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US PGA FAVOURITE OUT TO BASH BOOKIES 7-1 Rory urges punters to back him for glory in the season’s final Major

RORY McILROY reckons his odds are still too long – despite being the 7-1 favourite to win this week’s US PGA.

The world No.4 urged punters to back him at The Open last month when he teed off at 20-1 after missing three out of four cuts.

But after two top-five finishes in his last two starts – including fourth at Birkdale after a terrible start – the Northern Irishman has more backers before the final Major of the season.

McIlroy has won twice at Quail Hollow and racked up four other top-10 finishes.

Jordan Spieth, who is looking to complete his career Grand Slam, has claimed McIlroy is “the guy to beat”.

And the two-time US PGA champion insists he is still worth a bet.

McIlroy said: “I told you those odds of 20-1 wouldn’t last long. It’s partly to do with the upturn in form I’ve had over the last few weeks and then my history on this course – a couple of wins, beaten in a play-off, a few other top-10s.

“I’ve had a lot of success here before – I’ve always played well here. I’ve always felt comfortable on this course.

“How many times have I played here? Seven. How many times have I won? Twice. 7-2 – those are the odds.”

McIlroy admits he has long targeted this Major for success as he added: “There were a couple of tournaments I have had my eye on and felt I could do well at. St Andrews in 2015 would have been a big one for me and now here.

“I know the course very well. I like the PGA set-ups – I feel they are always pretty fair.”

The soggy start to the week here – half an inch of rain fell yesterday – and a bad forecast for the week have softened the course and hardened McIlroy’s chances. He won his first PGA Tour event here in 2010 when he carded a 61 in his final round. The then 20-year-old revealed he had felt like the best player in the world and felt he had to prove it.

Fast forward seven years and McIlroy said: “I definitely don’t want to be in the mindset this week of wanting to make any type of statement or go out and prove myself.

“I’m past that point. I’ve proven myself enough over the last nine years of my career. I am not putting any pressure on myself – I don’t feel like I need to.

“I wouldn’t have won as much as I would have liked this year and there have been a few components to that – injury-wise, changing equipment. It has been a bit of a transitional year. But I feel like everything’s settled. My health is pretty much where it needs to be so no, I just want to go out there and play well this week. I’m definitely not going out there to try to prove anything to anyone.”

RORY McILROY