Seven years, eleven months, six days. That's how long it's been since Rory McIlroy won a major, since he walked off the 18th at August 10, 2014 as the winner of the PGA Championship. Back then, he was 25 years old, and the future appeared wide open and golden.
Now, he's 33, and while his stature in the game remains unquestioned and unchallenged, the major drought has reached drastic proportions. He's become a master of the backdoor top 10, playing well after the tournament's been decided — he's averaged nearly two top 10s per year since that 2014 victory — but now, at last, he's in position once again to capture that elusive fifth major.