CHARLOTTE, NC — Rory McIlroy appeared relaxed and at ease as he prepared for his first tournament since regaining the Masters title.
Don’t let that be confused with dissatisfaction.
The world No. 2 said he is feeling “more motivated” than ever as he approaches the majors that include next week’s PGA Championship outside Philadelphia and next month’s US Open at Shinnecock Hills. First up though is this week’s Truist Championship at Quail Hollow, where McIlroy earned his first PGA Tour win in 16 years and has won four times.
“I’m excited about the road ahead,” the six-time major champion said Wednesday after his support round.
It’s been more than three weeks since McIlroy slipped on the green jacket for the second time after becoming the fourth player in the 90s to return to the Masters.
He described this year’s post-Masters golf break as “busier” than last year’s tour.
McIlroy, 37, spent most of his time at his home in Jupiter, Florida, although he visited New York with his wife Erica Stoll and attended a White House state dinner for King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
But it was what he didn’t do that made him feel refreshed.
He did not return home to Northern Ireland to celebrate his Masters victory as he did in 2025, mainly because his parents were already in America to witness it in person. They skipped last year’s Masters so they wouldn’t miss their son’s chance to complete a career slam after years of disappointment.
He also didn’t make the rounds of the media, preferring more “chilling” time at home, allowing him to take his daughter Poppy to tennis lessons.
“I gave myself 10 days to enjoy myself and then I thought I should go back to the range and start training to be ready for this brutality that will come,” said McIlroy.
The expansion begins Thursday with music at Quail Hollow, a place where McIlroy is adored by fans and is often treated to the “Happy Birthday” song given by the tournament that usually falls on his birthday.
He was 20 when he won his first PGA Championship here, making him an instant favorite in Charlotte.
In a way, he has become the accepted golfer in this town.
He has won here four times on a course well suited to his height off the tee, including an outstanding seven-shot victory in 2015 where he set a new tournament record at 21-under 267 after a third-round 61.
“I feel like this tournament has pushed my career forward,” McIlroy said. “This is the 16th year I’ve been coming here, so it’s been a fun place, I’ve been successful. It’s somewhere I always like to go back to.”
According to DraftKings Sportsbook, he enters this week as the slight favorite to win (+600) over Cameron Young (+910), who won last weekend in Doral.
McIlroy feels good about his chances despite a three-week layoff that includes skipping the RBC Heritage and Cadillac Championship.
He won the Truist by five shots over Xander Schauffele last time out at Quail Hollow in 2024, but struggled surprisingly here at the 2025 PGA Championship, finishing tied for 47th.
“It’s a little bit different setup than the PGA last year, a little bit different conditions,” McIlroy said. “It’s been very dry here by all accounts, so the greens are very firm. The offense is a little less. A lot of variety, almost in line with what the golf course was like in 2024, when the tournament ends here. The course is great.”
McIlroy said returning to work after winning the Masters for the second time felt very different than last year.
“I felt like winning a Grand Slam would be life-changing and in some ways it was, but in other ways I had to remember like, ‘No, I still have a lot of work left and I want to keep playing and keep competing,'” he said. “So this year I think winning was a validation of all the work I’ve done in the last few years to get back to this place where I’m winning majors.
Schauffele said it will be a tall order to beat McIlroy this week and move on if he plays the way he did at Augusta National.
“His best team (driver) was his worst team, and he still won the championship,” Schauffele said. “That’s scary, obviously, when you’re competing against him.”
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
