• US PGA Championship

Woods' struggles have given me Major belief - McIlroy

ESPN staff
August 11, 2010
Rory McIlroy came close at the British Open © Getty Images
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Rory McIlroy believes that the struggles currently afflicting Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods have presented him with an ideal opportunity to seal a first Major win at the US PGA Championship.

World No. 1 Woods slumped to a career-low 18-over at the Bridgestone Invitational last weekend, while Mickelson has conceded that he is playing through the pain barrier as he battles against arthritis.

With those two exalted talents toiling - and Lee Westwood absent - McIlroy is confident that he can be the man to storm to victory at Whistling Straits when the tournament begins on Thursday.

"There's going to be a lot of guys here thinking that it's the right time for them to break through, and I'm definitely one of those guys," McIlroy said. "You can never write the likes of Tiger and Phil off. But guys have a lot better chance coming into this event with those two guys not playing great and Lee obviously not playing."

McIlroy might have broken his Major duck at the British Open in July, but his capitulation on the second day - he shot an 80 - effectively put paid to his chances of victory. Despite the disappointment, the 21-year-old insists that his travails at St Andrews have taught him a valuable lesson.

"Sometimes it is hard for me to accept that you're not going to have to have a good day all the time," he said. "That's something that I'm still learning how to do, trying to accept the days that don't go as well as others do. But that all just comes through experience, and I feel as if I'm getting better at it."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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