2025 PGA Championship: Storylines to Watch at Quail Hollow

Mark Schlabach: While Scottie Scheffler enters as the narrow betting favorite, having recently secured his first win of 2025, many would argue Rory McIlroy is currently golf`s top player. McIlroy boasts three tour victories this year, including significant wins at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Players Championship, and a historic Masters triumph that completed his career Grand Slam. His dominant recent form, coupled with an exceptional record at Quail Hollow (four wins, one runner-up), positions him as the player to beat. Scheffler, conversely, lacks stroke-play experience at Quail Hollow; his 2022 Presidents Cup appearance there (0-3-1 record) was notably underwhelming.

Paolo Uggetti: I concur with Mark – Rory is the clear favorite, arriving with unmatched form. Yet, it`s striking how swiftly the dynamic at the top can change. Despite Scheffler`s remarkable consistency this season, his single win hasn`t matched last year`s blistering pace, allowing McIlroy to reclaim the mantle of perceived world No. 1. Sunday could very well see these two titans battling head-to-head for the championship.

Mark Schlabach: Justin Thomas presents a strong alternative pick, currently playing exceptionally well and a past champion at Quail Hollow (2017 PGA Championship). JT recently ended a nearly three-year winless streak with his RBC Heritage victory. He also notched runner-up finishes at the Valspar Championship and last week`s Truist Championship. His history at Quail Hollow is solid with multiple top-26 results. Statistically, he`s performing well, ranking high in strokes gained: tee to green and approach, plus a respectable 20th in putting.

Paolo Uggetti: Given Quail Hollow`s anticipated length, thick rough, and expected wet conditions favoring driving distance, how could you *not* pick Bryson DeChambeau? This course is tailor-made for long hitters, and DeChambeau is golf`s premier bomber, gaining over two strokes off the tee – a full stroke more than his closest competitor. However, his game is more than just power now; he`s refined other areas, resulting in five top-10 major finishes in his last nine starts. If he brings his A-game, similar to his runner-up finish at last year`s PGA Championship at Valhalla, he`s definitely a top contender.

Mark Schlabach: Following a two-month absence due to a rib injury, Xander Schauffele appears to be finding his form. He`s posted four consecutive strong finishes, including T8 at the Masters and T11 at the Truist Championship. While his approach play remains sharp (7th in strokes gained), his off-the-tee, around-the-green, and putting statistics (157th, 135th, and 140th respectively) suggest he`s still regaining full sharpness, likely due to limited reps. Despite this, Schauffele`s major pedigree is undeniable: two wins in his last four major starts and seven top-10s in his last nine. Plus, he`s been runner-up in his last two starts at Quail Hollow.

Paolo Uggetti: Schauffele remains something of an enigma. His consistent high floor means even when not in peak form, he`s still securing top-20 results (his worst finish in his last four starts is T18, including T11 last week). Predicting his performance at Quail Hollow is challenging, but the fact that a two-time major winner and the defending champion is somewhat under the radar is quite revealing.

Mark Schlabach: Given Quail Hollow`s emphasis on driving distance, Bryson DeChambeau is an obvious player to watch. He was the runner-up at last year`s PGA Championship, finishing just one stroke behind. He also contended at the Masters, holding an early final-round lead before finishing T5. Nobody drives the ball further. If his iron game is sharper than it was at Augusta, he`s a strong candidate for the Wanamaker Trophy. Patrick Reed, who finished solo third at the Masters, also has a favorable history at Quail Hollow.

Paolo Uggetti: My answer here remains Joaquín Niemann, at least until he secures a top-10 finish at a major. It`s becoming a notable pattern: a player who dominates on the LIV Tour struggles to perform at major championships against the world`s elite. Niemann possesses the talent for multiple major wins, and Data Golf ranks him as a top-10 global player. The lingering question is why this hasn`t translated to success in golf`s four biggest weeks. This PGA Championship offers him another opportunity to break that trend.

Mark Schlabach: Following Sepp Straka`s recent win, former University of Georgia players have collectively won five times this season. Keep an eye on another former Bulldog, Keith Mitchell, who has rebounded after a difficult late 2024. Mitchell has five consecutive top-25 finishes, including a T2 at the Corales Puntacana and a T7 at the Truist Championship. His game suits Quail Hollow, ranking 11th in driving distance and 21st in strokes gained: tee to green, with two previous top-10s here. Also, consider Canada`s Taylor Pendrith. Though his recent results are mixed, he had three top-10s earlier this year. He`s long off the tee and hits greens consistently. If his short game and putting click this week, he could contend.

Paolo Uggetti: Here`s a two-for-one tip: keep an eye on the Højgaard twins, Nicolai and Rasmus. Both possess the length needed for this course and could surprise people. Among other rising players, Michael Thorbjornsen is worth watching, with two top-5 finishes this season and consistently solid play. Lastly, Akshay Bhatia showed at The Players Championship he has the major-winning potential. Quail Hollow, perhaps at this stage in his developing career, might be the ideal setting for his first major breakthrough.

Mark Schlabach: Quail Hollow ranks among the longest courses on Tour at 7,626 yards, making it the fourth-longest in PGA Championship history and the longest ever for a par-71. Recent and forecast rain will likely make it play even longer by minimizing fairway roll, heavily emphasizing driving distance and proficient long iron play. Success will also require skilled play around the greens, as golfers are expected to miss many. During the 2017 PGA Championship here, eight greens were hit less than 50% of the time, with the first hole seeing just 33% green-in-regulation.

Navigating the long par 3s and capitalizing on the par 5s will be crucial. The demanding three-hole finish, known as the `Green Mile,` poses a significant challenge; in 2017, it yielded more double bogeys or worse (99) than birdies or better (88).