Rory Remains Positive Post Players

Getty Images

Rory McIlroy believes he is getting ever closer to rediscovering top form and is positive about his prospects heading into the busiest stretch of the season.

The two-time major champion fired a final round of 66 at the Players Championship on Sunday to notch his fourth straight top-10 finish on the PGA Tour - and his sixth of the season.

While never seriously in contention at Sawgrass following a second round of 74, McIlroy was nevertheless pleased with the battling qualities he again displayed to finish strongly.

Although he conceded another "backdoor" top-10 was not what he had been looking for, he insisted there was plenty to take forward as some of the biggest tournaments of the season loom on the horizon.

"Overall, it's been another solid week, another top 10 it looks like, another back door top 10 as I like to call them, but it's getting close," he told reporters on Sunday.

"I'm playing really well, I'm playing solid. I equalled my lowest round ever here at Sawgrass today with a 66, so things are heading in the right direction.

"Any time you shoot 66 and you move up a lot of spots on the leaderboard, I think I was 120th at one point in this golf tournament on Friday afternoon. So to go from there to finishing in the top 10 is a good effort."

McIlroy admitted that costly errors were really hurting his chances of contending at present with a disastrous run in round two at Sawgrass leaving him too much ground to make up.

The Northern Irishman made four bogeys and a double in the space of five holes early on Friday, yet demonstrated great maturity to hit back with four birdies on the back nine to ensure he made the halfway cut.

He claims that eradicating such lapses will see him back challenging for victory sooner rather than later.

When asked what he was looking to improve, he added: "Limit the mistakes - just keep the real big numbers off the card and these bogey runs that I seem to be getting on, just kind of keep it a little tighter, whenever I don't quite have my A game and that's really it.

"But as I've been saying the last few weeks, I'm seeing enough really good golf in there to be really positive going into the sort of main stretch of the season."

Related articles

• GOLF NOTEBOOK: McIlroy can't get past the front 9 at Sawgrass
• Game of Two Halves for McIlroy
• GMAC Fares Better at Sawgrass
• Elated McIlroy Finishes Players on a High Note
• Kaymer extends lead at Sawgrass; Mickelson misses cut
• McIlroy finishes strong at Players after odd weekend

Portrush Prepares for Open Roster

Royal Portrush will host The Open golf championship - for the first time since 1951 - and will do so within the next five years.

Negotiations involving the Stormont Executive and R&A organisers are at an advanced stage, and not only to stage the Open at Royal Portush in five year's time. It has been reported the Dunluce Links will be added to the official rota of venues for golf's oldest Major once all the negotiations and approvals are completed.

That means The Open will return on a regular basis once changes to the course are approved.

"It's been a long road and, to be honest, I don't want to say too much until it is official, for fear of tempting fate," said Graeme McDowell, whose brother Gary is on the greenkeeping staff at Portrush.

"But it would be awesome to have the Open back there, wouldn't it? It needs some changes and a little length, but it will be a solid Open venue."

Open winner Darren Clarke, who has a house overlooking the links, has been gently lobbying Peter Dawson, chief executive of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club for years and said: “I think everyone knows my views on the possibility of getting The Open back to Portrush. There’s no question the course is good enough.’

The changes which must be made at Portrush to accommodate an event on such a vast scale are so great, they'll be permanent.

And all sides in the talks accept that it'll take more than one 'hit' to justify the inconvenience and expense involved.

In reality, before any sweeping changes can be made to the links, they must be approved by the members of Royal Portrush at an Emergency General meeting.

Related articles

• R&A Play Down Portrush Reports
• The Open set to return to Northern Ireland's Royal Portrush in 2019
• Club Profile - Royal Portrush
• Royal Portrush to host Open Championship in 2019
• Rory McIlroy: Let's get Major to Portrush
• Royal Portrush in Major Welcome