Nearly 10 years after his triumph in Louisville, a more mature world No 2 looks ready to capture elusive fifth win in golf’s biggest events
Rory McIlroy poses with the Wanamaker trophy after his victory in the 96th PGA Championship at Valhalla GC in 2014. Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images
Rory McIlroy hasn’t set foot on Valhalla Golf Club since he completed his epic one-shot win over Phil Mickelson in the 2014 PGA Championship and joined Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Bobby Jones and “Young” Tom Morris as just the fifth player to win four Majors at 25 or younger.
It was his second Major win in a row and while almost ten years have passed since he two-putted from 34 feet in the gathering gloom to win having avoided the possibility of being forced to wait until Monday to hit his final tee-shot, he admits he’s a far more mellow individual now at 35 than the 25-year-old who captured his second Wanamaker Trophy in three years in 2014.