\u201cHe was a club pro with a decent name but I wouldn\u2019t have known him [personally] at that stage. I\u2019d know him more now \u2014 if anybody does. I don\u2019t know if anybody knows him,\u201d Harrington says. Fellow Irishman and former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley, who regularly sees Bannon at tournaments while working as a television analyst, sings from a similar hymn book. \u201cHe\u2019s a quiet man, very unassuming, very under the radar; he\u2019s a good fit for team McIlroy,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
\u2022 The unknown coach who guided Rory McIlroy from child prodigy to grand slam<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n Luke Donald\u2019s flying start<\/p>\n Rick Broadbent, Charlotte<\/p>\n Luke Donald is putting much of his potential Ryder Cup<\/a> team in the shade so far. Europe\u2019s captain has reached three under after 10 holes to sit joint top of the leaderboard. Only five present Ryder Cup captains have opened with a round in the 60s at the US PGA Championship<\/a> \u2014 Jerry Barber, Lee Trevino, Tom Watson, Tom Kite and Jim Furyk. <\/p>\n MADDIE MEYER\/PGA OF AMERICA\/PGA OF AMERICA\/GETTY IMAGES<\/p>\n Scottie Scheffler shows some magic<\/p>\n Rick Broadbent, Charlotte<\/p>\n Big cheer down on the 12th as Scottie Scheffler shows the first bit of magic with a deft chip in for birdie from off the back. It\u2019s been a mixed bag early on from the marquee group also featuring Rory McIlroy<\/a> and Xander Schauffele. A huge crowd is following them.<\/p>\n DAVID CANNON\/GETTY IMAGES<\/p>\n Ryan Fox sets early pace \u2014 leaderboard as it stands<\/p>\n Ryan Fox, the world No71, is the early leader at Quail Hollow on three under, with Luke Donald close behind on two under.<\/p>\n (1) Ryan Fox: -3 KEVIN C. COX\/GETTY IMAGES<\/p>\n The story of Rory McIlroy\u2019s furry friend<\/p>\n As usual, Rory McIlroy<\/a>\u2018s famous driver dog headcover is on display at Quail Hollow. The Northern Irishman\u2019s furry friend has been a loyal companion since he was a teenager and has become something of a lucky mascot for the five-time major winner.<\/p>\n \u201cSo I\u2019ve had this headcover since I was 14 years old,\u201d McIlroy said in 2018. \u201cI\u2019ve always loved dogs, I had a couple of dogs growing up and I\u2019m just a big dog person. This guy has done a lot of air miles, we\u2019ve probably been around the world together 100 times so he\u2019s seen a lot of cool things.\u201d<\/p>\n DAVID CANNON\/GETTY IMAGES<\/p>\n Ryan Fox makes strong start<\/p>\n Rick Broadbent, Charlotte<\/p>\n Great to see Ryan Fox starting so well and getting to three under in quick time. I sat down with the New Zealander earlier this year and he was candid about the mental struggles of golf beneath the megastar level.<\/p>\n Please enable cookies and other technologies to view this content. You can update your cookies preferences any time using privacy manager.<\/a><\/p>\n Enable cookiesAllow cookies once<\/p>\n A year ago Fox played at the US PGA Championship<\/a> with Grayson Murray, who tragically took his own life seven days later. A thoughtful figure, Fox paid tribute to Murray and then explained the reality of pro golf. \u201cI did 37 weeks in a suitcase last year. There are no complaints, but you see the crazy numbers thrown about at the top end and it\u2019s not like that for the guys under them. If you don\u2019t perform you don\u2019t have a job. You don\u2019t get paid if you miss a few cuts in a row, and it gets on you quickly. It\u2019s fantastic at times and brutal at times, and I had it last year. When you\u2019re struggling it\u2019s hard to get away from the negativity and frustration.\u201d<\/p>\n Fox has now based himself in the golf enclave of Jupiter in Florida and having a US base is working for him. He was a winner last week at the Myrtle Beach Classic last week and off to a flier here.<\/p>\n Jordan Spieth… a unicorn?<\/p>\n Rick Broadbent, Charlotte<\/p>\n Lots of chatter among those already here. On the way in I hear someone describe Jordan Spieth as a unicorn who represents the fear of humanity. No idea what that means, or if Spieth can purify poisoned water, but we will monitor the situation.<\/p>\n Course in good shape despite rain<\/p>\n Rick Broadbent, Charlotte<\/p>\n The course here looks in great shape despite the huge amount of rain it has absorbed this week. It will make life harder in the soggier rough, but the fairways were mown on Wednesday evening and temperatures in the high 80s will see it dry out \u2014 although thunderstorms are predicted for Saturday. <\/p>\n Marquee trio are about to tee off<\/p>\n Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele will tee off from the 10th hole in a few minutes.<\/p>\n The world\u2019s top three players will play the first two rounds together at Quail Hollow, with McIlroy bidding to become only the sixth golfer in the past 70 years to win the year\u2019s first two majors. <\/p>\n Most of the players will know the course at Quail Hollow well because (except for this year; in 2017 when it previously hosted the US PGA; and in 2022 when hosting the Presidents Cup) it is the annual host of the Truist Championship (formerly the Wells Fargo) on the PGA Tour.<\/p>\n The final hole is the famous 494-yard par-four 18th, which \u2014 with a scoring average of 4.5 at the Wells Fargo \u2014 was the hardest hole on the PGA Tour<\/a> last year. Many players will suffer a wet demise in the creek that runs up the left side of the fairway all the way to the front edge of the green, which also has a severe false front.<\/p>\n We\u2019re under way at Quail Hollow<\/p>\n The second golf major of the year has begun! Luke Donald got the action under way in Charlotte a few minutes ago with a solid drive down the middle of the fairway. Over the next four days, 156 players will compete for the giant Wanamaker Trophy, which is almost three feet tall.<\/p>\n Please enable cookies and other technologies to view this content. You can update your cookies preferences any time using privacy manager.<\/a><\/p>\n Enable cookiesAllow cookies onceRory McIlroy: I\u2019ve done everything I wanted to<\/p>\n Rick Broadbent, Charlotte<\/p>\n The soul has been searched, hands wrung, guts spilt and tears shed, and the new version of Rory McIlroy<\/a> pitches up to a major without shouldering the weight of the world. <\/p>\n McIlroy is aiming to win the sixth major of his career<\/p>\n DAVID J. PHILLIP\/AP<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve done everything I\u2019ve wanted to do in the game,\u201d he said as rain sounded a drumroll on a marquee in North Carolina. \u201cI dreamt of being the best player in the world and winning all the majors. I\u2019ve done that. Everything beyond this, for however long I decide to play competitively, is a bonus.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2022 Rory McIlroy: I wasn\u2019t going to be mates with Bryson DeChambeau<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n Patrick Reed, golf\u2019s favourite villain, eyes second major<\/p>\n Rick Broadbent<\/p>\n As Rory McIlroy lapped up the love after his grand-slam catharsis at Augusta, an old foe was licking his wounds. Patrick Reed, often the golf establishment\u2019s favoured villain and sometimes a Captain America Ryder Cup hero, had been two strokes from the play-off at the Masters. <\/p>\n His own post-mortem with his coach led to the conclusion that even a mediocre performance with the putter would have brought him a clear victory. \u201cYou could pick so many I missed,\u201d he says. \u201cYou look at the what-ifs, the wouldas and the couldas. It killed me.\u201d<\/p>\n Reed is never shy of letting supporters or opponents know what he thinks<\/p>\n JAMIE SQUIRE\/GETTY<\/p>\n Nevertheless, third place has massaged his confidence going into this week\u2019s US PGA Championship. The last time it was played at Quail Hollow, in 2017, Reed was again two shots behind the winner, Justin Thomas, but he will still fly under the radar at the second major of the year.<\/p>\n \u2022 Patrick Reed: I feel more appreciated in Europe than the US<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n Rory McIlroy: I love coming back here<\/p>\n Rick Broadbent<\/p>\n At the end of last year\u2019s Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow, after the helicopter had landed to deliver the trophy and Rory McIlroy<\/a> was fitted with an outsized sports coat as the winner, he was asked about buying a house there. He was 14 years coming to Charlotte, four times a champion and forever gushing in his admiration for the course, the place and its people. He laughed. If Florida was still home, the long rolling parklands of Quail Hollow would remain his dream playground.<\/p>\n \u201cI love coming back here,\u201d he said. \u201cI love spending time here. It\u2019s a place that I\u2019m very comfortable with. Quail Hollow, the city of Charlotte in general and the people, for whatever reason, I get so much great support here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2022 How Quail Hollow became Rory McIlroy\u2019s dream playground<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n What are the key holes at Quail Hollow?<\/p>\n When the US PGA Championship<\/a> was hosted here in 2017, a staggering 91 balls found the water at the brutally testing final three holes known as \u201cThe Green Mile\u201d. Only three players finished under par through the stretch over the course of the tournament in 2017, so it will play a key role in determining the winner this year.<\/p>\n The 16th has water to the left and long of the green<\/p>\n GARY KELLNER\/PGA OF AMERICA<\/p>\n The challenge begins with the 16th, which has been lengthened by a new tee box to a 529-yard par four. There is a fairway bunker that will swallow up marginally errant drives and the near-peninsula green has water lurking both to the left and beyond.<\/p>\n \u2022 US PGA Championship: tee times, Quail Hollow guide and Rory McIlroy\u2019s chances<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n What\u00a0are Rory McIlroy\u2019s chances?<\/p>\n Excellent. Not only did the Northern Irishman complete the career grand slam by winning the Green Jacket at the Masters<\/a> last month, but he has also won at Quail Hollow four times, making it his most successful venue<\/a>.<\/p>\n McIlroy is chasing the sixth major of his career<\/p>\n DAVID CANNON\/GETTY IMAGES<\/p>\n The course is long at 7,626 yards and, as one of the biggest hitters and few players who can hit a consistent high draw with his driver, McIlroy can often cut the corner off the tee at the numerous dog-leg holes.<\/p>\n \u2022 US PGA Championship: tee times, Quail Hollow guide and Rory McIlroy\u2019s chances<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n Rory McIlroy<\/a> will play alongside world No1 Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele for the first two rounds at Quail Hollow. The Northern Irishman is set to tee off at 1.22pm UK time.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a full list of the tee times (all times BST).<\/p>\n Thursday (1st tee) \/ Friday (10th tee)<\/b> Thursday (10th tee) \/ Friday (1st tee)<\/b> Welcome to the second major of the year<\/p>\n Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the 2025 US PGA Championship.<\/a><\/p>\n![\"2025](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/\/ab3ebc34-e755-4629-bc38-d81a6919112b.jpg\")
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(2) Luke Donald: -2
(2) Patrick Fishburn: -2
(2) Tommy Fleetwood: -2
(2) Max Greyserman: -2<\/p>\n![\"2025](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/\/0a35dcea-bbf7-4c0f-a090-abb65fd358f6.jpg\")
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12.00pm\/5.25pm:<\/b> Luke Donald, Padraig Harrington, Martin Kaymer
12.11pm\/5.36pm:<\/b> John Somers, Taylor Moore, David Puig
12.22pm\/5.47pm:<\/b> Kurt Kitayama, Nic Ishee, Alex Noren
12.33pm\/5.58pm:<\/b> J.T. Poston, Ryo Hisatsune, Tom Johnson
12.44pm\/6.09pm:<\/b> Davis Thompson, Bud Cauley, Nico Echavarria
12.55pm\/6.20pm:<\/b> Harris English, Michael Kim, Thomas Detry
1.06pm\/6.31pm: <\/b>Stephan Jaeger, Chris Kirk, Robert MacIntyre
1.17pm\/6.42pm:<\/b> Thorbj\u00f8rn Olesen, Karl Vilips, Laurie Canter
1.28pm\/6.53pm:<\/b> Si Woo Kim, Sam Stevens, Rico Hoey
1.39pm\/7.04pm:<\/b> Bobby Gates, Lee Hodges, Ben Griffin
1.50pm\/7.15pm:<\/b> Thriston Lawrence, Nick Dunlap, Harry Hall
2.01pm\/7.26pm:<\/b> Greg Koch, Marco Penge, Ryan Gerard
2.12pm\/7.37pm: <\/b>Dylan Newman, Daniel van Tonder, Victor Perez
5.30pm\/12.00pm: <\/b>Michael Kartrude, Sami Valimaki, Jake Knapp
5.41pm\/12.11pm: <\/b>Erik van Rooyen, Michael Block, Mackenzie Hughes
5.52pm\/12.22pm: <\/b>Lucas Glover, Max Homa, Joaquin Niemann
6.03pm\/12.33pm: <\/b>Tyrrell Hatton, Will Zalatoris, Adam Scott
6.14pm\/12.44pm: <\/b>Justin Thomas, Dustin Johnson, Collin Morikawa
6.25pm\/12.55pm:<\/b> Jordan Spieth, Patrick Reed, Ludvig \u00c5berg
6.36pm\/1.06pm:<\/b> Hideki Matsuyama, Wyndham Clark, Tom Kim
6.47pm\/1.17pm:<\/b> Bryson DeChambeau, Viktor Hovland, Gary Woodland
6.58pm\/1.28pm: <\/b>Sergio Garcia, Daniel Berger, Russell Henley
7.09pm\/1.39pm: <\/b>Justin Rose, Cameron Smith, Brian Harman
7.20pm\/1.50pm: <\/b>Brandon Bingaman, Davis Riley, Sungjae Im
7.31pm\/2.01pm:<\/b> Takumi Kanaya, Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Tom McKibbin
7.42pm\/2.12pm:<\/b> Keita Nakajima, Timothy Wiseman, Beau Hossler<\/p>\n
7.37pm\/2.17pm: <\/b>Kevin Yu, Larkin Gross, John Keefer
12.05pm\/5.30pm:<\/b> John Parry, Justin Hicks, Ryan Fox
12.16pm\/5.41pm: <\/b>Andre Chi, Patrick Fishburn, Seamus Power
12.27pm\/5.52pm:<\/b> Max McGreevy, Sahith Theegala, Sepp Straka
12.38pm\/6.03pm:<\/b> Brooks Koepka, Rickie Fowler, Shane Lowry
12.49pm\/6.14pm: <\/b>Phil Mickelson, Tommy Fleetwood, Jason Day
1.00pm\/6.25pm:<\/b> Jon Rahm, Patrick Cantlay, Matt Fitzpatrick
1.11pm\/6.36pm: <\/b>Corey Conners, Min Woo Lee, Rasmus H\u00f8jgaard
1.22pm\/6.47pm:<\/b> Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, Scottie Scheffler
1.33pm\/6.58pm: <\/b>Tony Finau, Nicolai H\u00f8jgaard, Max Greyserman
1.44pm\/7.09pm: <\/b>Andrew Novak, Keegan Bradley, Maverick McNealy
1.55pm\/7.20pm: <\/b>Akshay Bhatia, Denny McCarthy, Sam Burns
2.06pm\/7.31pm:<\/b> John Catlin, Garrick Higgo, Jesse Droemer
2.17pm\/7.42pm:<\/b> Eugenio Chacarra, Rupe Taylor, Justin Lower
5.25pm\/12.05pm<\/b>: Keith Mitchell, Bob Sowards, Adam Hadwin
5.36pm\/12.16pm<\/b>: Eric Cole, Eric Steger, Cam Davis
5.47pm\/12.27pm<\/b>: Austin Eckroat, Brian Bergstol, Jacob Bridgeman
5.58pm\/12.38pm<\/b>: Niklas Norgaard, Byeong Hun An, J.J. Spaun
6.09pm\/12.49pm<\/b>: Patrick Rodgers, Nick Taylor, Dean Burmester
6.20pm\/1.00pm:<\/b> Joe Highsmith, Cameron Young, Aaron Rai
6.31pm\/1.11pm:<\/b> Tom Hoge, Matthieu Pavon, Taylor Pendrith
6.42pm\/1.22pm<\/b>: Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen, Patton Kizzire, Matt McCarty
6.53pm\/1.33pm<\/b>: Tyler Collet, Jimmy Walker, Richard Bland
7.04pm\/1.44pm<\/b>: Jason Dufner, Michael Thorbjornsen, Shaun Micheel
7.15pm\/1.55pm:<\/b> Rafael Campos, Ryan Lenahan, Matt Wallace
7.26pm\/2.06pm:<\/b> Jhonattan Vegas, Elvis Smylie, Brian Campbell<\/p>\n