Rory McIlroy is eyeing the Calendar Grand Slam after recently achieving his Career Grand Slam, and all fans are keeping their fingers crossed this time. In the first round of the 2025 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, he teed off at 8:22 a.m. ET on Thursday, alongside Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele. McIlroy shot a 3-over-par 74, which is not a good start, honestly, but he has a way of flipping the game. It was quite compelling to see McIlroy and Scheffler, two of the game’s top competitors, teeing off together. Scheffler carded a solid 2-under-par 69, putting him a step ahead of McIlroy. Schauffele, who was also in their group, started his round. Schauffele managed to keep pace with Scheffler, shooting a solid 1-under-par 70. His steady performance has kept him close to the leaders at T20.

Another strong and popular group in Round 1 teed off at 1:14 p.m. ET, featuring Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, and Dustin Johnson. Thomas, who won the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow back in 2017, got off to a solid start, shooting 1-under-par 70, a promising sign for the rounds ahead. Morikawa showed his usual consistency with an even-par 71, while Johnson had a tougher day, finishing with a 2-over-par 73. This trio of proven champions immediately made their presence felt, and with Round 2 tee times and pairings now revealed, the stage is set for an epic showdown you won’t want to miss!

Round 2 Tee times and the grouping

Players mentioned below are starting from Tee No.1, and the timings are Eastern Standard Time, as per the PGA Tour.

With top players from around the world on the same field, the competition is tough, but so are the players. The key thing to watch is who has what it takes to win the trophy, who truly has that fire.

Who has the fans’ eyes the most?

The 2025 PGA Championship has boiled down to three players everyone’s watching closely: McIlroy, Scheffler, and Bryson DeChambeau. 

DeChambeau is well known for his unique and somewhat aggressive style, which often makes him the center of attention in every game. You never know if this bold approach might just work in his favor this year. We can’t easily forget the two legends, McIlroy and Scheffler. Both have strong reasons to win this championship: McIlroy is fighting to get one step closer to the calendar Grand Slam, while Scheffler is battling to prove his game and earn a step closer to his career Grand Slam. With his smooth swing and steady nerves, Scheffler has shown he can handle pressure and dominate tough fields. If he wins this title, it would cement his status among the game’s elite and validate his top ranking.