World number one Scottie Scheffler enters the 2026 PGA Championship as the definitive favorite to defend his title following a period of sustained dominance on the PGA Tour. His pursuit of a historic Grand Slam remains the central storyline of the season, even as a resurgent Rory McIlroy looks to build on his recent victory at the Masters.
The 2026 professional golf landscape continues to be defined by the high-stakes rivalry between Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy. Scheffler, currently ranked as the heavy betting favorite for the upcoming PGA Championship, remains the man to beat after a series of remarkable performances. His recent surge included a bogey-free round at The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass, where he demonstrated the clinical precision that has characterized his 2026 campaign. Despite some earlier questions regarding his mindset following minor struggles, Scheffler has reaffirmed his position at the top of the sport, with analysts focusing on his potential to sweep the year’s remaining major championships.
Rory McIlroy has emerged as the primary challenger to Scheffler’s supremacy after securing a momentous victory at the 2026 Masters. This win at Augusta National has positioned McIlroy to potentially seek a second consecutive green jacket in the coming year, a feat that has reignited global interest in his career trajectory. The momentum from his Masters triumph has shifted the odds for the PGA Championship, though Scheffler remains the statistical frontrunner. The competition between the two stars has overshadowed other notable season achievements, including Collin Morikawa’s resilient victory at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, where he narrowly held off a late-round charge from Scheffler to secure his first win in several years.
