2025 PGA Championship Preview — Quail Hollow (May 15-18)

Following on from an epic Masters, the golf world turns its attention to the PGA Championship!

After completing the career grand slam, can Rory nab another major? Will Justin Rose break his curse? Can Bryson continue his hot streak? Can Scottie avoid being arrested this time?

Expect some fireworks at Quail Hollow… we can’t wait!

How does Quail Hollow shape up as a major venue?

Quail Hollow is somewhat of an outlier as a PGA Championship host venue. Rather than being a cloistered layout wheeled out for majors every decade or so, Quail Hollow witnesses regular action. It's been a PGA Tour stop for years, going back to the Kemper Open in the 1960s and 70s, the Wachovia Championship in the 2000s and the current Wells Fargo Championship. And the course hosted the PGA Championship in 2017 (when Justin Thomas won) and the 2021 Presidents Cup. While its front nine is bland and boring, the back nine is one of the hardest on tour. The final three holes are known as “The Green Mile” and, statistically, are among the toughest finishing holes on tour. With water in play on all three holes, chaos generally ensues.

Is it true the Block Party is returning?

Yes! Michael Block, golf’s most beloved underdog will make his seventh PGA Championship start after earning one of the 20 club pro spots at last week’s 72-hole qualifier. The Californian was the feelgood story of the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill. After shooting a 7-under 64 in the first round to secure the outright lead, Block's comical, self-deprecating post-round press conferences and on-course interviews saw him quickly become a media darling. He was the only club pro to make the cut, but his spectacular week reached its zenith in the final round. Paired with megastar Rory McIlroy, the 46-year-old battler slam dunked an ace at the 15^th hole, ensuring the “Block Party” was in full swing. Block finished tied 15^th in 2023 but missed the cut at last year’s PGA Championship. Here’s hoping the thrill of the “Block Party” can return at Quail Hollow.

What are the odds of a calendar Grand Slam for Rory?

After winning the Masters to break his major drought and complete his career Grand Slam, Rory is now playing with house money. And if ever a golfer could complete the calendar Grand Slam, it’s gotta be a free and unshackled Rory McIlroy. Given Rory has won at Quail Hollow four times and holds the course record (61), you wouldn't bet against Rory's calendar slam still being a live chance following the PGA Championship.

Is Scottie Scheffler officially off the boil? Only one win this year…

Geez, tough crowd! Yes, Rory’s Masters brilliance overshadowed the world No.1 but sustained hot streaks — such as Scottie’s exceptional 2024 — are always bound to cool off at some stage. Scottie still finished fourth at the Masters despite his game being slightly off-kilter following an unfortunate ravioli injury that sidelined him early in the year. But his record-breaking performance to win the Byron Nelson last start was a stunner, demonstrating Scottie was back to his big-time best. Was it the win he needed? After some uncharacteristic blunders, possibly. Barring a run-in with law enforcement this year, Scottie should be a top contender heading into the final round.

How will Bryson fare at the PGA Championship after ‘doing a Rory’ at the Masters?

How quickly the wheel turns! After hitting the lead at the Masters just two holes into the final round, it proved to be a tough Sunday for Bryson. An error-strewn front nine scuppered his bid for a maiden green jacket, with inconsistent approach shots a glaring issue. It was, in essence, a very Rory-like major performance: sticking his nose in the frame then suddenly retreating at crunch time. Bryson’s pain at letting the opportunity slip was obvious, going on the record to say Rory didn’t speak to him during their final round pairing while his foul-mouthed whining at the state of the LIV Mexico bunkers a couple of weeks later indicated some lingering aftereffects. After getting run down at LIV Miami, the Masters, and LIV Mexico, Bryson finally got the job done at LIV Korea at his last start. Had he blown the lead again, the doubts would’ve only grown bigger and the scar tissue thicker. But Korea was the confidence boost Bryson needed, and he's the best chance not named Rory or Scottie at the PGA Championship.

Where does Rory vs Bryson sit on the rival-meter?

In between Rory-Joe LaCava and Rory-LIV.

Which Aussie will fare best at Quail Hollow?

There are seven Australians playing at the 2025 PGA Championship: Cam Smith, Cam Davis, Min Woo Lee, Karl Vilips, Adam Scott, Elvis Smylie and Jason Day. Of the cohort, Jason Day seems best placed to make a run. A winner of the US PGA Championship in 2015 — the year he also rose to world No.1 — Day has been back to his best since shaking off a wrist injury that was potentially career-ending. At the Masters, Day was the only Aussie to fire a shot. He finished tied 10^th after bogeys at his final two holes. But perhaps the most impressive aspect was Day's start to the tournament, when he went 35 holes without a bogey. Keeping bogeys off the scorecard is a must in majors and if JDay can do that at Quail Hollow, he’ll be up there again.

What about the defending champion?

Xander Schauffele won his first major at the PGA Championship last year at Valhalla then followed up with a second at the Open Championship at Royal Troon. He was the hottest golfer not named Scottie Scheffler last year, but 2025 has been a battle. The defending PGA champion admitted he shouldn’t have teed it up at the season-opening Sentry Championship while carrying a rib injury. It resulted in a two-month break from the game to allow his body to heal. Xander finished eighth at the Masters without really ever contending but the guy is so talented and consistent that he’ll again be one of the top fancies at Quail Hollow.

Who’s a smokey this week?

Gotta be Spain's Eugenio Chacarra. The ex-Fireball won the Hero Indian Open and dominated the DP World Tour’s Asian swing to secure a PGA Championship berth. The 25-year-old was disappointed to leave LIV but said his focus was on playing majors. Now, he gets the chance to prove himself.

What about Joaquin Niemann?

The Chilean birdie machine is absolutely dominating LIV, notching three wins from seven starts this year. But the big knock on Joaquin Niemann is his performance in majors. He didn’t do anything to silence the doubters when finishing T29 at the Masters after receiving a special invitation to play at Augusta. The jury's still out, but if he can bring his stellar LIV form he’ll be a major threat.

Surely Justin Rose has paid his dues? When will the heartbreak end?

If you needed evidence golf isn’t fair, cue the past two majors. At the Masters, Rose was beaten in a playoff by Rory McIlroy after bookending his tournament with two superb rounds. At Royal Troon last year, Rosey was denied by Xander Schauffele, who blew away his hopes with one of the greatest final nines in Open Championship history. As Greg Norman can attest, there are no guarantees in golf and chances to win majors are fleeting. Yes, Justin Rose probably deserves one to go his way. But you sense his hopes of claiming a late-career major may have come and gone.

With Rory’s career Grand Slam complete, will Jordan Spieth join him this week?

The Jordan Spieth experience is unique, and the talented American indicated a welcome burst of form with a fourth at last week's Byron Nelson. But given his sketchy play off the tee, buying J Speith stock at Quail Hollow would be like investing in a dodgy online crypto exchange. Spieth will be having another crack at completing his career Grand Slam next year, you'd suggest.

What’s happened to Jon Rahm?

Jon Rahm is too good not to snag another major but it might not come at Quail Hollow. Rahm believes he’s the best player in the world but is still to break through for a win on the LIV Tour in 2025. Yes, he seems to bring it every week and he’s a ruthless killer when he is in contention. But the truth is, he’s probably just below his peak at the moment. And in major stressfests, that’s the difference between being a true contender and a well-beaten also-ran.

Vijay Singh vs YE Yang to make the cut?

1998 and 2004 PGA winner Vijay is the ultimate perfectionist. But I'm going with YE Yang, who holds the gold standard clutch PGA Championship performance in his epic 2009 victory over Tiger.

Can Sepp Straka win this week?

Many good judges were big on Sepp at the Masters. The Austrian won the American Express Championship in January and was inside the top 10 in Strokes Gained on the PGA Tour. But Sepp retreated big time at Augusta, missing the cut by three. It was a shocking performance but Straka has been incredibly consistent in 2025 and and could redeem himself at the season’s second major. Out of the big four, the PGA Championship setup most resembles a regular PGA Tour event, circumstances which should be fit Sepp's style of play.

Who’s the leading lefty this week?

Brian Harman. The Ricky Ponting doppelganger won the Valero Texas Open last month and finished third at the RBC Heritage last start, an ominous return to form for the 2023 Open Championship winner.

Who’s flying under the radar this week?

Gotta be Tom Hoge. While major success has proven elusive, the 35-year-old American seems to grind it out every week on tour. His form has tailed off since consecutive top five finishes at the Players and Valero Texas Open. But Hoge finished 14^th at last month’s Masters and recorded his best result in a major (T9) at the 2022 PGA Championship.

Who’s going to win then?

Scottie Scheffler beats Tyrrell Hatton in a playoff.

Written by Jamie Martin Jamie Martin is currently locked in a battle to keep his handicap hovering around the mid-single digits. Despite his obvious short-game shortcomings, Jamie enjoys playing and writing about every aspect of golf and is often seen making practice swings in a mirror.