Rory McIlroy does not believe the Players Championship should become men's golf's fifth major, despite it having "more of an identity" than the PGA Championship.

The Northern Irishman became just the sixth man to win a career Grand Slam last April when he won The Masters for the first time, adding to his titles in the U.S. Open, the Open Championship and the PGA Championship.

He has also twice triumphed at the Players, winning in 2019 and 2025, with the tournament nicknamed "the fifth major'.

The Players, held in March at TPC Sawgrass, used to boast one of the strongest fields in golf, though it has been without a number of big names since LIV Golf started in 2022.

Women's golf already has five majors, but McIlroy does not believe the men's game needs to expand its designation.

"Look, I'd love to have seven majors instead of five [titles], that sounds great," McIlroy, who is making his 2026 PGA Tour debut by attempting to defend his title at Pebble Beach Pro-Am, said.

"I think the Players is one of the best golf tournaments in the world. I don't think anyone disputes that or argues that.

"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.

"But I'm a traditionalist, I'm a historian of the game. We have four major championships. 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."

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McIlroy also called for the PGA Championship to be moved back to its original slot in August, which is the month it was held in when the 36-year-old won his titles back in 2012 and 2014.

However, since 2019, it has moved up in the calendar to May, being held between the Masters and U.S. Open.

When it was the final major of the year, the PGA Championship was branded 'glory's last shot', and McIlroy believes a move back to the summer would help it regain that identity.

"The Players, it doesn't need to be anything else. I would say it's got more of an identity than the PGA Championship does at the minute," he added.

"So, from an identity standpoint, I think the Players has got it nailed. It stands on its own without the label, I guess."