Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler appear to have contrasting opinions on the value of playing in tournaments immediately before a major championship, with the PGA Championship set to begin on May 14. McIlroy has been recovering after winning his second Masters Green Jacket in April. As a result, he has skipped several events but is currently competing at the Truist Championship, a form of preparation he prefers. Meanwhile, world number one Scottie Scheffler is absent from the tournament, which runs from May 7 to 10 at Quail Hollow in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Scheffler's Reasoning for Skipping the Truist Championship
The Truist Championship is a signature event that falls between the Cadillac Championship, where Scheffler finished tied for second, and the PGA Championship. Speaking at the end of April, Scheffler explained that his decision to miss the Charlotte event was due to timing, but he also admitted he generally dislikes 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." He added that the physical and mental demands of tournament week make it difficult to perform at his best for four consecutive weeks. "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."
McIlroy's Preference for Pre-Major Play
The 29-year-old Scheffler won the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow in 2025, his fourth major victory, which gave him three of the four legs needed for the career grand slam—an accolade McIlroy has already achieved. The Charlotte course has historically been kind to McIlroy. Speaking in 2025, McIlroy said he supports playing before a major but not immediately after, differing from 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," McIlroy stated. "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 participation in the Truist marks his fifth consecutive year in the tournament. Moreover, he aims to claim victory for the fifth time, having won in 2010, 2015, 2021, and 2024. No other golfer has lifted the trophy more than twice, which may explain why the Northern Irish superstar is keen to return to a venue he knows so well.
Other Top Contenders at the Truist Championship
In addition to McIlroy, several top-ten ranked stars are also playing at the 2026 Truist Championship, including Cameron Young, Matt Fitzpatrick, Justin Rose, Collin Morikawa, Tommy Fleetwood, J.J. Spaun, and Xander Schauffele. The event is being broadcast on Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix, and Disney+ as part of the Ultimate TV package.
