Straka Takes The Truist - PGA Championship Preview

Welcome back, Duffers.

Happy Tuesday! We’ve got your summary of the world’s professional golf and who to look out for in this week’s most-awaited championship!

The lineup for the PGA Championship this year is stacked, and the competition is enough to make your palms sweat!

Who knows? Your favorites just might stage a comeback and steal the show!

So place your bets and let’s dive in!

Today’s highlights:

• Truist Championship: Philly’s Wissahickon Wows in One-Off Stop

• PGA Championship Preview: Rory vs. Bryson Showdown Looms at Quail Hollow

• Jordan Spieth’s Stealthy Grand Slam Chase at the PGA Championship

Tournament Recap 🏌️

Truist Championship: Philly’s Wissahickon Wows in One-Off Stop

With Quail Hollow gearing up to host the PGA Championship, the 2025 Truist Championship found a new home at the Philadelphia Cricket Club’s Wissahickon Course, a historic A.W. Tillinghast design.

This rare East Coast stop—outside the usual PGA Tour haunts of California, Texas, and Florida—sparked palpable excitement among players, who don’t often get to compete in the Northeast. The par-70, 7,119-yard layout, with 118 bunkers and tricky Bentgrass greens, proved a stern test despite its shorter length, rewarding precision over raw power.

Players were vocal about their enthusiasm for the change of scenery. Rory McIlroy, a four-time Truist champion at Quail Hollow, praised the venue, saying, “Philadelphia is one of the best places in the U.S. for golf. It’s awesome to play a Tillinghast course with such history.” He even suggested a shorter golf ball to enhance the course’s challenge, noting it would “make it play like the architects intended”.

Justin Thomas echoed the sentiment, calling the East Coast swing “a refreshing change” and urging the Tour to “bring more events up here—the fans and courses deserve it”.

Xander Schauffele added, “Old-school East Coast courses like this are a blast. It’s a different vibe from the usual stops, and I’m all for it”. The players’ support for more Northeast events was clear, with many citing the passionate Philly crowds and the region’s golf heritage as reasons to return.

Despite lacking the length to fully challenge today’s long-hitting pros, the Wissahickon Course was a masterful test of skill. Its 118 bunkers—the most on Tour this season—and tiered greens with no straight putts demanded accuracy and creativity.

As Sepp Straka noted post-victory, “It’s not about bombing it here. You’ve got to think your way around, and that’s what makes it fun”. The closing stretch (holes 15-18) proved decisive, with the course holding its own even after a birdie-fest on Thursday led by Keith Mitchell’s course-record 61.

Sepp Straka continued his stellar 2025, clinching his fourth PGA Tour title and second of the season with a -16 finish, outdueling Shane Lowry and Justin Thomas for his biggest career win. Straka’s clutch par on the 16th and steady 2-under 68 in the final round secured the $3.6 million prize in this $20 million Signature Event. His eagle on the par-5 5th and birdie on the 15th showcased his composure under pressure, moving him to second in the FedExCup standings.

Straka admitted to nerves, telling CBS Sports’ Amanda Balionis, “I was nauseous out there, but pulling off shots under that pressure is what makes it special”. This victory, his first in a Signature Event, cements Straka as a rising star heading into the majors.

Justin Thomas signaled a return to peak form, finishing T2 at -14 alongside Lowry. Fresh off his RBC Heritage win, Thomas posted seven top-10s in his last 12 starts, including five top-3s. His ball-striking was crisp, and the shorter Wissahickon layout minimized his occasional driver struggles. As a two-time PGA champion (2017 at Quail Hollow, 2022), Thomas is a player to watch this week. His familiarity with Quail Hollow and recent momentum make him a serious contender for a third Wanamaker Trophy.

The leaderboard also featured Patrick Cantlay, Jacob Bridgeman, and Tommy Fleetwood at T4 (-12), with Rory McIlroy and Keith Mitchell at T7 (-10). Collin Morikawa and Tony Finau tied for sixth after strong starts but couldn’t sustain their charge. Justin Rose withdrew due to illness, raising concerns for his PGA prep.

For more on Straka’s win, you can read more here:

Noteworthy Stories ✍🏻

PGA Championship Preview: Rory vs. Bryson Showdown Looms at Quail Hollow 

The 107th PGA Championship (May 15-18) at Quail Hollow Club promises drama on the par-71 layout, with its redesigned front nine and brutal “Green Mile” (holes 16-18). Heavy rain early in the week may soften the course, favoring long hitters, though the SubAir system could keep greens firm. With temperatures rising to near 90 by Saturday, endurance will be key.

The Course and Field

Quail Hollow’s length and demand for long-iron precision play to the strengths of power players like Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau, setting the stage for another potential showdown after their epic battles at Augusta and the U.S. Open. The field of 156 includes 29 past major champions, 14 past PGA winners, and LIV Golf stars like Sergio Garcia, Dustin Johnson, and Joaquin Niemann. Missing are Tiger Woods (Achilles recovery) and John Daly (only his second PGA absence since 1991).

Rory McIlroy: The Favorite

Rory McIlroy is the undisputed favorite (+450 odds) after his Masters victory and four Truist titles at Quail Hollow (2010, 2015, 2021, 2024). His tee-to-green dominance (Tour leader off the tee, third in driving distance) and top-10 scrambling suit the course perfectly. Despite a T7 at Truist, McIlroy felt confident, saying, “I didn’t play my best in Philly, but I still finished seventh. My bad golf is still competitive, and Quail Hollow sets up great for me”. With a “lighter” mindset post-Masters, Rory is poised to end his 11-year major drought and chase a fifth major.

Bryson DeChambeau: The Contender

Bryson DeChambeau (+2000) is a serious threat after a LIV Golf Korea win and strong major showings (T2 at 2024 PGA, U.S. Open champion). His driving distance and long-iron play align with Quail Hollow’s demands, and his flair for drama makes him a fan favorite. As Golf.com’s Sean Sens noted, “Bryson’s been an exciting part of every major since joining LIV”. A McIlroy-DeChambeau duel could steal the show, with both thriving on the course’s big-ballpark style.

Justin Thomas: The Dark Horse

Justin Thomas (+2200) is peaking at the right time. His 2017 PGA win at Quail Hollow and recent T2 at Truist highlight his resurgence. Thomas leads the Tour in birdies and has cleaned up his approach play, making him a dangerous pick to claim a third Wanamaker Trophy.

Other Names to Watch:

• Scottie Scheffler (+500): World No. 1 skipped Truist but boasts wins at Pebble Beach, TPC Sawgrass, and Augusta. His scrambling and bogey avoidance are elite.

• Xander Schauffele (+2000): Defending PGA champion with back-to-back Truist runner-ups at Quail Hollow. A rib injury hasn’t slowed his approach play.

• Shane Lowry (+3500): T2 at Truist and a strong long-iron player, Lowry’s consistency makes him a sleeper.

Our Take: The PGA Championship could hinge on a McIlroy-DeChambeau clash, with Rory’s course history and Bryson’s power creating a blockbuster narrative. McIlroy remains the favorite, but don’t sleep on Justin Thomas, whose form and Quail Hollow pedigree make him a must-watch. For a value pick, Sepp Straka (+8000) could carry his Truist momentum into a top-10 finish.

Jordan Spieth’s Stealthy Grand Slam Chase at the PGA Championship

Hello Duffer’s Digest Readers, 

We couldn’t forgive ourselves if we didn’t comment on Jordan Spieth’s shot to complete the career grand slam. While far from his peak form, Spieth has a way of making golf fans feel things that no other player can. Spieth only needs the Wanamaker Trophy to join golf’s elite club alongside Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods, and only three others.

While Rory McIlroy was in the spotlight for 11 years chasing his Masters win to complete the Grand Slam—finally clinching it in 2025—Spieth’s pursuit has flown under the radar, overshadowed by his recent struggles and McIlroy’s high-profile quest. But don’t sleep on Spieth; the 31-year-old Texan is showing signs of a resurgence that could make this week electric.

Spieth’s fall from world No. 1 to 49th in the Official World Golf Ranking, coupled with no PGA Tour wins since 2022, has dimmed his star power. A nagging wrist injury, which plagued him since 2017 and required surgery in August 2024, didn’t help. Yet, since returning in February 2025, Spieth has quietly posted three top-10s in 10 starts, including a sizzling 9-under 62 at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson (T4) and a T12 at the Valero Texas Open.

His ball-striking is trending up (15th in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee), and he’s gaining strokes tee-to-green in six straight starts. At the Truist Championship last week, he carded a 66 in Round 2, finishing T18 despite a so-so Sunday. As Spieth told Golf Digest, “My ball striking is coming around at a really nice time” post-surgery, and Quail Hollow’s Bermuda greens suit his Texas roots.

Oddsmakers aren’t fully convinced, likely due to poor course fit, pegging Spieth at +4100 to +5500, a long shot compared to McIlroy (+450) or Scottie Scheffler (+500). His Quail Hollow history is mixed—best of T28 in the 2017 PGA and T29 in last year’s Truist—but his 5-0 Presidents Cup record there in 2022 shows he can thrive in Charlotte.

If Spieth contends this week, the excitement would be palpable. Picture the roars as the three-time major champ, once golf’s golden boy, battles McIlroy, Bryson DeChambeau, or Justin Thomas down the “Green Mile.” “Odds would say he’s good enough to do it,” Scheffler said, and a Spieth surge would ignite golf fans, especially after McIlroy’s Masters triumph stole headlines. As Rory noted, the Grand Slam chase carries “a certain weight,” and Spieth’s ninth attempt could make history.

Our Take: Spieth’s +4100 odds are tempting for a top-10 bet, given his recent form and comfort on Bermuda. If he’s in the mix Sunday, the buzz will rival McIlroy’s Augusta moment.

Who’s your dark horse this week? Let us know in the comments!

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Keep swinging, Duffers!

— The Duffer’s Crew