Rory, Jordan eye history
– Jordan Spieth (above) and Rory McIlroy make their bids for golfing history when the 99th PGA Championship tees off todday at Quail Hollow with heavy rain and storms in the forecast.
World No 2 Spieth, who won his third Major title two weeks ago at the British Open, would become the youngest golfer to complete a career Grand Slam by winning the year’s last Major.
The 24-year-old American, who also won the 2015 Masters and US Open, could become only the sixth man to sweep the four Major titles in a career after Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Ben Hogan, Gary Player and Gene Sarazen.
Spieth would be 24 years and 17 days old on Sunday, about six months younger than Woods – the youngest so far to win all four Majors – was when he won the 2000 British Open to complete his career slam.
Fourth-ranked McIlroy, a 28-year-old from Northern Ireland, could become only the third player to win five Majors before turning 30, joining Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.
But McIlroy, missing only the Masters to complete his own career Grand Slam, hasn’t won a Major since the 2014 PGA Championship.
What he has done, however, is win twice at Quail Hollow and lost another in a play-off. And shown he can play well in wet conditions, notably in taking his first Major title at the 2011 US Open at Congressional.
Spieth shies from the favourite role, saying, “I’d say Rory is probably the guy to beat.”
Las Vegas oddsmakers agree, giving McIlroy a 7/1 chance with Spieth at 8/1.
Asked what odds he’d give himself, McIlroy cited two wins in eight starts at Quail Hollow – “8/2, decent odds”.
World No 1 Dustin Johnson says he has once more found the form that delivered him three consecutive titles in February and March before a fall and back injury on the eve of the Masters derailed his campaign.
And everyone will be watching Japan’s world No 3 Hideki Matsuyama after his superb closing 61 to win the WGC Akron title on Sunday. – AFP
If I’m the favourite, I’m the favourite. I’m happy with that, means I’m playing well. Rory McIlroy