Tiger, Rory, Major champs together in spotlight at 100th PGA

Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and 29 other major champions began preparing for the spotlight of supergroup pairings as practice rounds opening Monday for the 100th PGA Championship.

An elite field with 98 of the world's 100 top-ranked players gathers at Bellerive Country Club for the year's final major tournament, which starts Thursday.

Woods, a 14-Time Major champion, tries to end a 10-year major victory drought in his comeback from spinal fusion surgery while three-time major winner Jordan Spieth tries to complete a Career Grand Slam with a victory.

Add on-form McIlroy, a four-time major winner, who was a runner-up at the Open Championship, plus reigning Masters champion Patrick Reed, two-time US Open winner Brooks Koepka and reigning Open Championship winner Francesco Molinari of Italy and it's clear to see why expectations are high for a thrill-packed final major of 2018.

"I like the way the PGA sets it up," Koepka said. "It's very difficult. It's a battle for sure."
"Tiger has been a pretty big influence for me," Thomas said. "He motivated me to get where I am now. So it's great to have him back now."
"I need to get a feel for the golf course now and how the holes are playing. I need to get some reps on the greens and see what's there."
- Chilean teen chases mark -
============================
"All I can do is embrace the challenge."