McIlroy seeks to regain sparkle at puzzling PGA

WENTWORTH, United Kingdom: Rory McIlroy admits to having a weird relationship with the Wentworth course but he will be hoping after a chastening experience at the Masters to rediscover a bit of his old sparkle at the PGA Championship.

The 29-year-old quadruple major champion, who looked well placed going into the final round to win an elusive Masters before his challenge fizzled out, makes his first appearance on European soil this year in a bid to win the prestigious title he claimed in 2014.

McIlroy is the major drawcard in a field that includes defending champion Alex Noren of Sweden and last year’s Race to Dubai winner Tommy Fleetwood.

“I’ve had a weird relationship with Wentworth,” said McIlroy in April.

“I had the win there back in 2014 but I haven’t really done much else. I think I had a top five back in 2009 but it’s been a place of high frustration for me so I’m looking forward to going back and trying to solve the puzzle again. At least I do have good memories there.”

The former world number one, who started the European Tour season with top three finishes in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, is encouraged that his relationship with the course could be due a change because it has undergone a revamp since he last played it.

“I haven’t played there in a couple of years (he had a rib injury last year) but from what I’ve seen, with the new grass that they’ve put in, it looks a much better golf course, a much more playable golf course,” said McIlroy.

“It was always a great golf course but sometimes it could get very tricky with some of the lies you could get.”