Rory McIlroy: The Players Championship doesn’t need to be golf’s fifth major, says world number two

World number two Rory McIlroy said the Players Championship had a “bigger identity” than the US PGA Championship, but he did not believe the tournament should become the fifth major championship in men’s golf.

The 36-year-old, from County Down in Northern Ireland, became the sixth man to win each of the sport’s four major slams – the Masters, US Open, Open Championship and US Open – in April when he claimed his first green jacket at Augusta National to complete a career Grand Slam.

The Players Championship, held in March at TPC Sawgrass, has long been called the “5th major championship” and boasted the strongest field in golf, although it has been without a number of big names since LIV Golf’s inception in 2022.

Last week, the tournament began a promotional campaign for this year’s edition with the slogan “March is going to be big”.

While women’s golf already has five majors, McIlroy doesn’t feel the men’s game needs to expand its own classification.

“Look, I’d like to have seven majors instead of five, that sounds great,” McIlroy said, referring to his two previous Players Championships along with his five majors.

“I think the Players Championship is one of the best golf tournaments in the world. I don’t think anyone disputes that or disputes that. I think from a player’s perspective it’s amazing. I think from the fan experience on site it’s amazing. It’s a great golf course and a great location and venue.”

“But I’m a traditionalist and a historian of the game. We have four Grand Slams. If you want to see what five Grand Slams look like, look at the women’s game. I don’t know how well things went for them.”