Five storylines to follow at the PGA Championship

May 11 : Five storylines to follow during the 2026 PGA Championship, the second major of the year that begins on Thursday at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania:

SCHEFFLER EYES REPEAT AFTER NEAR MISSES

World number one Scottie Scheffler will arrive at the PGA Championship in familiar territory: firmly among the favorites, even if his recent run has been marked more by near-misses than trophies.

Scheffler, the defending champion after winning last year's tournament at Quail Hollow by five shots, has finished runner-up in his last three starts, including at the Masters, where Rory McIlroy beat him by one stroke at Augusta National.

The American also finished second at the RBC Heritage and the Cadillac Championship, the latter by six shots behind Cameron Young, continuing a sequence that underlined both his consistency and his frustration at not converting chances.

Scheffler has already won on the PGA Tour this year, capturing The American Express in January, but his form since the Masters has kept the spotlight on whether the 29-year-old can turn another week in contention into a successful title defense. 

MCILROY SEEKS ANOTHER MAJOR SURGE

McIlroy will arrive at this week's major with the burden of the career Grand Slam behind him and another major milestone in sight as he seeks a third Wanamaker Trophy.

The Northern Irishman ended his long wait for a Masters title in 2025 to become the sixth player to complete the modern career Grand Slam, then successfully defended his Green Jacket last month to claim a sixth major championship.

McIlroy, 37, has already twice won the PGA Championship, triumphing by eight shots at Kiawah Island in 2012 before edging Phil Mickelson by one stroke at Valhalla two years later.

His most