Rory McIlroy aims to secure his sixth Major title at the PGA Championship, where he will compete alongside the top-ranked golfer Scottie Scheffler and defending champion Xander Schauffele, currently positioned at No. 3 in the world, at Quail Hollow.
The leading trio of the tournament will commence their rounds at 1:22 PM BST on Thursday, with Rory McIlroy aiming to secure the second leg of the calendar Grand Slam. This follows his recent victory at the Masters, where he became the sixth golfer in history to claim all four major championships.
Jordan Spieth is the only player who can join McIlroy in achieving a career Grand Slam this week. Like Jon Rahm and Irishman Séamus Power, Spieth draws motivation from McIlroy’s achievement at Augusta National as he seeks to capture the Wanamaker Trophy.
“Seeing Rory win after his pursuit for several years was truly motivating,” Spieth commented as he gradually regains his form and confidence following wrist surgery last year.
Rahm expressed a preference for a career trajectory akin to Sir Nick Faldo, who boasts six major titles of only two kinds, rather than achieving three different majors. “If you manage to win each of the four once, it holds such significance that it might outweigh having six of just two,” he remarked.
Pádraig Harrington noted earlier this week that McIlroy possesses the ability to dominate at a course like Quail Hollow, where Shane Lowry will be playing alongside five-time Major champion Brooks Koepka and an invigorated Rickie Fowler (2:38 PM on Thursday; 6:06 PM BST Friday) for the opening rounds.
Despite McIlroy’s impressive driving skills, Rahm admitted he would prefer to adopt the Northern Irishman’s exceptional putting game at Quail Hollow. Power, on the other hand, admires McIlroy’s strength and capacity to navigate challenging bunkers from 340 yards away. He also finds inspiration in the success of his fellow Irishman and reflects on his own enjoyable experiences on the PGA Tour.
“What golf course doesn’t favor a player who can drive it 330 yards straight down the fairway?” Power quipped. “He will be a formidable competitor. Both he and Scottie (Scheffler) are displaying a level of golf that is rare over an extended period.”
However, he acknowledged that luck and fortunate breaks play a crucial role in the game. “We’ll see how it unfolds, and hopefully, we can remain competitive by Sunday afternoon.”
Power has positive memories from the PGA Championship, having contended in his debut at Southern Hills in Tulsa in 2022, where he finished tied for ninth, just one stroke ahead of eventual champion Justin Thomas, and only four shots shy of the playoff featuring Will Zalatoris.
“I was only a few strokes from the playoff, and those shots could have been achievable,” he reflected. “Shane (Lowry) left a thoughtful note in my locker on the final day, which had a significant impact.”
He recalled Lowry’s message about the unpredictability of major events, emphasizing that unexpected occurrences can lead to remarkable outcomes, and that being in contention provides opportunities for success.
“Such a feat is rare, and there’s a reason for that. Nevertheless, I am eager to put myself in that position come the weekend.”
While Rahm holds a US Open and a Masters title, he aspires to add another Major championship to his resume, focusing on total titles rather than diversity. He does not compare himself directly to McIlroy but felt inspired by McIlroy’s recent win.
“I’ve had the fortune of winning a couple of times, though nothing quite like that,” he shared. “Witnessing his emotions and the significance of that triumph rekindles your desire to return to that level of achievement.”
“The feelings of accomplishment that come with winning drive you to regain that experience. That’s where the motivation stems from a reminder of the importance of striving for such positions once more.”
