Rory McIlroy is hoping history repeats itself this week as he looks to put an end to his ten-year Major drought.
This week’s 106th edition of the PGA Championship, the second Major Championship of the season, returns to the Valhalla Golf Club for the first time since 2014.
The Northern Irishman won by one stroke from Phil Mickelson in near darkness back then, just three weeks after he got his hands on the Claret Jug at Royal Liverpool.
Sandwiched in-between those two Major triumphs was victory at the WGC – Bridgestone Invitational.
So, when McIlroy arrived at Valhalla in 2014, he had won his last two starts.
Fast forward ten years, the 35-year-old finds himself in exactly the same position once again after victories at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, alongside Shane Lowry, and the Wells Fargo Championship, which he won four a record fourth time at the weekend.
Could lightning strike twice this week in Kentucky?
“It's really funny, so going into Valhalla in 2014 I had won my last two starts and going into this year I've won my last two starts,” said McIlroy following his victory at Quail Hollow.
“Just need to try to replicate whatever I did in 2014, just try to do that all over again.
“I'm feeling really good with my game. I need to stay in my own little world next week and not get too far ahead of myself, but if you can step on to the first tee at Valhalla on Thursday and feel as good about my game as I did today, I think I'll have a good chance.”
McIlroy looked back to his brilliant best at the Wells Fargo Championship having struggled with his game since winning a record fourth Dubai Desert Classic crown in January.
The four-time Major winner played the last holes on Sunday at six under par, even with a double bogey on the 18th, and carded four straight rounds in the 60s to give him plenty of momentum heading into the PGA Championship.
The display was reminiscent of the McIlroy of 2014 - an explosive character who would shoot the lights out of the course to post low numbers, compared to the matured, more consistent version we have come to known in recent years.
Is he starting to feel like the old Rory again, just in time for the year’s second Major Championship?
“Yeah, when you play an eight-hole stretch in 8 under par, it feels a little like that,” he said.
“No, I mean, I've been sort of banging this drum for the last few years, but I'm a way better player now than I was back then. I haven't had the Major record to back that up, but I've had the wins, I've done everything else there is to do in the game since 2014. The only thing I need to do is get another Major.”
The PGA Championship gets underway on Thursday and features 99 of the top 100 ranked players in the world, including World No.1 Scottie Scheffler and defending champion Brooks Koepka.
