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McIlroy opposes fifth major despite Players' prestige
Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, a five-time major champion, has dismissed calls to elevate the Players Championship to major status, arguing the tournament already holds a distinct identity in men's golf.
Career Grand Slam achieved in April
The 36-year-old secured his place in golf history by completing the career Grand Slam at the Masters in April, becoming only the sixth player to win all four majors: the Masters, US Open, Open Championship, and US PGA Championship.
Players Championship's unique standing
McIlroy acknowledged the Players Championship, held annually at TPC Sawgrass in March, as one of the sport's premier events, praising its strong field, fan experience, and iconic venue. However, he maintained that expanding the men's majors to five-mirroring the women's game-would dilute tradition.
"Look, I'd love to have seven majors instead of five, that sounds great. But I'm a traditionalist, I'm a historian of the game. We have four major championships."
Rory McIlroy
Criticism of US PGA Championship's scheduling
McIlroy also advocated for moving the US PGA Championship back to August, where it was held during his 2012 and 2014 victories. Since 2019, the tournament has been staged in May, sandwiched between the Masters and US Open, losing its former branding as "glory's last shot."
"The Players doesn't need to be anything else," McIlroy said. "I would say it's got more of an identity than the PGA Championship does at the minute."
LIV Golf's impact on field strength
The Players Championship, long regarded as golf's "fifth major," has seen its field weakened since the launch of LIV Golf in 2022, with several top players defecting to the rival tour. Despite this, McIlroy emphasized the tournament's standalone prestige.
McIlroy will defend his Pebble Beach Pro-Am title this week, marking his 2026 PGA Tour debut.
