“I have got a lot of golf to play and a lot of great players to beat next week,”  admitted a triumphant Rory McIlroy as he alluded to the PGA Championship that is set to take place in Valhalla soon. He did so after emerging victorious at the Wells Fargo Championship, which ended recently. However, things are not what they seem for the Northern Irishman as he gears up for the major championship. Cue Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka.

A fact shared by Dan Rapaport on his X handle recently paints an exciting picture for the fans who are awaiting the prestigious event. But the same cannot be said for McIlroy, who would be facing a pair of in-form opponents while sporting a troubling record with the majors.

Rory McIlroy and his worrisome situation at the majors

The second major of the year is just around the corner. The talented field includes 16 PGA Championship winners, including defending champ Koepka, as well as 33 major champions, including Scheffler. Case in point: Although McIlroy finally grabbed his first individual victory on the 2024 PGA Tour calendar, the likes of the current No. 1 as well as the LIV Golf Pro would also be entering the tournament fresh off a win from their last start.

The 35-year-old has, till now, raked in a total of four major wins, the last of which came at the 2014 PGA Championship, his second title of the event. The following years have not been so kind to him ‘major-wise’ as he has garnered a total of 20 top-10 finishes over the four tournaments from 2015 till 2023 (6 times in the Masters Tournament and the U.S. Open, 5 at the Open Championships, and 3 times at the PGA Championship).

Rory McIlroy’s current form does provide hope for the followers of the sport. But, that has always been the case every year since his last PGA Championship triumph. Since his last victory at a major in 2014, he has won a total of 17 times, including the 2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans as well as the Wells Fargo Championship.

The numbers do paint a concerning picture for the 4-time major champ McIlroy. Despite all of that, what adds to the worries of the fans as well as poses a danger for the Northern Irishman is the track record of the two golfers whom he would have to face at the event: the defending champion as well as the current No. 1 professional in the world.

McIlroy’s opponents pose a grave danger to the pro

The American PGA Tour Pro emerged triumphant in four out of his last five events, with the final one coming off the RBC Heritage. He did so by carding a 19-under 265 with the help of the figures 69-65-63-68 over the four days of play. Aside from the tournament in Harbour Town Golf Links, the pro also won the Masters Tournament, the PLAYERS Championship, and the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

On the other hand, Koepka, during the last start he made in LIV Golf Singapore, topped the leaderboard by registering a score of 15-under 198 over the three rounds. Even though he finished a T45 in the recently ended major, he boasts a total of three top-ten finishes in seven starts in the Saudi-backed league. The danger that the two pose to his major chances is not low, especially when coupled with Rory McIlroy’s form in majors in recent times. The golf world can only wait and see what awaits the 26-time PGA Tour champ as he tees off at his 16th PGA Championship.