Rory McIlroy believes an aggressive strategy off the tee coupled with some intelligent technique across the greens may show the proper mixture as he seeks to win a 3rd US PGA Championship this week.
McIlroy will try to again up his second consecutive Masters success at Augusta final month by choosing up a seventh main victory over the par-70 Aronimink course in Pennsylvania.
His earlier PGA triumphs got here at Kiawah Island in 2012 and the Valhalla Golf Membership in Kentucky two years later.
The world quantity two says this week’s course is one which he likes and is “fairly much like some PGA Championship set-ups that we have had not too long ago”.
“Oak Hill could be the one which involves thoughts in 2023, type of conventional north east golf, a whole lot of bushes have been eliminated, massive large taking part in corridors off the tee, so I feel if I get the motive force within the groove this week I am going to have loads of probabilities to make birdies,” stated the Northern Eire participant.
The world quantity two added that he expects “technique off the tee” to be “fairly non-existent” at this week’s match.
“It is mainly, bash driver down there after which determine it out from there. When these conventional golf programs take a whole lot of bushes out, it makes technique not as a lot of a priority off the tee.
“However the greens are the principle focus this week, and I feel getting your self in the proper sections of the greens, ensuring you allow your self beneath the opening for essentially the most half. That is the important thing this week.
“It is a course the place you might be tremendous aggressive off the tee, after which there’s somewhat extra technique and somewhat extra thought going into the greens.”
Aronimink is the venue for a US PGA Championship for the second time. The primary was 64 years in the past when Gary Participant earned $13,000 for the victory. The South African received a second PGA title 10 years later at Oakland Hills.
The final time Aronimink hosted a PGA Tour occasion was in 2018 – McIlroy completed fifth, with Keegan Bradley beating Justin Rose in a play-off for the title.
“I do not assume the course essentially performed the way in which it should play this week,” mirrored McIlroy.
“It was a really moist that week. It seems like there’s going to be somewhat little bit of rain Thursday evening into Friday morning.
“For essentially the most half, it ought to be a bit drier, which actually brings out the character of the greens. The greens appear to be the large defence and the large speaking level of the golf course.
“When you get your self above the opening otherwise you begin to short-side your self, you will get your self in some difficult spots.”
