As the 2025 PGA Championship kicks off at Quail Hollow, golf fans are wondering: Who can truly challenge the favorites, Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy? With the stage set for another thrilling battle between the world’s best, one name is standing out as a formidable contender. According to Jim Nantz, a certain PGA Tour pro is in a prime position to upset the top dogs. It’s no surprise Scheffler and McIlroy are the ones to beat—Scheffler arrives in red-hot form after a record-tying win at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson and a steady 2-under start at Quail Hollow. McIlroy, meanwhile, has already won at this venue four times and completed the career Grand Slam with his Masters victory earlier this year. Their dominance is well-earned, but Nantz believes the spotlight shouldn’t rest solely on them.

When asked about Justin Thomas, Nantz confidently stated, “I think that he’s definitely up there in that top 10 guys that you have to seriously consider to win this thing.” This assessment comes on the back of Thomas’s impressive start to 2025, which includes a key victory at the RBC Heritage where he ended a three-year winless streak. Along with consistent top-10 finishes earlier in the season and a strong runner-up showing at the Truist Championship, Thomas has clearly regained his form heading into the PGA Championship. Nantz also highlighted the importance of recent success, noting, “JT’s in a really good place with his game, so look out.” With this momentum, Thomas is more than capable of making a serious run at Quail Hollow.

Despite Thomas’s strong position, Nantz didn’t overlook the competition. He acknowledged, “I don’t want to shortchange Sepp [Straka]; he’s coming in off of a win, he’s got two wins on the year.” Straka’s impressive 2025 season, highlighted by victories at the American Express in January and the Truist Championship in May, has firmly established him as a serious contender. His consistent performances and ability to close out tournaments make him a player to watch as the PGA Championship unfolds. However, he emphasized that Thomas’s 2017 PGA Championship win by 2 strokes at Quail Hollow, along with Scottie Scheffler’s recent victory and Rory McIlroy’s win last month, make them the top contenders. “You probably have to say, with Justin’s win there in 2017 at the PGA, and Scotty’s win two weeks ago, and Rory’s win last month, they’re the three you have to start with.”

What makes Quail Hollow such a unique test for these players? Nantz explained, “Quail has a knack, though, in the end, for giving us great players.” With its challenging layout and history of dramatic finishes, the course tends to separate the pretenders from the true contenders. Nantz has high hopes for Justin Thomas, whose ability to rise to the occasion could make him one of the biggest surprises of the tournament.

While Nantz’s praise of Quail Hollow highlights its ability to elevate great players, the tournament has also been overshadowed by Justin Thomas’ recent remarks. As much as his talent has earned him a spot among the favorites, his controversial take on the course has stirred up debate, diverting some attention away from his performance and onto his words.

Justin Thomas’s controversial remarks cast a shadow over the PGA Championship

As the PGA Championship 2025 kicks off at Quail Hollow, the excitement around the tournament isn’t just about the action on the course—it’s the controversial comments made by Justin Thomas that have been grabbing the headlines. In a surprising turn, Thomas inadvertently sparked a wave of criticism by offering a harsh assessment of Quail Hollow, which has long been regarded as one of the crown jewels of golf venues.

Quail Hollow has a storied history of hosting top events, including the Presidents Cup in 2022. Thomas didn’t mince words when discussing the course. Rather than praising its layout or challenging design, Thomas suggested that the true draw of Quail Hollow lies in its financial prowess. He pointed out that the course’s appeal is rooted more in its ability to attract affluent sponsors and cater to the upscale tastes of Charlotte’s elite crowd rather than its golfing integrity.

As the PGA Championship unfolds, Thomas’ candid remarks are adding a layer of drama to the tournament. Will this controversy overshadow the play on the course, or will the focus return to the competition? Only time will tell as the championship progresses.