US PGA Championship hopefuls may need to go the distance in more ways than one

Rory McIlroy chasing a third title, comes into the major on the back of an impressive win last time out

Rory McIlroy won the 2012 US PGA Championship title at Kiawah Island by eight shots. Picture: David Davies

Ahead of this year’s Masters, Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley said he hoped the day would never come when a major would be played on a course measuring 8,000 yards.

Yet just six weeks later that day looms ever closer, with Kiawah Island playing to a maximum of 7,876 yards for the US PGA Championship, thereby reclaiming its position as the longest course in major championship history.