The Japan Times - Scheffler and McIlroy fancied for PGA Championship title

Scheffler, who won the 2022 and 2024 Masters and last year's British Open and PGA Championship, took a week off before trying for a first major title defense after a hot start to the season.

The 29-year-old American won his first start of the year at the American Express tournament in the California desert and added a third place at Phoenix and fourth at Pebble Beach.

He has been runner-up in each of his past three starts -- at the Masters and Heritage tournaments in April and last week at Doral.

"Sometimes you're able to build some positive momentum, and at times in my career I've been able to really feed off of that," Scheffler said. "When you feel like you're in a good spot with your game and you're seeing the right shots, sometimes it doesn't feel that difficult."

Scheffler took confidence, and some ideas about what he needs to improve to win a fifth major.

"A lot of positives," Scheffler said. "Some stuff I can clean up, but overall definitely some positives from the last few weeks."

Scheffler could complete a career Grand Slam at next month's US Open at Shinnecock, which concludes on his 30th birthday.

"I would love to be able to win the US Open," Scheffler said. "I've had some success at that tournament before and I think it suits my style of game. I'm excited to go to Shinnecock this year and hopefully get it done."

McIlroy completed a career Grand Slam and snapped a 10-year major win drought by winning last year's Masters and last month become only the fourth player to win back-to-back titles at Augusta National, boosting his motivation for this year's majors.

"This year I think winning was validation for all the work that I've put in over the last few years to get myself back to this place where I'm winning majors," McIlroy said.

Not since Jordan Spieth took the Masters and US Open in 2015, when the majors were on a different rotation, has a player won back-to-back majors, a feat McIlroy managed in 2014 and could achieve again this week.

"I'm excited for the road ahead. I'm excited for Aronimink next week, Shinnecock, Birkdale," six-time major winner McIlroy said.

"If anything I'm more motivated after what happened at Augusta this year than I've ever been."

Third-ranked Cameron Young, who won his first PGA title last August, has been in the top three in four of his past five starts -- including wins at The Players Championship in March and at Doral.

"It sets me up well," Young said. "I've been playing great and the goal is just to put myself in a position to win as much as I can.

"The biggest thing right now is just to continue to put myself in position where those things can happen."

Fourth-ranked Matt Fitzpatrick of England was second at The Players Championship then won the Valspar and Heritage titles and the PGA pairs event in New Orleans with brother Alex.

"I feel like I'm playing very well right now," Fitzpatrick said. "Definitely high confidence. The ball is going where I intend it to go. But I know there's things I can still improve in certain areas. So that's exciting, given the results I've achieved so far."

- 'Severe' greens -

England's fifth-ranked Justin Rose, with top-10 finishes in four of the past six PGAs, hopes to recover after leading late but settling for third at the Masters.

"That's just like a little hollow empty feeling for a few days. But then kicked back into gear, got my motivation back," Rose said.

Aronimink promises a tough test with putting at a premium for the world's top golfers.

"It's a severe set of greens. I think there's more undulation at Aronimink and that's really the defense of the golf course," Australia's Adam Scott said.

"Get your driver and your wedge game ready and if you have a good putting week, you're going to do well."

S.Ogawa--JT