Recent history opposed Rory McIlroy As he tries to bounce back from his frustrating performance at the Masters at the 105th USA PGA Championship in Oak Hill.
Players in their 20s have won the last seven major tournaments for men. Augusta National last month.
Missing the breakout at the Masters after the second round of 77, McIlroy turned 34 earlier this month, and even the prospect of playing a major on a course he’s a member of apparently did little to lift his spirits.
“I don’t have a ton of local knowledge compared to everyone else here,” said McIlroy, whose wife, Erica, is from Rochester.
“The last two days are the most I’ve really seen on this golf course in the past few years.”
McIlroy would be among the early starters alongside the defending champion on Thursday. Justin Thomas and Collin Morikawa, who started their campaign from the 10th when most of the pre-tournament favorites started.
Jordan SpiethNeeding to win the US PGA to complete his career grand slam, he looked poised to overcome a wrist injury to race at Oak Hill, where Jason Dufner won his only major title in 2013.
“If you think you have no chance of winning, it’s not fun,” Spieth said after a nine-hole practice round on Wednesday.
“(But) if I feel like I’m limited in a way that affects my chances, then there’s no reason for me to want to play because then I could hurt him more and it’s not worth it.”
Anything new for 2023?
Architect Andrew Green has overseen the extensive renovation of East Course since 2013, when it last hosted the US PGA, to better reflect the original Donald Ross design. All the greenery and shelters were rebuilt and hundreds of trees were removed. The old sixth hole was replaced with a shorter par three, now slotted as a fifth, and the fifth became the sixth hole on the board and was extended 504 yards. The par-three 15th also features a completely different green that has been relocated and is no longer protected by a pond.
Significant tee times (all BST)
1300 – Scottie Scheffler, Brooks Koepka, Gary Woodland 1311 – Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa 1322 – Shane Lowry, Jordan Spieth, Viktor Hovland 1333 – Matt Fitzpatrick, Cameron Smith, Jon Rahm
Weather forecast
Widespread frost is likely on Thursday morning, before temperatures moderate to reach the mid-60s in the afternoon. Much higher temperatures can be expected on Friday ahead of the cold front and upper low pressure system that will move into the region on Saturday.
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