Rory McIlroy has insisted that he will not accept anything less than his best form as he prepares to return from injury at the US PGA Championship.
The world number one was expected to miss the tournament after injuring his ankle ligaments while playing football in early July, but he has recovered quickly to defend his title at Whistling Straits.
Despite the doubts surrounding his fitness in the build-up, McIlroy insists that he still expects to challenge for a fifth Major triumph.
"I've played quite a number of rounds of golf," the Northern Irishman told reporters. "I've been practising for over three weeks getting my game ready, getting my game sharp. I feel like I'm playing well. Hitting it well on the range. I've taken that on to the course in practice rounds, and from there it's being able to take it from there into tournament play with a card in your hand.
"But I expect to play well. I don't see any reason why I can't bring the sort of form that I've shown in practice rounds and on the range to the tee on Thursday afternoon."
McIlroy, who will play alongside Jordan Spieth and Zach Johnson in the first two rounds, finished in a tie for third place when the US PGA Championship was last held at Whistling Straits in 2010.
Callum Mulvihill
