A Final Tune-Up Before Quail Hollow: PGA Tour Stars Eye Momentum at the Truist Championship

The PGA Tour shifts to Pennsylvania this week for the 2025 Truist Championship, staged at the historic Philadelphia Cricket Club's Wissahickon Course in Flourtown. As the last event before the season’s second major, the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, the Truist Championship takes on extra significance as the game’s elite look to fine-tune their form before heading to another one of golf’s biggest stages. With signature event status, a $20 million purse, and 700 FedEx Cup points on the line, this week promises a high-stakes battle with most of the sport’s heavyweights in attendance. For some, it's a chance to keep red-hot momentum rolling; for others, it offers a critical opportunity to rediscover rhythm and confidence before the next Major. With a classic Golden Age design setting the stage and the stars aligned for a pre-major showdown, the 2025 Truist Championship is poised to deliver compelling drama as the countdown to Quail Hollow begins.

Tournament Details

Location: The Philadelphia Cricket Club, Wissahickon Course, Flourtown, PA

Dates: May 8th - May 11th, 2025

Defending Champion: Rory McIlroy

Purse: $20 million

FedEx Cup Points: 700

Event Type: Signature PGA Tour Event

Course Week Breakdown

The Wissahickon Course at The Philadelphia Cricket Club, a par-70 layout stretching over 7,119 yards, offers a distinctively classic test with its traditional parkland design and strategic shot values. Originally designed by famed architect A.W. Tillinghast, the course features tree-lined fairways, penal bunkering, and undulating greens that reward precision over pure power. Players will face tight driving corridors and elevated, well-protected greens that place a premium on accurate approach play and sharp short games. While scoring opportunities exist, especially on the par fives and reachable par fours, the course's subtle defenses—firm greens, tricky run-offs, and deceptive sightlines—are capable of punishing even the slightest mistakes. The closing stretch, particularly the demanding 17th and 18th holes, is set up to deliver late-round drama, testing players’ nerves as they jockey for position before heading to Quail Hollow next week.

Weather forecasts call for unpredictable conditions, with temperatures ranging from the 60s to 80s and some wind throughout the week. A chance of scattered showers on Friday could soften the course temporarily, but drying conditions and firmer greens are expected by the weekend. With ideal scoring weather and a championship-caliber setup, the Wissahickon Course should offer a balanced test, allowing the game’s sharpest players to rise to the top while providing a few surprises along the way. All eyes will be on who can leave Pennsylvania with not only the trophy but valuable momentum heading into the PGA Championship spotlight.

Featured Players to Watch

Rory McIlroy – Defending Champion with Momentum

Rory McIlroy returns to the Truist Championship as the defending champion, and he'll be looking to use this week as a springboard heading into next week’s PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, where he has already won four events. McIlroy’s game has shown flashes of brilliance in 2025, particularly with his driver and iron play, which will be critical on the classic setup at Wissahickon. The Northern Irishman thrives on historic courses, and his comfort on tree-lined layouts makes him a dangerous threat to go back-to-back here. With eyes also on Quail Hollow, where he will try to win his sixth Major and second of the year, McIlroy will want to sharpen his putting stroke and wedge play while maintaining the confident stride that helped him lift the trophy last year and at Augusta this year. Expect Rory to come out motivated, knowing that a strong showing this week could set the tone for a huge fortnight.

Collin Morikawa – The Powerhouse Iron Player

Collin Morikawa heads into the Truist Championship looking every bit the contender, especially with a golf course that rewards precise approach play and strategic thinking. Morikawa's iron game remains among the best in the world, and Wissahickon’s small targets and demanding shot values seem tailor-made for his strengths. While he’s yet to secure a win in 2025, Morikawa has quietly built solid finishes and appears to be trending in the right direction just in time for the season’s biggest stages. His calm demeanor and clinical ball-striking should position him well to contend, especially if he can find some confidence with the putter. He’ll also have a new caddie on the bag this week after splitting with long-time caddie JJ Jakovac and hiring Joe Greiner full-time. With Quail Hollow looming, Morikawa would love nothing more than to notch a big win this week and carry a wave of momentum into next week’s PGA Championship.

Xander Schauffele – Looking to Bounce Back

Xander Schauffele arrives in Pennsylvania knowing that it’s crunch time, as he prepares to defend his PGA Championship title next week at Quail Hollow. The Californian has endured an up-and-down season, with solid ball-striking but inconsistent results, and this week offers a prime chance to get back on track. Schauffele’s all-around game makes him a perennial threat, but he’ll be eager to tidy up his short game and convert more birdie chances heading into his Major defense. He has historically played well in signature events, and a strong showing here could reignite his confidence and remind the field why he's among the game's elite. Expect Schauffele to be locked in, using every round this week as vital preparation as he seeks to peak right in time for his title defense in Charlotte.

Jordan Spieth – Player to Watch Eyeing History

Jordan Spieth will be one of the most intriguing players to track this week, as he gets one final tune-up before his latest bid to complete the career Grand Slam at next week’s PGA Championship. Spieth showed promising signs with a solid performance at the CJ CUP Byron Nelson, and now he returns to a classic-style course that should suit his creativity and shot-making skills. The three-time major winner has come agonizingly close to the Grand Slam before, and every tournament leading into Quail Hollow is a chance to fine-tune his game and build belief. Spieth’s short game and putting have looked sharper in recent weeks, and if his driver behaves, he could be a serious contender not just here, but next week as well. With Texas momentum and golf history within reach, Spieth’s every move this week will carry extra weight as fans and pundits watch closely.

Final Thoughts

With the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow just a week away, the 2025 Truist Championship shapes up as the perfect prelude, offering both a stern test and a golden opportunity for players to gather momentum. With a lot of the stars out in force, including defending champion Rory McIlroy, iron maestro Collin Morikawa, defending PGA Champion Xander Schauffele, and Grand Slam hopeful Jordan Spieth, this week could be packed with high drama and compelling subplots. The Wissahickon Course’s timeless challenge will demand sharpness in every facet, and those who find their stride here could carry that edge into the year’s next Major. Expect a thrilling Sunday finish and plenty of storylines that will roll directly into Quail Hollow. As tune-ups go, they don’t get much bigger than this.