• US PGA Championship

McIlroy ready for Ocean Course challenge

ESPN staff
August 7, 2012
Rory McIlroy is ready for whatever the Ocean Course throws at him this week in the US PGA Championship © Getty Images
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World No. 3 Rory McIlroy says the new rules regarding the constitution of bunkers at this week's US PGA Championship will provide a "different challenge".

The 94th edition of the Championship gets underway on Thursday at the Ocean Course on Kiawah Island, South Carolina, and a new ruling in place for the competition means that every sanded area on the course is not considered a bunker.

That means that players will be able to ground their club and take a practice swing prior to executing their shot, and that is a concept which will take a bit of getting used to.

"It's a little different, especially the bunkers around the greens because they're not like normal bunkers, there's not much sand and they're very firm," McIlroy told Sky Sports News, referring to the sanded areas.

"You sort of have to play different shots out of them and it's going to be a different challenge to the one we face week in, week out."

Despite the unfamiliarity of the new ruling McIlroy is looking forward to playing the course, and says it is in great shape.

"It's in unbelievable condition," said the Northern Irishman. "Visually it's a little awkward off the tees but they've set it up really nice, the greens are running really, really well."

McIlroy will tee off with Dustin Johnson and Jim Furyk on Thursday.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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