CHARLOTTE — There have been so many memorable moments for Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy at Quail Hollow that some of those might be overshadowed by recent accomplishments.
So adding to his credentials during this week’s PGA Championship would come as a bonus.
“It’s been an amazing 2025,” McIlroy said Wednesday. “There’s been a lot of great golf played, but there’s still a lot of golf left to play this year. I’m excited for the journey ahead.”
McIlroy clinched a career grand slam with last month’s victory at the Masters. The longtime question of whether McIlroy ever would achieve the feat was silenced with the victory at Augusta National Golf Club.
He said that shouldn’t impact his outlook.
“I turn up and try to have the same attitude and the same approach to each and every tournament and try to get the best out of myself,” McIlroy said. “Some weeks that results in wins, and some weeks it doesn’t.”
Yet in many ways, anything else that comes McIlroy’s way might be seen as an extra.
“I’ve done everything I’ve wanted to do in the game,” he said. “I dreamed as a child of becoming the best player in the world and winning all the majors. I’ve done that. Everything beyond this, for however long I decide to play the game competitively, is a bonus.”
McIlroy, who turned 36 earlier this month, has won five total majors. The PGA Championships came in 2012 (Kiawah Island Resort) and 2014 (Valhalla Golf Club).
McIlroy’s achievements at Quail Hollow are more than notable. He has won four times at the venue as part of PGA Tour stops, including last year. The first time came in 2010.
“First win on the PGA Tour 15 years ago,” he said. “Winning last year, I probably played my best golf of the year last year here, especially at the weekend.”
While many golfers are expecting a different type of experience on the course this week than in past visits, McIlroy said he views most of it as familiar.
“I thought it was going to feel different just because it was a major championship, and I got out on the golf course (Tuesday), and it felt no different than last year at the Wells Fargo,” he said. “The rough is maybe a little juicier. But fairways are still the same cut lines and same visuals. It doesn’t feel that much different.”
That first victory at Quail Hollow hasn’t escaped McIlroy’s memory. He said that’s largely why he has continued to have success in Charlotte.
“It feels like such a long time ago, but at the same time I can remember that,” he said. “… Those good feelings get rekindled. It’s been a good place for me.”
–Bob Sutton, Field Level Media
