Rory McIlroy addressed the media at Aronimink Golf Membership in Pennsylvania on Tuesday, previewing the PGA Championship set to start later this week. Contemporary off his 2026 Masters victory final month, McIlroy goals so as to add one other main to his resume at this venue, the place he has restricted aggressive expertise.
McIlroy’s Restricted Historical past at Aronimink
McIlroy has performed only one prior aggressive occasion at Aronimink, ending fifth on the 2018 BMW Championship. He not too long ago practiced there two Fridays in the past and arrived late Monday night time.
“I solely acquired up right here final night time. I performed two Fridays in the past, I assume it was,” McIlroy mentioned. “Yeah, we performed right here again in 2018 on the BMW. I don’t assume the course essentially performed the best way it can play this week. It was very moist that week. It appears like there’s going to be somewhat little bit of rain Thursday night time into Friday morning.”
He famous drier circumstances this week will spotlight the greens, the course’s main protection. McIlroy in contrast it to final 12 months’s PGA Tour occasion at Philly Cricket Membership, praising the extensive fairways however warning of difficult tough lies.
“It’s all about — you already know, they’ll actually tuck the pins away with a few of these slopes on the greens and simply actually being conscious of that,” he added. “In the event you get your self above the opening otherwise you begin to short-side your self, you will get your self in some difficult spots. However maintaining the ball under the opening — yeah, it’s a course the place you might be tremendous aggressive off the tee, after which there’s somewhat extra technique and somewhat extra thought going into the greens.”
Course Model and Strategic Components
McIlroy appreciates the format’s bunkering and selection, together with brief and lengthy par-4s plus three prolonged par-3s and one shorter.
“I just like the type of golf,” he admitted. “I just like the bunkering. There’s numerous bunkers. I believe it gives fairly a pleasant little bit of selection with shorter par-4s, a few longer par-4s.”
Nevertheless, he questioned its complete problem. “At the moment I’m unsure if it’s going to check all elements of your bag. There’s going to be numerous — once more, as I mentioned, technique off the tee is fairly nonexistent. It’s, mainly, bash driver down there after which determine it out from there.”
He attributed lowered tee-shot technique to latest renovations eradicating timber, just like Oak Hill in 2023. Success hinges on exact inexperienced positioning.
“The greens are the principle focus this week, and I believe getting your self in the proper sections of the greens, ensuring you allow your self under the opening for essentially the most half. That’s the important thing this week,” McIlroy acknowledged.
With solely 4 aggressive rounds at Aronimink, he praised Philadelphia’s golf scene: “Philadelphia’s a beautiful {golfing} metropolis, numerous nice golf programs, and that is definitely certainly one of them.”
