2021 PGA Championship: Rory McIlroy Aims for Kiawah Island Repeat

2021 PGA Championship: Rory McIlroy aims for Kiawah Island repeat originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington

The PGA Championship is finally here and some of the best players in golf are ready for their shot to win the second major of the year.

Collin Morikawa will try to defend the title from first-timers like Will Zalatoris, who left his mark on the 2021 Masters Championship with a second-place finish, and veterans like Brooks Koepka, who won the PGA Championship twice. 

The race to the Wanamaker Trophy will be an exciting one, with Jordan Spieth looking forward to finally getting his career grand slam and two-time PGA winner Rory McIlroy trying to repeat the success he had at Kiawah Island nine years ago. In addition, fan favorites Daniel Berger, Jon Rahm, Xander Schauffele, Viktor Hovland, Patrick Cantlay, Lee Westwood and Tony Finau all aim to win their first career major in South Carolina this weekend.

Here is everything you need to know for the 2021 PGA Championship:

Where is the 2021 PGA Championship?

The last time Kiawah Island hosted the PGA Championship was 2012, when McIlroy won his first Wanamaker Trophy and second career major. Fast-forward nine years, McIlroy is back fresh off a win at the Wells Fargo Championship. Will the No. 7-ranked golfer in the world be able to conquer the Ocean Course again? 

The Ocean Course was designed by Alice and Pete Dye for the 1991 Ryder Cup, following the Irish and Scottish links-style. With 10 holes hugging the Atlantic Ocean and the remaining eight running parallel to those, players have to constantly consider the wind factor that makes every shot a difficult one. 

Will fans attend the 2021 PGA Championship?

The PGA of America announced in February that a limited number of fans would be able to attend the second major of the year, after Morikawa won the 2020 PGA Championship last August with no spectators on-site at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

All spectators will be required to maintain social distancing and wear face coverings indoors and outdoors, while sanitation stations will be available throughout the course. 

When is the 2021 PGA Championship?

When: May 20-23, 2021

Where: The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, S.C.

TV Information: ESPN, CBS

Stream: ESPN +, Paramount +

Where can I watch the 2021 PGA Championship?

Round 1: Thursday, May 20 -- 7 a.m.-1 p.m. ESPN +, 1-7 p.m. ESPN 

Round 2: Friday, May 21 --  7 a.m.-1 p.m. ESPN +, 1-7 p.m. ESPN 

Round 3: Saturday, May 22 -- 8-10 a.m ESPN +, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. ESPN, 1-7 p.m. CBS

Round 4: Sunday, May 23 -- 8-10 a.m ESPN +, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. ESPN, 1-7 p.m. CBS

Live from the PGA Championship will be available before and after each round on Golf Channel and Golf Channel’s website. All times ET.

You can watch Golf Channel’s daily show from 6-7 a.m. and 7-9 p.m Thursday and Friday, and from 6-8 a.m. and 7-9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

What are the 2021 PGA Championship tee times?

Here are some notable tee times for the first two rounds of the 2021 PGA Championship:

First Round 

8:22 a.m. -- Lee Westwood, Viktor Hovland, Xander Schauffele

8:33 a.m. -- Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, Brooks Koepka

8:44 a.m. -- Collin Morikawa, Bryson DeChambeau, Hideki Matsuyama

1:03 p.m. -- Tony Finau, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Corey Conners

1:14 p.m. -- Phil Mickelson, Jason Day, Padraig Harrington

1:25 p.m. -- Tommy Fleetwood, Jon Rahm, Patrick Reed

1:36 p.m. -- Gary Woodland, Justin Rose, Cameron Smith

1:47 p.m. -- Steve Stricker, Billy Horschel, Daniel Berger

1:58 p.m. -- Webb Simpson, Jordan Spieth, Will Zalatoris

2:09 p.m. -- Dustin Johnson, Shane Lowry, Sergio Garcia

Second Round

7:38 a.m. -- Tony Finau, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Corey Conners

7:49 a.m. -- Phil Mickelson, Jason Day, Padraig Harrington

8 a.m. -- Tommy Fleetwood, Jon Rahm, Patrick Reed

8:11 a.m. -- Gary Woodland, Justin Rose, Cameron Smith

8:22 a.m. -- Steve Stricker, Billy Horschel, Daniel Berger

8:33 a.m. -- Webb Simpson, Jordan Spieth, Will Zalatoris

8:44 a.m. -- Dustin Johnson, Shane Lowry, Sergio Garcia

1:47 p.m. -- Lee Westwood, Viktor Hovland, Xander Schauffele

1:58 p.m. -- Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, Brooks Koepka

2:09 p.m. -- Collin Morikawa, Bryson DeChambeau, Hideki Matsuyama

Who has the best odds to win the 2021 PGA Championship?

McIlroy looked like his old self at Quail Hollow Country Club earlier this month  when he conquered the Wells Fargo Championship for the third time in his career. With that win – his first on the Tour since Fall 2019 – the 32-year-old golfer is now the favorite in this week’s PGA Championship. 

And if you consider that McIlroy was the winner when the major was last hosted at Kiawah Island, well … it’s clear why all the odds are pointing at him. But the battle for the win will be a tight one as several other players are tackling him (Odds provided by our partner PointsBet): 

Rory McIlroy +1200

Jon Rahm +1400

Justin Thomas +1500

Jordan Spieth +1600

Xander Schauffele +1600

Bryson DeChambeau +1700

Dustin Johnson +1800

Viktor Hovland +2000

Daniel Berger +2800

Collin Morikawa +3300

Patrick Reed +3500

Cameron Smith +4000

Hideki Matsuyama +4000

Tony Finau +4000

Webb Simpson +4000

Patrick Cantlay +4500

Scottie Scheffler +4500

Abraham Ancer +5000

Brooks Koepka +5000

Editor's note: PointsBet is our Official Sports Betting Partner and we may receive compensation if you place a bet on PointsBet for the first time after clicking our links.

Gaia De Simoni contributed to this story.