Rory McIlroy’s 10-year wait for major championship glory goes on after finishing tied for 12th at the PGA Championship on Sunday, nine shots adrift of winner Xander Schauffele.
Paul McGinley, the ex-European Ryder Cup captain, is of the opinion that Rory McIlroy has the potential to increase his tally of four major championships. However, he also acknowledges that the world number two faces certain “psychological” obstacles that need to be addressed.
McIlroy’s quest for a major victory continues as he finished tied for 12th at the PGA Championship at Valhalla on Sunday. Despite starting the week strong with a five-under-par opening round, the Northern Irishman struggled to keep up with the leaders in the subsequent days due to favorable scoring conditions.
Since his triumph at Valhalla in 2014, the 35-year-old has not been able to replicate that success, raising concerns about his ability to add to his collection of four major titles. However, McGinley, who led McIlroy at the Ryder Cup that year, remains optimistic about his future prospects, suggesting that overcoming the mental obstacles accumulated over the past decade could pave the way for significant victories ahead.
McGinley, speaking to Golf Channel, highlighted two key factors that have impacted the player’s performance in major championships. Firstly, the competition has become much stronger over the years. Secondly, back then, he was a determined young player with a fierce drive to succeed. His determination was evident in his every move. He had a clear goal of becoming the top player in the game and was willing to do whatever it took to achieve it.
Reaching the top is one thing, but staying there is a whole different challenge. However, he has managed to maintain his position in PGA Tour events with an impressive win ratio of 10 percent, which is higher than anyone else. Even Scottie Scheffler, a talented player, has a win ratio of only 8 percent. This showcases the player’s consistency and ability to perform at a high level consistently.
However, it is undeniable that there is a psychological impact from failing to win major championships, as Rory McIlroy has not yet achieved this feat. I use the term “yet” because if he manages to do so once, I believe there are certainly three or four more major victories in his future.
As a result of a hectic schedule both on and off the golf course, McIlroy has decided not to participate in the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial in Memphis this week. Additionally, he recently filed for divorce from his wife Erica Stoll after being married for seven years.
The golfer, aged 35, who has emerged victorious in his last two appearances on the PGA Tour, is scheduled to participate in the Canadian Open at Hamilton Golf and Country Club on May 30. McIlroy has previously claimed victory in this tournament twice, and a strong performance in Canada could enhance his chances of competing in the upcoming US Open at Pinehurst No. 2 in the following month.
Following his four-under-par final round on Sunday, he expressed, “I have been consistently playing golf for quite some time now. This marks my sixth tournament in the past seven weeks. After a week of rest, I will be participating in four consecutive events. I am confident in my current form.”
I think things are starting to fall into place a bit more, especially after the victory in New Orleans. We performed well last week in Charlotte too. We have this week to regroup and refocus before getting back on track.
Leave a Reply