Rory McIlroy is taking a glass-half-full attitude to this week’s PGA Championship. Even after a rough week during the Truist Championship, he is still optimistic. The four-time champ at Quail Hollow proved it yet again with a remarkable comeback. Since then, Cameron Giovanetti has tied for seventh at the Philadelphia Cricket Club with a remarkable overall score of -10. Although he was six shots behind the eventual winner, Sepp Straka, McIlroy showed flashes of his potential throughout the tournament.
In McIlroy’s case, he never really struggled, even when the putts weren’t falling. His final round on Sunday was a 2-under 68 with 16 pars and two birdies. He opened his day in style, making an ace on the opening hole. As the round progressed, he faced an uphill battle.
Challenges on the Course
The biggest concern for McIlroy was the accuracy with which he played off the tee. He only hit five fairways in regulation. His performance on Saturday was even more shocking, considering he only found three of 14 fairways. That lack of precision left him having to make par-saves at a premium on the front nine.
“I sort of struggled with this in Houston as well, whenever we get these big, wide-open golf courses where there’s not a ton of definition,” – Rory McIlroy
Even with these challenges, McIlroy showed remarkable course management. Remarkably, he managed to not make a single bogey or worse over the tournament’s final 28 holes. This performance is a showcase of his ability to bounce back and remain cool when feeling the heat.
Steady Improvement
Looking back on his weeklong performance, McIlroy seemed genuinely excited about his game and what might be in store for him. He was pleased with his growth throughout the competition and attributed his bounce-back ability to his ability to climb to the top at the end.
“Overall I felt like I got a little better as the week went on, played good,” – Rory McIlroy
He admitted that under his own standards, seventh overall isn’t good enough, but it’s still a sign of good things to come. McIlroy agreed with my assertion that a clearer delineation of what was intended by the course design would have helped his accuracy off the tee.
“I think I would have hit more fairways if it had been tree lined. I felt like I drove it a little better on the back nine today, which was good,” – Rory McIlroy
Fan Support and Mental State
As he prepares for the PGA Championship, McIlroy admits that knowing fans have his back will help as he loses overwhelming support. Their excitement is a major source of inspiration for him while out on the course.
“They’re loud. They’re relentless in terms of like … I must have heard my name a million times this week,” – Rory McIlroy
Confidence hasn’t been an issue for McIlroy this week Overall, McIlroy is feeling good as he heads into the prestigious tournament. He stated plainly, “I think I’m in a good place,” indicating readiness to tackle new challenges in the upcoming competitions.
Leave a Reply