McIlroy practices at Whistling Straits for PGA

And who can blame them?

Reuters exclusively reported on Monday that the four-times major champion had scheduled a practice round at the site for Saturday, a report that turned out to be accurate even though it was denied by the golfer’s publicist.

Last week, McIlroy posted a workout video on Instagram that showed him balancing on his left foot on a foam pad and tossing a weighted ball underhand to mimic a golf swing.

World number one Rory McIlroy will defend his US PGA Championship title next week at Whistling Straits, Wisconsin after recovering from injury. Even if the rankings say otherwise by then. Tied for the lead with two holes to play, he finished one shot out of a playoff.

Boy-wonder Spieth was grinding his way into contention, Masters champion Bubba Watson and Cinderalla man Dustin Johnson were taking lumps out of Firestone with their monster hits, yet none could match the video and photo montage on the McIlroy bulletin board, revealing via tantalising snippets his varying degrees of readiness. Yet there were good reasons.

But Spieth is hardly the only storyline that awaits this week on the bluffs of Lake Michigan. “It’s great and everything, but it’s a right Sherpa Tenzing of a hike”, he said.

“It’s a pretty hilly golf course“, Begay said.

Rory McIlroy walked with the standard boyish bounce in his step. “It’s potholes and side slopes”.

Johnson’s failure in 2010 to call in a rules official – or employ a caddie who would have reminded him not to ground his club – would have been overshadowed had he won the U.S. Open at Chambers Bay in June. However, the similarities end there.

“I like my chances at any venue but going back to Whistling Straits where I went so close to winning a Major, definitely gives me a lot of confidence”. He has played among the final three groups on the weekend in each of the past five Majors only to see glory slip through his fingers.

“Top players are analysed a little bit more than they used to be”.

“I won’t be grounding my club anywhere if I miss the fairway, that’s for sure. I’ve just got to get it done”. The 7501-yarder is regarded as a bomber’s course, with the emphasis on long and straight drives staying out of the pot bunkers.