Rory McIlroy Is Coming for His Seventh Major and the PGA Championship Won't Know What Hit It

One year ago, Rory McIlroy showed up at the PGA Championship feeling lost. He'd just won the Masters, completed his career Grand Slam, and snapped a 10-year major drought in dream fashion. Then he finished tied for 47th. Yeah, you read that right.

Fast forward twelve months. McIlroy is rejuvenated, he's got a Ryder Cup victory under his belt, he's wearing a second green jacket, and he's not about to let a blister on his right pinky toe slow him down. He cut his Tuesday practice round short due to discomfort, but he was back on the course Wednesday and fully expects to compete. Coming into Aronimink Golf Club this week feels completely different than last year, and McIlroy knows exactly what he wants: major number seven.

A Major Field Takes On a Nightmare Course

McIlroy and defending champion Scottie Scheffler headline what might be the strongest field of the entire year. Ninety-seven of the world's top 100 golfers are showing up at Aronimink in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, ready to go to war. This place is no joke either. The par-70, 7,394-yard course was completely renovated by Gil Hanse in 2018 and features far fewer trees than it used to. But here's the kicker: the greens are absolutely brutal, and there are an estimated 174 bunkers scattered across the property. The par-4 11th hole alone has more than 20 bunkers. Approach shots come uphill to sloped, difficult green complexes that'll make you want to tear your scorecard in half.

"Strategy off the tee is pretty nonexistent," McIlroy said. "It's basically bash driver down there and then figure it out from there." He's right. The real battle this week is on the greens. You have to get yourself in the right sections, leave yourself below the hole as much as possible, and pray. Defending champ Xander Schauffele summed it up perfectly: "Course is firming up. Greens are diabolical. It should be a really good test."

Scheffler's Quest and the First-Time Winners Lurking

Scottie Scheffler is the No. 1 player in the world and he's coming off back-to-back majors. He won the 2025 PGA at Quail Hollow Club and then took the Open Championship before summer even started. Now he's trying to go back-to-back at a major for the first time in his career. Scheffler admits the energy around majors is impossible to ignore, but he brings the same mindset to every tournament. "If I show up to a tournament, I'm there to give that tournament my best," he said.

But don't sleep on the guys chasing their first major. Cameron Young is a trendy pick after winning The Players Championship and the Cadillac Championship this spring. He's at No. 3 in the world now with seven major top-10 finishes and a new perspective on what winning actually means. Tommy Fleetwood, Viktor Hovland, and Ludvig Aberg are all in the field hunting for that first major title. The PGA Championship has crowned 12 first-time major winners since 2001, so anything is possible this week.

The field of 156 includes 11 LIV Golf members and 20 PGA teaching professionals. Michael Block is back too, the fan favorite who tied for 15th three years ago at Oak Hill. The top 70 and ties make the cut after 36 holes. Thursday can't get here fast enough.

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