Inside Golf Magazine

Rory McIlroy After Playing Out Of A Bunker On the 18th Hole During The Final Round Of The 2017 British Open. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

SOUTHPORT, England (Doug Ferguson/AP) — Rory McIlroy has gone 10 majors without winning, the longest stretch since he turned pro. He at least felt he made progress at the British Open, and he has reason to be excited for the next major.

For one thing, his form is improving.

Despite a horrid start at Royal Birkdale — 5 over through six holes Thursday — he bounced back with rounds of 68-69-67 to tie for fourth, his best finish in a major since he was fourth alone in the 2015 Masters.

And the PGA Championship is at Quail Hollow in North Carolina, where McIlroy has won twice. First up is the Bridgestone Invitational, where he won the last time he played Firestone in 2014.

"I'm excited for the next two weeks," he said. "I haven't played at Firestone for a couple of years. The last time I played there I won. And I've had some good finishes. Quail Hollow, I've played well there. Shot a couple of course records, a couple of wins. Got beaten in a playoff, as well. Another couple of top 10s thrown in there. So I play well at Quail Hollow. I love the golf course. I know they've made a few changes, but I'll have some really good vibes going into that week."

McIlroy was coming off three missed cuts in his previous four tournaments, so he called his performance a step in the right direction.

Even so, there were moments of taking two steps forward and one step back. He wasted a great start in the third round with back-to-back bogeys late on the front nine and a double bogey on No. 10. And right when he had an outside chance to make a move, he took a bogey on the par-5 16th when he lost his tee shot.

"I thought I had a chance to post a number and at least scare them a little bit," he said about Jordan Spieth and Matt Kuchar.

At least he won't have to think too much on that start. McIlroy finished seven shots behind.