PGA Championship: The big names in danger of missing the cut

The 107th PGA Championship has only just begun but, already, it’s looking like being a short week for some of the game’s biggest names.

Here’s a rundown of the high-profile players who need to bring their very best golf to Quail Hollow on Friday if they’re to make the cut in the second men’s major of the year.

Rory McIlroy

The Masters champion was heavily fancied to win back-to-back majors, not least because he has won four times at Quail Hollow in the past. A three-over 74, however, has left him well off the pace.

Brooks Koepka

Three times a winner of the Wanamaker Trophy, 35-year-old Koepka laboured to a four-over 75 and needs something special on Friday to avoid missing the cut in consecutive majors for the first time in his career.

• PGA Championship: Round 2 tee times in full

• PGA Championship 2025: When and where to watch

Min Woo Lee

The Aussie won his maiden PGA Tour title at the Texas Children’s Houston Open in March but looks unlikely to add to that this week after a sloppy three-over opening round.

Patrick Cantlay

His T4 finish at the Truist Championship last weekend had many tipping Cantlay for a major breakthrough at Quail Hollow this week. A three-over 74 has left him with plenty of work to do in round two.

• Bryson DeChambeau makes major Joaquin Niemann prediction

• PGA of America boss urges LIV to make rankings decision

Phil Mickelson

Get this: since his history-making victory in the 2021 PGA Championship, Mickelson has missed the cut in eight of the 13 majors he has contested. An eight-over 79 has him facing up to the prospect of a fourth weekend off in his last five major starts.

Note: This page will be updated as Round 1 develops.