The other reigning major champion, 2024 US Open winner Bryson DeChambeau, starts off the first tee Thursday afternoon alongside fellow American Gary Woodland and Norway's Viktor Hovland.

DeChambeau wants another crack at McIlroy after briefly leading on the Sunday at the Masters, before fading to share fifth.

"I do believe you have to have a lot of distance out here. Rory is a great driver of the golf ball, and his iron play is great, too. I think it's a golf course that sets up for his shot shapes pretty well, and I think it sets up well for mine, too," DeChambeau said.

"We'll see. Maybe I do well, maybe I don't. But, I'm certainly going to give it my all, and I know Rory is. Hopefully, we can have another go at it again like at the Masters."

Storms have drenched the course in more than two inches of water over the past four days, including an afternoon thunderstorm that halted practice for an hour and 42 minutes on Tuesday.

But, several players expect the drying system beneath the greens will keep the putting surfaces brutally quick, even as the rest of the soggy course could play long and treacherously.

"This golf course is amazing. Even though we've had some rain, the greens somehow stayed firm," two-time major winner Jon Rahm said. "I'm sure they'll get them lightning fast for the week. Excited for it. It's a great test of golf and a really fun one as well."