Rory McIlroy Earns 'Backhand Compliment' with PGA Championship on Tap
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Rory McIlroy has been the biggest story in golf for years now coming into every major before putting all doubters to rest at The Masters in 2025. McIlroy's dramatic victory snapped his 11-year major drought and finally completed the career grand slam with his first Green Jacket.
Now, the monkey is officially off of the five-time major champion's back heading into the second major of the season at the PGA Championship. Heading into Quail Hollow, the biggest story in the sport has shifted to... Rory McIlroy again.
Such is the case when you are one of the two best golfers in the world, and unquestionably the best during the 2025 season.
After becoming the sixth player ever to complete the career grand slam, ESPN golf analyst and two-time major champion Curtis Strange thinks McIlroy could be on track for the original grand slam before an advantageous major schedule.
"Now, what's the next storyline? I'll tell you what I think the next storyline is is that if Rory wins this next week because now he's got two of the four in one year, and he is that kind of player that when he gets going he's very, very explosive," Strange said in a media call ahead of the PGA Championship.
"He could be the really next great, great story for the Grand Slam this year.
"We have expected so much out of Rory because it's kind of a backhanded compliment. We love you and we think you're so good, why don't you win more. Rory wins a lot. But as far as majors, he's disappointed — not us, he's disappointed himself a little bit over the last years. But I'm anxious to see what happens in the future."
FLOURTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 10: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland reacts after making a birdie on the fourth hole during the third round of the Truist Championship 2025 at The Wissahickon at Philadelphia Cricket Club...
FLOURTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 10: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland reacts after making a birdie on the fourth hole during the third round of the Truist Championship 2025 at The Wissahickon at Philadelphia Cricket Club on May 10, 2025 in Flourtown, Pennsylvania. More
Photo byIt's easy to see why some would be looking ahead to a possible grand slam, even though McIlroy is only a quarter of the way there.
He has won four times at Quail Hollow Club during his career and will shoot for a fifth at the PGA Championship.
The U.S. Open will be the most difficult of the remaining majors to win in the difficult conditions at Oakmont, but the World No. 2 will come into that one as one of the favorites as well. And if he gets through both of those? It could get very real very quickly.
The final major of the season will be in McIlroy's home country of Northern Ireland when Royal Portrush hosts The Open Championship in July.
The Northern Irishman will be eager to play well in front of his home fans after missing the cut in the only recent edition of The Open at Portrush back in brutal weather conditions in 2019.
All of that is far, far away, but McIlroy is the favorite to win the PGA this May based on his recent history in Charlotte. If he can lift the Wanamaker for a third time in his career, the noise around a potential calendar slam will ratchet up to a fever pitch.
More Golf: Rory McIlroy: 'I don't care' about PGA Tour, LIV Negotiations, Board Business
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