PGA Championship 2025 Power Rankings: Top 10 Players Entering Quail Hollow

McIlroy is the rightful belle of the ball entering the PGA Championship, with three wins under his belt already this season at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, THE PLAYERS Championship, and the Masters, in addition to his four career victories at Quail Hollow. He's the proper betting favorite this week and should be freed up after achieving the biggest victory of his career at Augusta National. A scary thought for the other 155 players in the field.

2. Bryson DeChambeau

The two-time U.S. Open winner played with McIlroy in the final pairing on Sunday at the Masters and was runner-up to Xander Schauffele at last year's PGA Championship at Valhalla. With his elite ability to drive the ball further and straighter than anyone in the field not named Rory McIlroy, DeChambeau figures to have an excellent shot at earning his third major championship victory. He's also coming off his first win of the season at LIV Korea in his most recent start.

3. Scottie Scheffler

The World No. 1 player made a statement in his most recent start at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson in his home state of Texas, winning by eight strokes for his first victory in 2025. While Scheffler has never played Quail Hollow in a tournament setting, there isn't a golf course on the schedule that he can't contend at. It would be foolish to count out Scheffler in Charlotte, even if McIlroy and DeChambeau are better course fits.

4. Xander Schauffele

The defending PGA Championship winner is starting to find his form again since returning from the rib injury that forced him to miss time earlier this season. Schauffele enters the PGA Championship with four consecutive top-20 finishes and has finished runner-up at Quail Hollow in his last two starts here. Feels like a good spot for Xander to remind everyone that he won TWO major championships last year.

5. Justin Thomas

Thomas won his maiden major championship in 2017 at Quail Hollow, defeating Patrick Reed, Louis Oosthuizen, and Francesco Molinari by two shots. The now two-time PGA Championship winner finally snapped his three-year win drought a few weeks ago at the RBC Heritage and has two other T2 finishes in his past four outings. Momentum and confidence should both be on his side this week.

6. Jon Rahm

Rahm is searching for the third leg of the career Grand Slam this week, and while he's yet to win on LIV this season, he's starting to piece his game together again. He finished T14 at the Masters one month ago and has yet to finish outside the top nine in seven starts on the Saudi-backed circuit. Quail Hollow reportedly isn't a spot Rahm thinks too highly of, but his well-rounded game and total driving ability should be rewarded on a demanding golf course.

7. Patrick Cantlay

Few players without a major championship victory have as much pedigree as Cantlay. The eight-time PGA Tour winner has been disappointing more times than not on golf's biggest stages, but he seems primed to change the narrative in 2025. Cantlay has six top-15 finishes already this season, including a T4 last week at the Truist Championship. The ball-striking numbers are incredible -- he just needs to get the putter to cooperate.

8. Joaquin Niemann

Another player like Cantlay, who's been a letdown so far in major championships, is Niemann, who's winning left and right over on LIV Golf. Quail Hollow figures to suit his skill set about as well as any other major venue he's played at in his career, and it's time for him to show the world just how talented he is. Niemann's tee-to-green play should give him a massive advantage on this course, and it's worth pointing out he gained almost 8.5 strokes combined from off the tee and on approach last time he played at Quail Hollow in 2021. I expect a top-10 finish from Niemann this week.

9. Corey Conners

As steady as they come, Conners has put together a fabulous start to the 2025 season, with just one finish outside the top 25 in eight events dating back to the beginning of February. The 33-year-old Canadian played in the penultimate pairing at the Masters this year and finished T8 despite not being a bomber from off the tee. He also played in the final pairing with eventual winner Brooks Koepka on Sunday at the 2023 PGA Championship, and all these experiences should bode well for Conners. His skill set sneakily matches up well with most modern major championship venues.

10. Sepp Straka

Straka and McIlroy are the only players on the PGA Tour with multiple wins in 2025. The 32-year-old Austrian's consistency this season has been nothing short of remarkable, with only two finishes worse than 30th in 14 starts. A T8 finish last year at Quail Hollow shows the course isn't too long for him. Given his recent form, I'd be shocked if he finished outside the top 25 this week in Charlotte.

Best of luck, everyone, and enjoy your PGA Championship weekend!