The PGA of America and Kohler Co. today welcomed Rory McIlroy, the world’s top-ranked golfer and defending PGA Champion, to Whistling Straits, which is preparing to host the highly anticipated 2015 PGA Championship from August 10-16 along the shores of Lake Michigan near Kohler, Wisconsin.

McIlroy met with media at Whistling Straits to discuss his excitement regarding the upcoming Championship at the links-style Straits Course, which previously hosted the PGA Championship in 2004 and 2010. Both Championships produced dramatic golf and required playoffs to determine a winner (Vijay Singh in 2004, Martin Kaymer in 2010).

“Whistling Straits is as close to a links-style course as you’re going to find in America,” McIlroy said. “I’m tremendously excited for the 2015 PGA Championship to be back at Whistling Straits. I enjoy the set-up of PGA Championship courses; I find them very fair. I have no doubt it will be a terrific event here in August.”

World No. 1 Rory McIlroy hosts a PGA Championship media outing at Whistling Straits. (Photo – PGA of America).

McIlroy’s first real shot at a Major came in the 2010 Pete Dye designed Whistling Straits, and last time the course hosted such a big PGA event. He eventually finished tied for third with Zach Johnson and with the pair just short of a playoff between Bubba Watson and eventual champ Martin Kaymer.

And McIlroy believes his success and seasoning since 2010 bodes well for this year’s PGA.

“All of those experiences add up to being more comfortable in those situations,” McIlroy said. “This year, I’m not putting pressure on myself to repeat. I put pressure on myself to play my best, and, if I’ve done that and I don’t win, it’s out of my control.”

McIlroy added that additional experience playing Pete Dye courses over the years lends him a better perspective on attacking Whistling Straits – regularly recognized as one of the most difficult public courses in America.

What team to support? Rory McIlroy receives jerseys from the University of Wisconsin, the Milwaukee Bucks and the Green Bay Packers during his visit to Whistling Straits for a 2015 PGA Championship media outing. (Photo – PGA of America).

“Pete makes you think,” McIlroy added. “He likes to intimidate you with his designs and forces you to be confident in your game. But, he also like to give you a chance to save your par if you misfire.”

“Earlier on in my career, I’d get into a tee box on a par 4 or par 5 and just grab the driver to hit as far as I possibly could. I’ve just figured a way to play his courses now and find my spots. Disciple is the key to play (Dye’s) golf courses.”

McIlroy, who won the 2012 PGA Championship at Kiawah Island’s Ocean Course in addition to last year’s PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club, will join an elite group if he succeeds in defending his Champion’s title in 2015. Only six golfers have won consecutive PGA Championships: Jim Barnes, Leo Diegel, Walter Hagen, Gene Sarazen, Denny Shute and Tiger Woods (twice).

After touching down in Wisconsin this morning, McIlroy began his visit to Whistling Straits by participating in a #ThisIsMajor conversation panel to discuss the 2015 PGA Championship.

He was joined in the conversation by Derek Sprague, President of the PGA of America; Herb Kohler, Executive Chairman of Kohler Co.; David Kohler, President & CEO of Kohler Co. and General Chair of the 2015 PGA Championship; Rob Correa, Executive Vice President, Programming for CBS Sports; and Matt Hong, Executive Vice Present and General Manager at Turner Sports.

Following the discussion, McIlroy received a surprise welcome from some well-known Wisconsin sports luminaries. Jason Kidd, Milwaukee Bucks Head Coach; Bill Schroeder, retired Green Bay Packers Wide Receiver; and Todd Dekker, father of former University of Wisconsin men’s basketball star and highly rated 2015 NBA Draft prospect Sam Dekker, were on hand to present McIlroy with honorary team jerseys.

Notably, Schroeder and Todd Dekker are both natives of Sheboygan, Wis., near Whistling Straits. Dekker was standing in for his son, who was busy with NBA Draft-related obligations this morning. The elder Dekker has been the Boys Varsity Basketball Coach at Sheboygan Lutheran High School for more than 20 years, where he coached his son to a WIAA State Championship in 2012.

And McIlroy had a few surprises up his sleeve as well, later dropping in on a group of young Junior League golfers who were practicing as scheduled on the Straits Course today. McIlroy is an official ambassador for PGA Junior League Golf, which introduces kids ages 13 and under to the game in a team setting.