Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy and defending champion Xander Schauffele -- the world's highest-ranked golfers -- tee off together Thursday morning in a showcase group certain to seize the spotlight at the PGA Championship.

While Rory McIlroy is clearly the man to beat at the 2025 PGA Championship, he faces a solid group of contenders.

One of these changes is Sahith Theegala withdrawing from the PGA Championship. It is not a major surprise as the promising golfer withdrew prior to the final round of the Truist Championship on Sunday.

The PGA Championship has long been the major that has struggled to find an identity outside of getting the top 100 players in the world

Everyone is excited to see if Rory McIlroy can follow up his memorable and historic Masters victory, which gave him the career Grand Slam. Now, the Northern Irishman looks to capture the PGA Championship title for the first time since 2014.

This decision stands in stark contrast to the PGA Tour's regular season protocol, where "lift, clean and place" rules are routinely implemented after heavy rainfall. Under these conditions, players can pick up their ball in the fairway to remove mud and find a cleaner lie—a practice that significantly eases the challenge for competitors.