The stage is set for the 108th PGA Championship, and all eyes are on two of golf's biggest stars. Top-ranked defending champion Scottie Scheffler and Masters repeat winner Rory McIlroy head into Thursday's opening round at Aronimink as the oddsmakers' clear favorites.

Scheffler, who captured the 2022 and 2024 Masters titles alongside last year's British Open and PGA Championship, took a strategic week off before attempting his first major title defense. The 29-year-old American has been on fire since the season began, winning his first start at the American Express tournament in the California desert. He followed that up with a third-place finish at Phoenix and a fourth at Pebble Beach, proving his game is in top form.

But it's his recent runner-up finishes that have really turned heads. Scheffler has finished second in each of his last three starts—at the Masters and Heritage tournaments in April, and most recently at Doral. "Sometimes you're able to build some positive momentum, and at times in my career I've been able to really feed off of that," Scheffler shared. "When you feel like you're in a good spot with your game and you're seeing the right shots, sometimes it doesn't feel that difficult."

Despite the near-misses, Scheffler is drawing confidence from his recent performances. "A lot of positives," he said. "Some stuff I can clean up, but overall definitely some positives from the last few weeks." He's also eyeing a career Grand Slam at next month's US Open at Shinnecock, which falls on his 30th birthday. "I would love to be able to win the US Open," Scheffler added. "I've had some success at that tournament before and I think it suits my style of game. I'm excited to go to Shinnecock this year and hopefully get it done."

Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy is riding a wave of momentum after completing his own career Grand Slam last year. The six-time major winner ended a decade-long drought by winning the Masters, then made history last month by becoming just the fourth player to win back-to-back titles at Augusta National. That victory has reignited his passion for the game. "This year I think winning was validation for all the work that I've put in over the last few years to get myself back to this place where I'm winning majors," McIlroy said.

McIlroy has also expressed excitement about the upcoming major venues. "I'm excited for Aronimink next week, Shinnecock, Birkdale," he noted, hinting at his ambitions for the rest of the season. With both superstars in peak form, this PGA Championship is shaping up to be a battle for the ages.