Rory McIlroy: Dual driving and putting strategy key for McIlroy at US PGA

Rory McIlroy believes an aggressive approach off the tee coupled with some clever strategy around the greens could prove the perfect combination as he seeks to win a third US PGA Championship this week.

McIlroy will attempt to back up his second consecutive Masters success at Augusta last month by picking up a seventh major victory over the par-70 Aronimink course in Pennsylvania.

His previous PGA triumphs came at Kiawah Island in 2012 and the Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky two years later.

The world number two says this week’s course is one that he likes and is “pretty similar to some PGA Championship set-ups that we’ve had recently”.

“Oak Hill would be the one that comes to mind in 2023, sort of traditional north east golf, a lot of trees have been removed, big wide playing corridors off the tee, so I think if I get the driver in the groove this week I’ll have plenty of chances to make birdies,” said the Northern Ireland player.

The world number two added that he expects “strategy off the tee” to be “pretty non-existent” at this week’s tournament.

“It’s basically, bash driver down there and then figure it out from there. When these traditional golf courses take a lot of trees out, it makes strategy not as much of a concern off the tee.

“But the greens are the main focus this week, and I think getting yourself in the right sections of the greens, making sure you leave yourself below the hole for the most part. That’s the key this week.

“It’s a course where you can be super aggressive off the tee, and then there’s a little more strategy and a little more thought going into the greens.”

Aronimink is the venue for a US PGA Championship for the second time. The first was 64 years ago when Gary Player earned $13,000 for the victory. The South African won a second PGA title 10 years later at Oakland Hills.

The last time Aronimink hosted a PGA Tour event was in 2018 – McIlroy finished fifth, with Keegan Bradley beating Justin Rose in a play-off for the title.

“I don’t think the course necessarily played the way it will play this week,” reflected McIlroy.

“It was a very wet that week. It looks like there’s going to be a little bit of rain Thursday night into Friday morning.

“For the most part, it should be a bit drier, which really brings out the character of the greens. The greens seem to be the big defence and the big talking point of the golf course.

“If you get yourself above the hole or you start to short-side yourself, you can get yourself in some tricky spots.”