Rory McIlroy insists he is 'way better' than his last Major win in 2014 - as he returns to Valhalla this week off the back of stunning Quail Hollow triumph

Rory McIlroy believes he is a ‘way better’ player now than when he won his fourth and most recent major 10 years ago.

The world No 2 returns this week to the scene of that famous win, Valhalla in Kentucky, for the US PGA Championship and arrives on the back of his five-stroke victory at the Wells Fargo Championship on Sunday.

His demolition of the field at Quail Hollow earned a second title in the 35-year-old’s past two starts and signifies a startling turnaround from his tie for 22nd at the Masters last month. 

While McIlroy has been no stranger to a false dawn in the past decade, he is coming in ominously hot to a course that meets his eye.

He said: ‘I've been sort of banging this drum for the last few years, but I'm a way better player now than I was back then.

‘I haven't had the major record to back that up, but I've had the wins (23 across the PGA Tour and DP World Tour since 2014), I've done everything else there is to do in the game since 2014. The only thing I need to do is get another major. You know, a win like this going into the PGA Championship next week is a good way to prep for that.’

The strength of McIlroy’s driving in recent weeks will sit will with the 7,600-yard Jack Nicklaus design, but his most notable stride has been made with his wedges.

The Northern Irishman feels his form is sharper than last summer, when he won the Scottish Open and finished runner up at the US Open.

‘I think this actually feels a little bit better than that run,’ he said. ‘I feel like my '22 and '23 seasons were pretty good years and felt pretty comfortable with my game for the most part for those two years. 

'I just went through a bit of a quiet spell there for a couple of months at the start of this year, but I feel like I'm back where I need to be.

‘I've always said whenever I'm driving the ball well and hitting the ball well it feeds into my short game and my putting and I can get confidence from that. So it just needed a little spark.’