As Rory McIlroy climbed the hill to the 18th tee at Bethpage Black, he turned to caddie Harry Diamond and said, "I can't remember the last time I played a round of golf without a birdie. I was like, I better birdie this last hole."

The PGA Championship is the final major of the year. Those 10 words will be bouncing around Rory McIlroy’s head in stereo. It has not been the year Rory expected but you have to play the ball as it lies, and despite a disappointing 2017, there is now cause for optimism.

We delve into the past ahead of the final major championship of the season.

After the disappointment of the Open Championship, Lee Westwood could be forgiven for thinking that the last thing he needed was another major just around the corner.

PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON now lies joint 10th on the European list of major winners.