Rory McIlroy: Everything You Need to Know About PGA Championship Pursuit

Rory McIlroy has had some close calls at the PGA Championship within the past three years, but don't expect him to get over the hump in 2012.

The 23-year-old golfer earned two consecutive third-place finishes at the season's final major in 2009 and 2010, before finishing tied for 64th at Highlands in Atlanta last year. 

In 2012, he'll have to end a trend of dismal major performances in order to even turn out a solid Top-10 effort at Kiawah Island's Ocean Course.

Since winning the 2011 U.S. Open by eight strokes last summer, McIlroy has finished no better than 25th in the five major tournaments to follow. He even missed the cut at last June's U.S. Open at Olympic Club. 

What to Expect

Look for McIlroy to start off strong in the opening rounds at Ocean Course. I don't foresee him missing the cut like he did at Olympic Club earlier this summer, although it should be noted that anything is possible at a course as unfamiliar as this year's. 

My feeling is that McIlroy has to return to relevance at some point at a major tournament. His history of solid finishes at the PGA Championship indicate that Kiawah could be the place. With that being said, it's still a long-shot that McIlroy walks away with the Wanamaker Trophy this weekend. 

With Tiger Woods playing the best golf of his post-scandal career, having won three PGA tournaments in 2012 and ranking No. 1 on the PGA money list, McIlroy won't be the favorite to win, nor will he be able to match his opponents' momentum.

It will take a major change from McIlroy in order for him to play championship-caliber golf for four straight days. In recent months, we have seen him follow up every solid round with a mistake-plagued day of golf. 

I predict a successful tournament for McIlroy. He'll have his best major finish since winning the 2011 U.S. Open, but he won't crack the Top 10.

Still, with such a bright future in the sport, one has to like McIlroy's chances of winning a PGA Championship before it's all said and done. 

Just don't expect him to break through this summer at Ocean Course.

Follow Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Patrick Clarke on Twitter.