Rory McIlroy makes feelings clear on ‘fifth Major’ after controversial marketing slogan
Rory McIlroy has dismissed suggestions that the Players Championship should be elevated to become golf’s fifth major, despite the tournament’s recent marketing push using the slogan “March is going to be major.”
The world number two, speaking ahead of his PGA Tour season opener at Pebble Beach, made clear his preference for maintaining tradition in the men’s game.
“I’m a traditionalist, I’m a historian of the game. We have four major championships,” McIlroy stated.
“If you want to see what five major championships looks like, look at the women’s game. I don’t know how well that’s went for them.”
Rory McIlroy wants the men’s game to keep its traditional four Majors
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The Northern Irishman was effusive in his praise for the TPC Sawgrass event, describing it as among the finest competitions in world golf.
“I think the Players is one of the best golf tournaments in the world. I don’t think anyone disputes that or argues that,” he said.
“I think from a player perspective it’s amazing. I think from an on-site fan experience it’s amazing. It’s an amazing golf course, location, venue.”
McIlroy went further, suggesting the March tournament currently possesses a stronger sense of purpose than one of the established majors.
“I would say it’s got more of an identity than the PGA Championship does at the minute,” he added. “It stands on its own without the label, I guess.”
Rory McIlroy won the Players Championship but does not consider it ‘the fifth Major’
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The 36-year-old also advocated for a significant change to the major championship calendar, urging organisers to shift the US PGA Championship back to its former August slot.
Since 2019, the tournament has been held in May, positioned between the Masters and US Open. Previously, as the season’s final major, it carried the tagline “glory’s last shot.”
“I think it needs to go back to August,” McIlroy declared when asked about restoring the Wanamaker Trophy event’s identity.
Both of his PGA Championship victories, in 2012 and 2014, came when the tournament occupied its traditional late-summer position in the golfing calendar.
The promotional campaign released last week has reignited longstanding debate about whether the PGA Tour’s flagship event deserves major status, with former champion Phil Mickelson among those rejecting the notion outright.
McIlroy, who hails from County Down, achieved a historic milestone last April when he claimed his first Masters title at Augusta National. The victory made him only the sixth player in history to complete the career Grand Slam by winning all four majors.
The two-time Players Championship winner begins his 2026 American campaign this week by defending his Pebble Beach Pro-Am crown, with the tournament commencing on Thursday.
