2025 PGA Championship: A Star-Studded Field Heads to Quail Hollow
As the 2025 PGA Championship approaches, all eyes are on Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina—the site of many memorable golf moments and now hosting the second major of the season for the second time since 2017.
This year’s field is one of the strongest in recent memory, featuring 49 of the top 50 players in the Official World Golf Ranking, including World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, No. 2 Rory McIlroy, and defending champion Xander Schauffele. The event promises fireworks, with multiple storylines already emerging during the pre-tournament press conferences held Tuesday and Wednesday.
Rory McIlroy, fresh off his record-breaking Masters victory, headlines the list of contenders. With four wins at Quail Hollow already under his belt and a Career Grand Slam now complete, McIlroy will be looking to become just the sixth player in history to win both the Masters and PGA Championship in the same year—a feat last accomplished by Jack Nicklaus in 1975.
Defending champion Xander Schauffele, currently ranked third in the world, is aiming to make history as the first player since Brooks Koepka (2019) to successfully defend a PGA title. His 2024 win at Valhalla remains one of the most dominant performances in major championship history—21-under par, a record for lowest score in relation to par.
Scottie Scheffler, the current World No. 1, comes into the week riding high after a commanding wire-to-wire win at THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson. He’ll look to add a third major title to his resume and continue his impressive run of form that includes six top-10 finishes in nine starts this season.
Other big names include Jordan Spieth, who continues his quest for the Career Grand Slam, and Justin Thomas, a two-time PGA champion who won this tournament at Quail Hollow in 2017. Sepp Straka, the surprise winner of last week’s Truist Championship, enters the major scene with momentum, joining McIlroy as the only multiple winners on TOUR this season.
LIV Golfers in the Field
Despite ongoing tensions between the PGA TOUR and LIV Golf, several high-profile LIV players have earned or been granted entry into the 2025 PGA Championship field through exemptions and special invitations. Among them are:
Brooks Koepka – A three-time PGA Champion and one of the most consistent major performers of the past decade.
Phil Mickelson – A five-time major winner and crowd favorite, competing on a special exemption.
Dustin Johnson – Former World No. 1 and 2016 U.S. Open champion, also granted a special invite.
Bryson DeChambeau – The 2020 U.S. Open champion, coming off a strong runner-up finish at last year’s PGA.
Cameron Smith – 2022 Open Championship winner, making his return to a major stage.
Sergio Garcia , Tyrrell Hatton , and Patrick Reed – All veterans of major championships and former Ryder Cup standouts.
Their presence adds another layer of intrigue to an already stacked field, with fans and analysts alike curious to see how they’ll perform under the bright lights of major championship golf.
Course Notes & History
Quail Hollow itself presents a stern test. Known for its tree-lined fairways, small greens, and strategic bunkering, it was recently renovated with updated turfgrass and lengthened holes. The course played host to several key moments in major history, including Thomas’ breakthrough win in 2017 and McIlroy’s earlier victories.
With a packed field, historic venue, and a group of elite players chasing legacy-defining moments, the 2025 PGA Championship is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated majors in years.
