14/05/2025

SPORTS WEDNESDAY | MAY 14, 2025

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Key changes give Fitzpatrick hope Ű BY JAKE BRIGSTOCK

Five storylines ahead of second golf major FIVE storylines to follow as the best players in the world descend upon Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina, this week for the May 15-18 PGA Championship. McIlroy encore? Rory McIlroy arrives at Quail Hollow as a hot favourite after finally securing the career Grand Slam of golf’s four majors with his playoff win at the Masters in April. The Northern Irishman will now turn his attention to capturing the second leg of a calendar-year Grand Slam and will like his chances at Quail Hollow, where he has enjoyed more success than any other player. McIlroy won a record fourth Wells Fargo Championship last year at Quail Hollow with a dominant performance that saw him earn a five-stroke victory. Spieth’s Grand Slam bid Just over a month after McIlroy became the sixth player to complete the career Grand Slam, and first since Tiger Woods in 2000, Jordan Spieth will make his ninth attempt at joining golf’s most exclusive club. Seeking his first win on the PGA Tour since earning his 13th in April 2022, Spieth arrives at the year’s second major with three top-10 finishes in 11 events this season, and a share of 14th at last month’s Masters. If Spieth can triumph at the PGA Championship, where his best result is a runner-up finish in 2015, he would join Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Woods and McIlroy as the only men Xander Schauffele birdied the final hole at last year’s PGA Championship at Valhalla to secure his first major title and is aiming to become the event’s first repeat winner since Brooks Koepka in 2019. Schauffele, who went on to win the British Open three months later, lost about two months of competition this year due to a rib injury suffered during the offseason but has shown no ill effects since his return. The 31-year-old American finished tied for eighth at the Masters and will be eager to get back to Quail Hollow where last year he led after each of the first three rounds but was unable to fend off McIlroy on the final day. Just-in time Justin Thomas ended a three-year victory drought last month and finished tied for second in Philadelphia on Sunday, and the former world No. 1 will be full of confidence ahead of his return to the site of his major breakthrough in 2017. The PGA Championship was held at Quail Hollow for the first time that year and Thomas picked up the title with a closing 3 under 68 that saw him chip in from 40 feet for birdie on the 13th hole to seize control. Thomas won a second PGA Championship title in 2022 but his form bottomed out in 2023 and he went without a win until winning this year’s RBC Heritage in a playoff. The Green Mile The last three holes at Quail Hollow – the unforgiving ‘Green Mile’ – form one of the most difficult finishing stretches in golf. The white-knuckle, water-lined stretch demands both precision and poise with a lake surrounding the par-four 16th and par three 17th holes, while a creek winds all along the left side of the closing par-four 18th. The last time the PGA Championship was last held at Quail Hollow in 2017 the treacherous Green Mile accounted for 12 triple-bogeys or worse, matching the same amount that was made on holes 1-15. Reuters to win all four majors. Schauffele’s X factor

build up to where I want to get to. “I feel like I’m on the right track now, I’ve just got to bed it in. The last two weeks, I’ve had more success in the areas I’ve been looking for. “I’ve not had too many enjoyable memories at Quail Hollow though, I’ve played there two or three times now. “I love the golf course, I think it’s a great golf course but there are a couple of holes I’m not too big of a fan of but for the most part, it’s a really good test.” “There have been a few facets of my game that have been up and down this year so far, so hopefully I can turn a corner in these next few weeks, start playing a bit better and get some good results in there,”he said. – The Independent

top 25 twice before but his world ranking is currently 84th and his FedEx ranking is 127th. Fitzpatrick recently parted ways with long term caddy Billy Foster, but the Englishman has revealed his form is starting to turn in time for the second major of the season and the Ryder Cup later this year at Bethpage, having starred for Europe in their crushing win in Rome two years ago. “I’m going into it open minded, it’s about managing expectations. Of course my expectations are high but I’ve got to be realistic as well. “Given my recent form, it’s not something to shout off the rooftops about. I’ve got to put it into perspective with where I’m at and slowly

AFTER a tough start to the 2025 season, former US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick feels as though he’s finally “on the right track” ahead of the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow. The 30-year-old previously admitted his recent form has fallen well below the lofty standards he sets for himself. Fitzpatrick finished in a tie for 40th at The Masters last month. He missed the cut at The Players Championship in March but his best result so far this season came a week before that with a tie for 22nd at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Fitzpatrick has previously been ranked in the

McIlroy eyes more major glory

… as world No. 1 Scheffler ready for battle at PGA Championship F INALLY free from the burden of chasing a career Grand Slam, Rory McIlroy is a hot favourite at this week’s PGA Championship in

remarkable second phase to his career and add to his five major championship wins. “This is a whole new world for him,” said CBS Sports host Jim Nantz. “He doesn’t come in here shouldering the world’s expectations. “He’s playing with a free pass. If he never wins another one, he’s a hero for eternity. “He gets to go out there and play with total freedom to go be Rory McIlroy with his maybe unequalled imagination and overall talent. “Look out world, it’s going to be interesting to watch from this day forward.” Scheffler and DeChambeau figure to be in the mix at some point this week and could not have asked for better results in their PGA Championship tune-up events. After his season debut was delayed due to hand surgery following a cooking accident, Scheffler is coming off a runaway triumph at TPC Craig Ranch where he matched the PGA Tour 72-hole scoring record with a 31-under total. Fan favourite DeChambeau, who briefly held the lead early in the final round of the Masters, is riding high after a win at the LIV Golf Korea event that marked his first victory since capturing the 2024 U.S. Open. Twice champion Thomas ended his three-year victory drought last month at the PGA Tour Signature Event in South Carolina to also put himself in the conversation at Quail Hollow, a venue which hold many fond memories for him. “The storylines since Augusta, I’m sure, are remarkable, whether it’s Rory, Justin Thomas, Scottie, Bryson,” ESPN ’s Scott Van Pelt said on a conference call. “You’ve got multiple major winners, all of whom have won from Augusta through last weekend. You couldn’t ask for much more in terms of storylines.” – Reuters Despite the potential thunderstorms, the overall conditions might still favour the golfers who can navigate the challenges effectively. On Sunday, the final round, the weather is expected to be partly cloudy with temperatures ranging from a low of 18°C to a high of 28°F. The winds will continue to blow gently from the southwest, providing a relatively stable condition for golfers to finish the tournament. With these conditions, the golfers will need to strategise carefully to make the most of the opportunities and secure their positions on the leaderboard. – Express Newspapers/Agencies

Charlotte, North Carolina, where Scottie Scheffler and Bryson DeChambeau are both looking for a third major triumph. McIlroy, who secured the elusive Masters title to complete his collection of majors last month, will surely like his chances at Quail Hollow Club given he has enjoyed more success at the venue than any other player. “I’m obviously going to feel more comfortable and a lot less pressure, and I’m also going back to a venue that I love,” McIlroy said last week. “It probably will feel a little bit different. I probably won’t be quite as on edge as I have been for the last few years when I’ve been at major championships.” But world No. 1 Scheffler and LIV Golf’s DeChambeau will try to keep the Northern Irishman from securing the second leg of the calendar-year Grand Slam and arrive at the year’s second major in solid form having both won their last starts. World No. 5 Justin Thomas has rounded into form right on time for his return to the site of his major breakthrough in 2017 while Jordan Spieth makes his ninth attempt at completing the career Grand Slam.

McIlroy, 36, has been virtually unstoppable at Quail Hollow, which he has long called one of his favourite courses and where last year he cruised to a five stroke victory and record fourth title at the venue, which is a regular stop on the PGA Tour. After vanquishing his Augusta National demons there is a sense that the unburdened Northern Irishman could be primed for a

Rory McIlroy. – AFPPIC

Fans want refund as rain lashes Quail Hollow THE PGA Championship faces refunding thousands of fans who were hoping to see players prepare for this week’s tournament. Heavy rain meant spectators were banned from entering the Quail Hollow course yesterday and the weather could cause further issues when the second Major tournament of the year gets underway tomorrow. the rain could continue over the next two days, putting players’ practice in jeopardy. Drier conditions are expected for the opening round tomorrow. Like the Masters, Quail Hollow has a SubAir system that is supposed to pull moisture from fairways and greens, although it will be tested to the extreme over the coming days.

As the PGA Championship enters its final stretch, the weather forecast for the weekend rounds looks quite interesting. On Saturday, golfers can expect mainly cloudy conditions with a decrease in humidity, but the afternoon is likely to bring thunderstorms, which could impact play.

Those with tickets to watch players prepare for the tournament were not allowed on the course. A particularly heavy deluge around midday meant players were unable to play. Fans have been told that they can request a refund or use their ticket to gain access today. However, a tournament weather report says