Golfing heroes Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler appear to disagree on playing tournaments ahead of a major, with the PGA Championship getting underway on May 14. McIlroy has been recuperating after winning his second Green Jacket at the Masters in April.
As a result, the star has sat out a string of events, but is currently in action at the Truist Championship, a form of preparation he favours. However, Scottie Scheffler, the world No.1, is not featuring at the tournament, which is taking place from May 7-10 at Quail Hollow.
The Truist is a signature event that falls between the Cadillac Championship, which Scheffler did play, finishing in T2, and the PGA Championship. Speaking at the end of April, Scheffler said his reason for missing the Charlotte-based event was timing but claimed he doesn’t enjoy playing so close to a major.
“I typically don’t love playing the week before a major,” Scheffler said. “It’s nice to have so many tournaments that are really good. If I had it my way I would play every single week out here. But just the nature of our sport and the demand on our time and everything it’s not really possible.
“If y’all were to walk with me each day of the tournament and see what we have to do in order to play one week, having to do that four weeks in a row… I wouldn’t be able to perform my best. So when I show up at a tournament I want to be able to give it my best and I have to set up my schedule in a certain way and, you know, the chips kind of fall where they do.”
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The 29-year-old Scheffler won the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow in 2025. That win was his fourth major victory, and gave him three of the four legs needed for the career grand slam, an accolade McIlroy has achieved.
The Charlotte course has been a good place for McIlroy in the past. Speaking in 2025, McIlroy said he was in favour of playing ahead of a major, but not immediately after, differing with Scheffler’s view.
“Before, I’m all for. After, I wouldn’t — I’m not a huge fan of it, but there’s only so many weeks in the year. I really like playing the week before if it makes sense.
View 2 ImagesScottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy have differing opinions on playing events ahead of Major tournaments(Image: Andrew Redington, Getty Images)
“I think, again, this week was a great indication of where my game is and what I need to think about and what I need to work on going into next week. But the weeks after majors are tough.”
The 37-year-old’s presence at the Truist marks the fifth consecutive year he has taken part in the tournament. Moreover, McIlroy will be aiming to claim victory for the fifth time, having secured the title in 2010, 2015, 2021, and 2024.
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No other golfer has lifted the trophy more than twice, which might explain why the Northern Irish superstar would be keen to return, particularly to a venue he knows so well.
In addition to McIlroy, top ten-ranked stars such as Cameron Young, Matt Fitzpatrick, Justin Rose, Collin Morikawa, Tommy Fleetwood, J.J. Spaun and Xander Schauffele are also playing at the 2026 Truist Championship.
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