Rory McIlroy heads back to the PGA Tour with the Truist Championship at Quail Hollow, looking to build on his Masters triumph. The Irishman edged Scottie Scheffler by one stroke in April, joining Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods as the fourth player to defend Augusta’s Green Jacket. He called the victory “different” and hopes the form will propel him toward a Grand Slam.

After a quiet spell following his 2025 Masters win—only one top‑10 in five starts—McIlroy took ten days off, enjoying family time, a White House state dinner and a brief New York visit. He returned to practice refreshed, insisting the recent success validates years of work and leaves him “more motivated than ever” for upcoming majors.

McIlroy enters Quail Hollow as the pre‑tournament favourite, having claimed four titles there—including his breakthrough 2010 win that launched his PGA Tour career. Sixteen years of familiarity have produced “some of the best days” of his profession, and he hopes to add a record‑extending fifth victory to his résumé.

A victory at Quail Hollow would give McIlroy a record‑extending fifth win at the venue and cement his status as the tour’s dominant force heading into the PGA Championship, US Open and The Open. His familiarity with the course, built over 16 years, gives him a psychological edge that could prove decisive.