focus this week, and I think 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 Scottie Scheffler, the World No. 1 who won the 2025 PGA at Quail Hollow and the Open Championship before summer, agreed that this test is serious. "Course is firming up. Greens are diabolical," 2024 champion Xander Schauffele added. "It should be a really good test."

A Stacked Field With Hungry Challengers

This is the strongest field of the year. 97 of the top 100 golfers in the world are on site, including trendy pick Cameron Young, who broke through to win The Players Championship and the Cadillac Championship this spring and jumped to No. 3 in the world rankings. Tommy Fleetwood, Viktor Hovland, and Ludvig Aberg are all hunting their first major title.

The field includes 11 LIV Golf members and 20 PGA teaching professionals, with fan favorite Michael Block back after tying for 15th three years ago at Oak Hill. Jordan Spieth is chasing his fourth major and needs just the PGA to complete the career Grand Slam, though he hasn't won on tour since 2022.

The cut comes after 36 holes for the top 70 and ties. Tee off Thursday and watch McIlroy prove that last year's rough finish was nothing but a blip.

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