2021 PGA Championship: Top 10 power rankings at Kiawah Island

Rory McIlroy got his groove back at one course he’s devoured in the past, Quail Hollow. He hung tough at a big ballpark to win for the first time in 25 events.

Now he finds himself at another long layout that suits his eye in Kiawah Island.

It was vintage Rory here in 2012 when he one his first of two PGA Championships and second of four majors. Oh, what he’d do to snap his seven year major drought.

McIlroy fired 67-75-67-66 to run away on Sunday to win by eight shots. His 75 on Friday wasn’t as bad as it looked. Vijay Singh, of all people, was the only one to break 70 on a brutally windy day.

It still allowed some of the leaders to make up ground, only for McIlroy to showcase his skill on the weekend.

He can get in his own head at times, but when rolling, Rory’s got the killer mentality.

“I think most Pete Dye courses, anyway, are mental challenges more than physical,” McIlroy said in 2012 in an ASAP Sports transcription. “Even though this is a very long golf course, mentally you’ve really got to be on the top of your game.  And if the wind and the rain comes, it’s obviously going to be more about how you mentally approach that than physical, yeah.”

The win in Charlotte was the 32-year-old’s fifth top-20 in nine PGA Tour starts in 2021.

McIlroy ranks fifth in strokes gained off the tee (.751) and certainly has the length to get around Kiawah Island. He’s also been good from the sand, ranking 23rd in bunker saves (58.11%).

The Northern Irishman rested last week, so he should be primed and ready to go for a possible triumpant return to Kiawah Island.