Rory McIlroy Arrives at Aronimink With 174 Bunkers Standing Between Him and Major No. 7

Last year, Rory McIlroy showed up to the PGA Championship fresh off his Masters breakthrough and limped out with a tie for 47th. A lot can change in twelve months. Now he's walking into Aronimink Golf Club this week as a rejuvenated player with a second green jacket in his bag, a Ryder Cup victory under his belt, and something that looks a lot like momentum. McIlroy is headline news at the strongest field of the year, and he knows it.

"Coming into this tournament feels a lot different than what it did last year," McIlroy said. "I feel like I've got some nice clear road ahead to try to get some more of these majors."

A Toe Blister Won't Stop McIlroy From Chasing History

A nagging blister on his right pinky toe cut short his Tuesday practice round early, forcing him off the course at the fourth hole. He's had it since last Friday. But don't expect that to slow him down. McIlroy was back on the course Wednesday and is ready to compete.

A seventh major this week would tie him with Arnold Palmer, Sam Snead, and Bobby Jones. That's the kind of company that gets you out of bed even with a sore toe.

Aronimink Is Built to Punish: 174 Bunkers of Pure Chaos

The course is playing firm. The greens are diabolical. And there are an estimated 174 bunkers scattered across the property, including more than 20 on the par-4 11th hole alone.

This is only the second men's major to be held at Aronimink, which was renovated by Gil Hanse in 2018. The par-70, 7,394-yard track lost a lot of its trees in that overhaul, but the bunkers? Those are everywhere.

McIlroy's strategy is simple: "Bash driver down there and then figure it out from there." The real game happens when you get close. "Getting yourself in the right sections of the greens, making sure you leave yourself below the hole for the most part. That's the key this week."

Defending champion Scottie Scheffler, the world No. 1 who won his third major at the 2025 PGA and claimed the Open Championship before summer wrapped up, echoed the challenge. "Course is firming up. Greens are diabolical," Scheffler said. "It should be a really good test."

A field of 156 players is competing, with 97 of the top 100 golfers in the world on site. Cameron Young has become a trendy pick after winning The Players Championship and the Cadillac Championship this spring, which rocketed him to No. 3 in the world. He has seven major top-10s and is hunting for that breakthrough win.

The top 70 and ties will advance after 36 holes. Thursday's opening round will tell us everything about who belongs at Aronimink and who's just out here getting bunker ed.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.