The Spotlight Shifts to Charlotte as Golf's Biggest Stars Gather
Quail Hollow Club is buzzing, and it's not just because the grass is greener this May. The 2025 PGA Championship brings together some of the brightest names in golf for its second round, and this year, the draw is supercharged by a key grouping of Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, and Rory McIlroy. They’ll tee off Friday afternoon at 1:47 p.m. ET, setting the stage for what could easily become the tournament’s defining moment.
Scheffler comes in as the top-ranked player on the planet, riding high after a powerhouse win at the CJ CUP Byron Nelson. Schauffele stands ready to defend his PGA Championship title, a feat that’s never as easy as it sounds when the field is this crowded with talent. Then there’s Rory McIlroy, fresh off completing his Career Grand Slam at the Masters—a feat only a handful in golf have ever pulled off. The tension is palpable, and every shot these three make will be watched, discussed, and dissected by fans around the world.
Storylines to Watch: Can Spieth Join Golf's Greatest?
The narrative doesn’t end with golf's current A-list. Jordan Spieth heads into Quail Hollow on a mission: win the PGA and join the legendary few to have completed the Career Grand Slam. It’s his personal quest for the holy grail, and pressure is at an all-time high, now that McIlroy just achieved this career landmark. The eyes of the golf world are split—between watching dramatic duels at the top and witnessing Spieth’s potential history-making run.
And let's not forget Michael Block. A club pro most years, Block snatched headlines during his T15 finish at the 2023 PGA, winning hearts with underdog flair. He punched his ticket back to the big time by qualifying through the PGA Professional Championship. Whether Block can replicate his Cinderella run adds another twist for viewers who love an upset.
The list of notables rounds out with up-and-coming talents and steady international players. Friday morning’s earliest risers—like Keith Mitchell, Eric Cole, and Cameron Young—will get first crack at the still-soft greens, teeing off from both the 1st and 10th tees at 7 a.m. ET. As the day heats up, so do the marquee matchups. Fans are circling other groupings featuring big names like Bryson DeChambeau and Viktor Hovland, plus a strong international flavor thanks to Byeong Hun An, Dean Burmester, and Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen.
- Morning wave: Tee-offs begin at 7 a.m. ET, both 1st and 10th tees
- Afternoon wave: Includes feature trio at 1:47 p.m. ET
- Final groups set to tee off near 2:42 p.m. ET
If you’re looking to follow every putt and drive, Friday’s action is easy to track. Live coverage starts early—ESPN+ begins streaming at 7 a.m. ET, while the main ESPN broadcast kicks in at noon Eastern. The tournament won’t let up through Sunday, May 18, as Quail Hollow hosts the Championship for just the second time in history. The course is familiar but the stories renewing every minute are anything but old hat. The question at Quail Hollow isn’t just who’s got the best swing—but who can handle the growing pressure as the business end of the championship rolls around.