2025 PGA Championship Preview: "The Green Mile, the Golden Prize, and One Very Moist Rory McIlroy"

Young Horn
May 14
4 min read

⛳️ Quail Hollow: The Course That Smiles While It Murders You

Let’s stop pretending Quail Hollow is just “challenging.” It’s not a course. It’s a psychological thriller directed by Jordan Peele.

Sure, it opens friendly. The front 9 lets you breathe. You might even think, “Hey, I could score here.” That’s when the course giggles and points you toward the Green Mile, Quail’s notorious horror-movie trilogy of holes 16–18. Golf balls disappear here like socks in a dryer. Confidence dies here like hope in the New York Knicks' second round.

Hole 16: 506-yard par-4 with a lake that treats mis-hits like sacrificial offerings.
Hole 17: A par-3 that’s basically: “Do you like golf balls? Say goodbye.”
Hole 18: A finishing hole where the fairway dares you to aim left, then punishes you with a creek that’s been collecting Titleists since the Obama administration.

Golfers call it a “stern test.” Your therapist calls it “relapse bait.”

🔥 Rivalries Worth Watching

Rory vs. History

Rory’s done everything except win a second PGA Championship—and boy, it’s been 10 years since his last major. He’s got the Masters monkey off his back. Now he's eyeing the career cherry-on-top: dominance.

Scottie vs. The Putter

Scottie Scheffler hits greens like he’s playing darts with a laser pointer. But then—oh no—comes the putter. His flatstick has been acting like a moody cat: sometimes affectionate, sometimes distant, sometimes just rolling over and refusing to move.

Brooks vs. Everyone Who Doubts Him

Koepka walks like an NFL safety, talks like a UFC fighter, and plays like a man who’s allergic to TPC events. If it’s a major, he's relevant. If not, he’s fishing.

The PGA vs. LIV Drama

With Brooks, Bryson, Cam Smith and DJ lurking in the field, we’re due for at least one awkward leaderboard moment where a LIV guy is paired with a PGA loyalist. The tension will be thicker than Bryson’s protein shake.

🤔 Dark Horses, Long Shots & That Guy You Bet $10 on for No Reason

🐎 Sahith Theegala (50–1)

Charisma, creativity, and just enough chaos to catch fire for four days. He’s got Phil Mickelson energy… with 99% less Twitter nonsense.

🐎 Ludvig Åberg (30–1)

Swedish. Stoic. Built like a fridge with a six-pack. Åberg’s swing is smoother than jazz on a rainy Sunday. He hits bombs and looks like he was designed in a golf laboratory. He might be the future. The future might arrive Sunday.

🐎 Tom Kim (40–1)

If confidence were currency, Tom Kim would own Dubai. He plays like he’s allergic to fear. And he’s somehow only 22, yet walks like he’s already seen too much.

🐎 Max Homa (35–1)

Twitter’s favorite golfer still hasn’t shown up at a major. Is this the one? Or will he be the guy roasting himself online Sunday after going 71–72?

🎤 Gallery Watch: The Real MVPs

Charlotte’s crowd will be rowdy, fried, and fully caffeinated. You’re gonna hear:

"Let’s go Ror-REEEEE!" 837 times.
One guy who thinks screaming “MASHED POTATOES!” in 2025 is still original.
A patron loudly explaining the concept of LIV Golf to his clearly uninterested date.
A shirtless guy with a mullet calling Xander “Zander” and insisting he “was there when he turned pro.”

Pro tip: watch how Rory reacts to a crowd that practically worships him here. He feeds off energy like a drama-loving Jedi.

💸 Betting Board Madness

Player	Odds	Likelihood
Scottie Scheffler	6–1	Lock for T5, putter willing
Rory McIlroy	8–1	Course fit + recent form = dangerous
Brooks Koepka	14–1	Major time = Brooks time
Xander Schauffele	10–1	Defending, consistent, scary good
Collin Morikawa	18–1	Greens = yes. Putts = coin flip.
Ludvig Åberg	30–1	Breakout major candidate
Jason Day	25–1	Emotional pick, but form's been strong
Jordan Spieth	40–1	Might win, might shoot 78 on Saturday
Jon Rahm	22–1	Underrated right now… and maybe angry enough
Justin Thomas	45–1	Former winner, but form is wildly inconsistent

🔮 Bold Predictions That May or May Not End Up on Golf Digest’s “Freezing Cold Takes”

Rory eagles the 10th on Saturday and takes the solo lead. NBC cuts to every highlight reel he’s ever been in, while Nantz starts whispering about destiny.
Bryson DeChambeau drives the 1st green, flexes, and then four-putts for bogey.
A fan runs onto the 17th green, dressed as the Wanamaker Trophy, and does the worm before being calmly escorted by six very serious marshals.
Phil Mickelson starts hot with a Friday 68, then goes full Phil with a Saturday 77 and a tweet about aliens by midnight.
Tommy Fleetwood makes the final pairing Sunday. Wins hearts. Not the trophy.

🎬 Final Scene: Sunday Drama Incoming

The 2025 PGA Championship has everything:

A historic course with teeth
A field stacked deeper than a Cheesecake Factory menu
Emotional arcs (Rory! Day! Redemption!)
Rivalries (PGA vs LIV! Brooks vs haters!)
And of course, that one guy in your group chat who’s betting on Joaquin Niemann at 60–1 like he’s cracked a code

So whether you're tuning in for the elite ball striking, the occasional meltdown, or just to hear Nantz say something vaguely poetic as the sun sets on Quail Hollow—you’re in for a treat.