Rory McIlroy feels “more motivated” than ever as he returns to competition at the Truist Championship at Quail Hollow, his first tournament since capturing his second consecutive Masters title.
The world No. 2 looks rested and relaxed, but don’t mistake that for complacency. He’s focused on the major championship stretch ahead that includes the PGA Championship and U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills.
“I’m excited for the road ahead,” the six-time major champion said after his Pro-Am round at Quail Hollow, where he claimed his first PGA Tour victory 16 years ago and has won four times total.
It’s been more than three weeks since McIlroy slipped on the green jacket for a second time, becoming just the fourth player in 90 years to go back-to-back at Augusta National.
This year’s post-Masters break was “less hectic” than last year’s whirlwind. The 37-year-old spent most of his time at home in Jupiter, Florida, though he did visit New York with his wife Erica and attend a White House state dinner for King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
But it’s what he didn’t do that left him refreshed.
Unlike last year, McIlroy didn’t travel back to Northern Ireland to celebrate, largely because his parents were already in the U.S. to witness his victory in person. They’d skipped the 2025 Masters to avoid jinxing their son’s chances after years of Augusta disappointment.
He also skipped the media circuit, opting for more “chill” time at home, which included taking his daughter Poppy to tennis lessons.
“I gave myself a good 10 days to enjoy myself and then thought I needed to get back on the range and start to practice and get ready for this stretch coming up,” McIlroy said.
That stretch begins at Quail Hollow, where McIlroy has become something of an adopted son to Charlotte golf fans. They’ve even been known to serenade him with “Happy Birthday” when the tournament falls near his birthday.
He was just 20 when he captured his first PGA Tour win here. Since then, he’s dominated the course that perfectly suits his length off the tee, including a seven-shot victory in 2015 when he shot a third-round 61 and set a tournament record at 21-under 267.
“I really feel like this tournament got my career going,” McIlroy said. “This is 16 years I’ve been coming here, so it’s been a fun place, I’ve had success. It’s somewhere I always love coming back to.”
He enters as the slight favorite (+600) over Cameron Young (+850), who’s coming off a win at Doral.
McIlroy won the Truist Championship by five shots the last time it was played at Quail Hollow in 2024, though he surprisingly struggled here at the 2025 PGA Championship, finishing tied for 47th.
“Slightly different setup than the PGA last year, and slightly different conditions,” he explained. “It’s been very dry here by all accounts, so the greens are very firm. The rough is down a little bit. Sort of more, probably more in keeping with what the golf course was like in 2024, when the tournament was last here. The course is great.”
McIlroy says his mindset is different this time around compared to after his first Masters victory.
“I felt like winning the Grand Slam was going to be this life-changing thing and in some ways it was, but in other ways I had to remember like, ‘No, I still have a lot of my career left and I want to keep playing and keep competing,'” he said. “So this year I think winning was validation for all the work that I’ve put in over the last few years to get myself back to this place where I’m winning majors.”
Schauffele acknowledged the challenge of competing against McIlroy when he’s playing at his best.
“His best club (driver) was his worst club, and he still won the tournament,” Schauffele said. “That’s a little scary, obviously, if you’re competing against him.”
