Rory McIlroy Returns to Truist Championship After Back-to-Back Masters Wins

The 2026 Truist Championship starts Thursday, May 7, at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina. The 72-player field includes world No. 2 Rory McIlroy, the betting favorite. The purse is $20 million; the winner receives $3.6 million and 700 FedExCup points.

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McIlroy entered after defending his Masters title in April, becoming the fourth player to win consecutive Green Jackets at Augusta. The victory marked his sixth major. At Quail Hollow he holds four tournament wins (2010, 2015, 2021, 2024) and the course record 61 set in 2010.

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Top-10 players in the field include Cameron Young (world No. 3), Xander Schauffele, Matt Fitzpatrick (No. 4), Ludvig Åberg, Tommy Fleetwood, Si Woo Kim and Hideki Matsuyama. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is not playing. Betting odds list McIlroy at +580 (DraftKings) and +600 (other sportsbooks); Young is +920 and Schauffele +1150.

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McIlroy told reporters his Masters win “validated the work I’ve put in over the last few years” and that he feels “more motivated than I’ve ever been.” He called the victory “life-changing in some ways, but I still have a lot of my career left.” He also noted a switch back to a TaylorMade Qi4D 3-wood after testing a Qi10 model that lacked spin.

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Some analysts suggested that McIlroy’s back-to-back Masters victories could lead to a performance dip at the Truist Championship, warning that the pressure of defending a major might affect his play. McIlroy’s own comments, however, emphasize heightened motivation rather than fatigue.

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Scheffler confirmed he will skip the event to “go home tonight and get ready for the PGA.” Cameron Young arrives as the recent Cadillac Championship winner. Xander Schauffele remains a consistent contender with multiple top-10 finishes.

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The Truist Championship is a key tune-up for the PGA Championship at Aronimink (May 14) and the U.S. Open. McIlroy’s form at Quail Hollow could shape the early-season narrative.

Rory McIlroy returns to PGA Tour action at Truist Championship: Field, format and prize money for Signature Event

Sources differ on McIlroy’s exact betting line: one lists +600 odds, another +580. The complete 72-player roster has not been published.

GOLF Magazine

• “You know, I've spoke about this a lot. I felt like winning the Grand Slam was like ... going to be this life-changing thing, and in some ways it was, but in other ways I had to remember like, no, I still have a lot of my career left, and I want to keep playing and keep competing,” — Rory McIlroy, press conference

Newsweek

• “I’m excited for the road ahead.” — Rory McIlroy, reporters

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• “more motivated than I've ever been” — Rory McIlroy, interview

BBC News

• “Go home tonight hopefully and get ready for the PGA,” — Scottie Scheffler, media briefing

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