The Quail Hollow Club, who hosts this week’s PGA champion, is the ideal place for Rory McIlroy to resume major championship games after the Masters last month.
The Northern Irishman not only completed a professional Grand Slam with a victory in the Augusta National, but he has won his first championship anywhere since 2014.
Raising a huge weight from his shoulders, he can now enter the world's favorite golf course – a regular at the Truist (formerly Wells Fargo) champion of the PGA Tour.
“I love this place,” McIlroy said in 2019 about Quail How. “I even feel like I don’t even have to play that well, I can still get around it.”
Having won three wins this year, we knew last week that he was in the top 10 so he would love the chance to compete again.
“I think this golf course is big,” he added. “It can get you out of your own way and I have wonderful memories here.”
Before Thursday’s first round, let’s take a look at his best five memories of his four wins at Quail Hollow.
5. 2010 third round 66
Before this circle began, the United States began to doubt all the fuss. 2010 was McIlroy’s rookie year on the PGA Tour, and he failed to make the top 30. He also missed the Masters layoffs.
He only made his debut on Quail Hollow's teeth over the weekend, hitting an annoying putt on the final green and squeezing one with a green, dragging the leader with a 9-shot. The 66ers set up Sunday's win bid that will change his career.
4. The second round of 66 starts victory in 2021
“I love trees. Seriously. I love tree-lined golf courses. I love the definition it gives you, I love it makes holes for you. I love that.”
In the first round of 2021, he didn't like Quail Hollow's tree-lined fairway, requiring 72 strikes, which gave him eight shots at the pace of the T73rd.
But a Friday 66 put him in the top five and two weekends with 68 people reaching the deal.
3. The last round of 65 won in 2024
Entering the final round last year, McIlroy lags behind Xander Schauffele. The final round of battle seemed inevitable.
But, in fact, McIlroy puts the competition aside. Schauffele hit level 71, while McIlroy won five with 65.
“This course can hit the driver in every hole than any other hole,” he said. “It's great to have that advantage. It's a big factor in how I've been able to do well here for years.”
2. The third round 61 won in 2015
Entering the 2015 edition of the weekend, McIlroy fell behind with three leaders. One of Webb Simpson, Webb Simpson, got the fully respected 68, but found himself in McIlroy's last four shots.
The Northern Irishman hollowed out his career trough to 61 areas.
His total was four better than the next best effort, and the 69-Sun win confirmed the seven-shot victory.
“I probably have birds on every hole on this golf course,” he said. “So I don't think there is a reason why I shouldn't do it again. It's a cool feeling.”
1. The final round won 62 in 2010
After that 66 (see above) in the third round, he was four behind and won four points after hitting the sensational 62.
He simply tore the venue apart and blow away the previously suspected onlookers. No one now suspects that McIlroy is not a special golfer.
“I rinsed it,” he said.
Read more: Rory McIlroy won the Masters, but what else can he achieve in 2025?
