Get Ready for PGA Championship First Round: Pairings and Groups Announced

Career Grand Slam Spotlight Shifts to Spieth While Defending Champs Create Intriguing Storylines

The 107th PGA Championship tees off Thursday at Quail Hollow Club with a fascinating mix of storylines, familiar faces, and championship pedigrees. The PGA of America has announced the groupings for the first two rounds, and golf fans will be treated to several must-watch combinations.

World’s Best Headline Field

In what will surely be the week’s most-followed group, the Official World Golf Ranking’s top three players – Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, and Xander Schauffele – will play together for the opening rounds (8:22 a.m. Thursday/1:47 p.m. Friday). This power trio has combined to win four of the last five major championships.

McIlroy enters with perhaps the most interesting narrative. Fresh off completing the career Grand Slam at the Masters, he returns to a venue where he’s won four times (2010, 2015, 2021, 2024). His comfort level at Quail Hollow is so pronounced that many have jokingly called it his “fifth major.”

World No. 1 Scheffler arrives in peak form after his dominant victory at The CJ Cup Byron Nelson two weeks ago, where he finished at a staggering 31-under par. Meanwhile, Schauffele looks to defend his PGA Championship title and continue his major championship surge after winning two of the last four (2024 PGA and Open Championship).

Other Featured Groups

The grand slam spotlight now shifts to Jordan Spieth (1:25 p.m. Thursday/8:00 a.m. Friday), who needs only the PGA Championship to become golf’s seventh career grand slam winner. He’ll play alongside Patrick Reed and rising star Ludvig Åberg, who has rocketed to sixth in the world rankings.

Justin Thomas returns to the site of his first major victory, having won the 2017 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow. Thomas (1:14 p.m. Thursday/7:44 a.m. Friday) enters with renewed confidence after ending his victory drought at April’s RBC Heritage. He’ll play with fellow major champions Dustin Johnson and Collin Morikawa.

Five-time major winner Brooks Koepka leads another intriguing grouping (7:38 a.m. Thursday/1:03 p.m. Friday) that includes Rickie Fowler, who won his first PGA Tour event at Quail Hollow in 2012, and Shane Lowry, fresh off his runner-up finish at last week’s Truist Championship.

Weather Concerns

Monday’s practice round was closed to spectators due to heavy rainfall, and additional precipitation remains possible throughout the week. With the par-71 layout measuring 7,626 yards, the softened conditions could favor longer hitters.

The combination of Quail Hollow’s difficult closing stretch – known as the “Green Mile” – and potentially changing weather conditions sets the stage for an exciting second major championship of 2025 as players vie for the iconic Wanamaker Trophy.