Scottie Scheffler may be fresh off a win at the CJ CUP. Byron Nelson, however, someone else seems to take the spotlight heading into the second men’s major, the PGA Championship. It’s none other than Rory McIlroy, who will be aiming to secure his fifth win at Quail Hollow. For the Northern Irishman, who registered his first PGA Tour win at Quail Hollow in 2010, the course has “been a good place. And, despite the challenges posed by fellow elite golfers like Justin Thomas and Scottie Scheffler, the iconic course may work in his favor, at least according to the European Team’s Ryder Cup captain.
Luke Donald is active at Quail Hollow for the PGA Championship, and is looking to redeem his history with Quail Hollow after missing the cut at the 2021 Truist Championship, his last appearance at the course. However, when he sat down for a press conference ahead of the PGA Championship, he was all about Rory McIlroy and his chances at winning the second men’s major.
Discussing how the course’s layout “seems to suit him [Rory McIlroy] so much,” Donald said, “Well, it’s a big golf course. It’s not overly tight off the tee, but it demands length. And I think his high shot that he can hit right to left—there are quite a few holes that demand that sort of shot shape.” Luke Donald then mentions the Irishman’s history with the course. Out of the 14 times McIlroy has played the course in professional tournaments, he finished in the top 10 an amazing 10 times, and he only missed the cut once.
Donald added, “The greens have some slope, and having shorter shots, shorter irons into some of these greens, you can control it a little bit. It’s a little bit like Augusta in that regard. It’s a golf course that certainly fits his game.” That’s where the stats come in. McIlroy averages a score of 69.48 at Quail Hollow, almost a full shot better than anyone else’s. He has 55 strokes more under par than any other player, even Scottie Scheffler. Scheffler is another one of the favorites to win the Championship, so hearing Donald say Rory will be stunning here might sting.
Additionally, with a strong ranking of 1st in SG: Off The Tee (0.869), McIlroy proves to be very effective off the tee, which helps him set up better positioning for approach shots. His impressive driving distance ranks 3rd at 318.6 yards, allowing for shorter approach shots that enhance control with shorter irons. However, he ranks 175th in driving accuracy at 51.80%, indicating that he struggles to hit the fairway consistently.
PGA, Golf Herren AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am – Final Round February 2, 2025 Pebble Beach, California, USA Rory McIlroy celebrates winning on the 18th hole during the final round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am golf tournament at Pebble Beach Golf Links. Pebble Beach Pebble Beach Golf Links California USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xKylexTeradax 20250202_kkt_st3_069
Where does Scottie Scheffler stand? Well, pretty close. With a strokes gained off the tee of 0.716, he gains strokes compared to the field, which is crucial on this challenging course. His ranking of 11th in total driving showcases a strong combination of distance and accuracy, essential for navigating Quail Hollow’s layout. Although he ranks 80th in driving distance with an average of 302.0 yards, this remains respectable, and his 24th place in driving accuracy at 65.60% suggests he can avoid hazards and set up favorable approach shots.
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time someone has pointed out McIlroy’s strengths on the field. Former PGA Tour star Colt Knost said, “Rory kind of likes Quail Hollow a little bit—he’s only won there four times. In 13 events, he has 10 top-10s.” In fact, even the Irishman seems confident ahead of the PGA Championship.
Rory McIlroy is looking to create “more highlights” in his career
Last week, Rory McIlroy, now unburdened by the weight of winning his career Grand Slam, said, “I’m obviously going to feel more comfortable and a lot less pressure, and I’m also going back to a venue that I love.” That’s the important part—feeling more comfortable and having less pressure. McIlroy has won 44 times worldwide, including the PGA Championship in 2012 at Kiawah Island and in 2014 at Valhalla. Now, he can play with a more relaxed attitude because of how he has performed over the last four months.
Additionally, at the PGA Championship press conference, the Irishman said, “I want to still create a lot of other highlights and high points, but I’m not sure if any other win will live up to what happened a few weeks ago.” A challenge? A reminder? Likely. We have already seen his stats; however, something else might also work in his favor: mental health training with Bob Rotella. So, what helped?
Dr. Bob Rotella played a key role in helping Rory McIlroy develop a strong mental game in golf, focusing on the necessary steps rather than just the end goal. Instead of only discussing winning the Masters, they concentrated on what McIlroy needed to do to succeed. This emphasis on self-belief and understanding the game helped him stay calm during tough times. Rotella taught McIlroy to accept mistakes without letting them ruin his day, which enabled him to manage his expectations and take control of his thoughts about the game. It will be interesting to see if it will work in Rory McIlroy’s favor this PGA Championship.
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