Spieth, McIlroy favored at soggy PGA Championship

Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy make their bids for golfing history when the 99th PGA Championship tees off on Thursday at Quail Hollow with heavy rain and storms in the forecast.

World number two 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.

And Spieth could become the first player to complete a career slam with a victory at the PGA Championship.

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 playoff. 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 favorite 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."

"I've won a couple times. I like PGA Championship setups. They are fair," McIlroy said. "If I'm the favorite, I'm the favorite. I'm happy with that, means I'm playing well."

- Beware the Green Mile -

McIlroy credits his improved form in recent weeks, a share of fourth in last month's British Open and of fifth in last week's World Golf Championships event in Akron, with confidence from casinos.

"I think it's partly to do with the upturn in form that I've had over the last few weeks and then my history on this golf course," he said. "I think it's a little bit of both."

Changes have been made to the layout since McIlroy's victories in 2010 and 2015, when he broke his own course record with a 61 in the third round.

"I think the changes are really good," McIlroy said. "It makes the first six holes a lot more challenging.

"I still feel like the golf course gives you plenty of chances. It's going to play long this week with the weather. It will probably play a couple of strokes harder than it used to play."

The closing three-hole stretch at Quail Hollow, "The Green Mile," offers water and hazards galore in a classic tough finishing run.

"It will be an exciting finish if there's a few guys up around the lead at that point," McIlroy said.

- Matsuyama, DJ in title hunt -

World number one 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 he's happy to have it wet so the course plays longer with the greens holding better.

"That there is going to cut the field in half," Johnson said. "It's hard. It's long. You can't fake it around here. Everything has got to be good.

"It's a little soft. The greens will be a little more receptive. That doesn't make it any easier. You've still got to make your shots."

And everyone will be watching Japan's Hideki Matsuyama after his closing 61 to win the WGC Akron title on Sunday.

"What Hideki did was pretty impressive," McIlroy said. "He's playing well and he hits it plenty long to contend around here. His confidence is high coming into this week. I'm pretty sure he'll be a factor this week."

Source: AFP