By BOB LENTZ
Related Press
FLOURTOWN, Pa. — Issues are getting again to regular for Rory McIlroy, and it’s something however routine for this week’s Truist Championship on the Philadelphia Cricket Membership, the sixth of eight signature occasions on the PGA Tour this season.
McIlroy is enjoying in a person event for the primary time since profitable the Masters and changing into the sixth golfer to finish the profession grand slam. He teamed with fellow Irishman Shane Lowry at final month’s Zurich Traditional and the pair completed twelfth. Now he’s returning to motion after a brief break.
“I’m excited to get again to being a golfer,” McIlroy mentioned. “It’s good to get again into the routine once more and get again to what I understand how to do.”
McIlroy is the defending champion and a four-time winner of this occasion. The 36-year-old mentioned celebrating his Masters victory is behind him and he’s trying ahead to the following few months.
First, his consideration is on the Truist that begins Thursday. A winner of the occasion in 2010, 2015, 2021 and 2024, McIlroy doesn’t have the posh of making an attempt to go back-to-back on the identical course.
The occasion was moved to Philly Cricket this yr whereas the event’s traditional residence, Quail Hole in North Carolina, prepares to host subsequent week’s PGA Championship.
“The final two instances I’ve received the Truist Championship, I haven’t been capable of defend on the identical golf course the following yr,” McIlroy mentioned. “We received in ’21 after which performed Potomac, and received final yr after which we’re right here.
“So it doesn’t fairly really feel like a protection.”
This week’s subject within the no-cut occasion might be examined by Philly Cricket’s Wissahickon Course for the primary time. The format within the golf-rich Philadelphia suburbs performs simply over 7,100 yards and a par 70.
The oldest nation membership within the U.S., based in 1854, the format was designed by membership member A.W. Tillinghast and opened in 1922. It underwent restoration simply over a decade in the past and has hosted quite a lot of notable occasions, together with final yr’s USGA Beginner 4-Ball Championship and the 2016 Constellation Senior Gamers Championship.
The signature occasion is lacking world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who received for the primary time in 2025 final week at his hometown Byron Nelson, the place he matched the PGA Tour’s 72-hole scoring file.
Third-ranked Xander Schauffele returns to competitors for the primary time since a tie for 18th place on the RBC Heritage in April and can defend his PGA Championship title subsequent week.
Justin Thomas is coming off a victory on the RBC Heritage and, at No. 5, has his highest rating since holding the identical spot in 2022.
McIlroy and others have described the Wissahickon format as “old fashioned” and appeared excited to have the occasion staged on the venerable format.
The gamers will face giant touchdown areas, not-so-penal tough and tough greens. Expectations of how the course holds up in opposition to as we speak’s execs drew diversified responses.
“It’s similar to quite a lot of these old fashioned programs which were renovated over the previous few years. A whole lot of bushes have been taken out. The inexperienced complexes are, for me, the attention-grabbing factor concerning the golf course,” McIlroy mentioned.
“A bit of easy off the tee … however ensuring with the second photographs that you just’re under the opening and making an attempt to get to be taught the greens a little bit bit extra.”
Thomas is a fan of Philly Cricket and was hopeful that an early forecast of inclement climate on Thursday and Friday doesn’t diminish the course’s defenses in opposition to the top-flight subject.
“I really like these sorts of designs,” he mentioned. “They’re enjoyable. … They’re very particular by way of what the circumstances give us. … It’s meant to play agency and quick, particularly the greens.”
Schauffele expects a low rating to win.
“For some purpose, every time programs appear to be actually, actually laborious, guys appear to shoot low,” he mentioned. “I believe this course is sort of the center of the highway by way of issue. I believe there’s some laborious holes on there and a few holes which are actually gettable.”
Charitable Truist
The Truist Championship is a one-off cease for the PGA Tour within the Philadelphia space but is leaving a long-lasting mark.
Truist earlier this week introduced a $750,000 donation to the Cobbs Creek Basis in assist of the continued revitalization of the late Charlie Sifford’s residence course and one of many nation’s first inclusive golf amenities.
Cobbs Creek opened in 1916 and is one in all eight golf programs within the Nationwide Black Golf Corridor of Fame. The restoration features a Tiger Woods’ basis TGR Studying Lab and Jordan Spieth’s basis contributed $250,000 that funded the development of a apply placing inexperienced.