Rory McIlroy's PGA rivals jealous and vengeful thanks to Masters success
Rory McIlroy's 2025 Masters victory has inspired his jealous and vengeful rivals to go after his scalp at the US PGA Championship.
All eyes will be on McIlroy when the second major of the year tees off in Quail Hollow on Thursday. The Northern Irishman would typically be among the favourites going into the tournament, thanks to his four wins at the course in the past.
Yet, this time around, McIlroy is the outright favourite to lift his third Wanamaker Trophy on Sunday evening. That is due to the 36-year-old's Masters triumph last month, which ended an 11-year major drought and sealed a long-awaited career Grand Slam.
The world No. 2's stunning form extends beyond Augusta, too, having claimed wins at Pebble Beach and the Players Championship earlier this year. That, in turn, has stirred up various feelings among his main competitors, who now see him as the player to beat.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is well aware of McIlroy's formidable presence in the 156-man field. The Texan even confessed he'd swap his own driving ability for his rival's at the North Carolina venue.
"There are little things that I look at in people's games that I can improve on," said Scheffler. "You look at a guy like Rory, you'd be hard-pressed to find anybody that has driven the ball better than he has in the history of the game.
"Tiger had a ton of speed, but Rory has the accuracy to set him apart. Not only does he hit it really far, he hits it really straight."
Scheffler, who secured his first title of the season at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson earlier this month in dominant fashion, credited McIlroy's Masters success with fuelling his own desire to improve and win the tournament.
Having been the one to hand McIlroy a long-awaited Green Jacket, Scheffler said: "I think that's what's great about our game. Week in and week out, we get to come out here and compete. This week I was the best player. I have the week off, and we'll see the week after who is the best player at the PGA.
"Rory has been playing some tremendous golf this year. The career Grand Slam was really special to watch. I was glad to be able to be there for it. I think any time you're getting beat, you're always fired up just a little bit extra to go out and practice."
In contrast to Scheffler, two-time major winner Jon Rahm singled out McIlroy's putting ability this season and in the past at Quail when asked which part of his game he would trade with any player. The Spaniard revealed: "Based on the success he's had here, you almost have to go with some part of Rory's game.
"A lot of people probably would [trade for] his driving on this golf course, but as a pretty good driver myself, I'm going to choose how well he's been able to putt on those greens."
Two-time US PGA champion Justin Thomas, meanwhile, echoed Scheffler's 'fired up' comments by saying McIlroy's Masters success was a wake-up call for him to fulfil his own aspirations. Thomas went as far as to say he was jealous of his friend's success: "I knew I always wanted to win the Grand Slam, but for some reason, watching somebody do it first-hand, reminded me I really do want to do that.
"It's weird. Any time someone wins that isn't me, if it's a friend, I'm happy for them. But there's always going to be a part of me that's jealous and wishes it was me."
McIlroy will be hoping to emulate Jordan Spieth by becoming the first player since the Texan in 2015 to win the first two majors in a year. Yet, Spieth himself arrives at Quail in the hope that he can mirror McIlroy's success by winning the only missing title from his majors resume and completing the career Slam.
After falling short in his last eight attempts, the 31-year-old admitted: "Watching Rory win after giving it a try for a number of years was inspiring. You could tell it was a harder win; most of the time he makes it look a lot easier. I'd love to throw my hat in the ring and give it a chance come the weekend."
Two-time US Open victor Bryson DeChambeau outright said he's relishing the chance to go toe-to-toe with McIlroy at the US PGA, having done so at both the 2024 US Open and Masters.
DeChambeau said: "I believe you have to have a lot of distance out here. Rory is a great driver of the golf ball, and his iron play is great too. I think it's a golf course that sets up for his shot shape pretty well, and I think it sets up well for mine too.
"We'll see. Maybe I'll do well, maybe I won't, but I'm certainly going to give it my all, and I know Rory is, and hopefully we can have another go at it again, like at The Masters."
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