There had been rumors that Rory McIlroy’s time away from the PGA Tour was coming to an end with the PGA Championship fast approaching. McIlroy has not played in a PGA Tour event since winning his second straight Masters in April.
The Truist Championship previously announced that McIlroy planned to participate in this week’s tournament. Days before the Truist Championship, the PGA Tour confirmed that McIlroy is indeed playing while posting a video to social media of the Masters champ practicing at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte.
“Rory McIlroy is back in action this week @TruistChampionship 🏌️♂️,” the PGA Tour detailed in a May 5, 2026, Instagram post.
The PGA Tour posted a similar message along with a video on X.
“The Masters champ is back to work 🏌️♂️,” the PGA Tour added on X.
Here’s a look at McIlroy back in the lab.
McIlroy is being paired with Matt Fitzpatrick in one of the feature groups, the Truist Championship announced.
Here’s what you need to know about the latest PGA Tour golf news.
Rory McIlory Is Expected to Halt Absence & Play in the Truist Championship Followed by PGA Championship
The expectation is that McIlroy will play in the Truist Championship as an obvious tune-up ahead of next week’s PGA Championship, the major which tees off on May 14. Prior to the Truist Championship, McIlroy had missed three straight PGA tournaments.
Over the last year, McIlroy has emphasized his desire to be more selective about his schedule of tournaments. Yet, the Masters champion dismissed the idea of another prolonged victory tour following his win at Augusta National.
“I think different (the schedule between events). Different (from 2025),” McIlroy told reporters on April 13. “Yeah, I said at the start of the weekend here I felt like the Grand Slam was the destination, and I realized it wasn’t. I’m on this journey to — I don’t know, I just won my sixth major, and I feel like I’m in a really good spot with my game and my body.
“… I’ve waited so long to win the Masters, and all of a sudden I win two in a row. So I still want to enjoy it. I’ve got a couple of weeks off before I go back to play competitive golf, but I don’t think I’ll go through that lull of motivation or the sort of things that I was feeling last year post winning this tournament.”
Truist Championship Odds: Rory McIlroy Is the Favorite to Win
Despite the layoff, McIlroy is the favorite to win his second straight tournament. McIlroy sits atop the field at +580 to win the Truist Championship, per DraftKings.
Cameron Young (+920), Xander Schauffele (+1175) and Fitzpatrick (+1700) are among the favorites as well. One notable name who is not joining McIlroy in the Truist Championship field is Scottie Scheffler.
The star golfer is skipping this week’s tournament but is expected to compete in the PGA Championship. After a disappointing finish at the Cadillac Championship, Scheffler outlined his plan ahead of the upcoming major.
“Go home tonight hopefully and get ready for the PGA,” Scheffler told reporters on May 3. “A lot of positives. Some stuff I can clean up, but overall definitely some positives from the last few weeks.”
PGA Tour Announces Rory McIlroy News Days Before Truist Championship