Rahm, McIlroy see discipline as vital at PGA Championship

Top-ranked Jon Rahm seeks his second consecutive major title, Rory McIlroy wants his first major victory since 2014 and Jordan Spieth just hopes to play when the PGA Championship tees off on Thursday.

Top-ranked Jon Rahm seeks his second consecutive major title, Rory McIlroy wants his first major victory since 2014 and Jordan Spieth just hopes to play when the PGA Championship tees off on Thursday.

A field of 156 players, 16 of them from the Saudi-backed LIV Golf League, chase the Wanamaker Trophy at Oak Hill, where discipline and patience will be as vital as any club.

"Discipline is going to be a huge factor this week," McIlroy said. "You've got to keep it out of those fairway bunkers.

"If someone can keep their discipline and not start firing at those pins and know that middles of the greens is a pretty good leave on most holes, I think that's (key)."

Oak Hill offers tricky pin locations with thick rough and shifting tee box areas to make every challenge unique.

"Discipline is a really good way to describe what one needs this week," Rahm said. "It's challenging, but it's one of those where if you hit the shots you're supposed to hit -- put it in the fairway, go to the center of the green -- nothing crazy should be happening.

"If you can get those up-and-downs, it's not only a confidence booster, but it's something that will keep the round going."