The Irish Golf Club Gazette: Muirfield

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6/11/2014

Rory Hopes to be Major McIlroy

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Rory McIlroy admits that winning more majors is his priority in 2014 following a poor set of results in the big events in 2013.

After winning the 2011 US Open at Congressional and the 2012 US PGA Championship at Kiawah Island - both by stunning eight-shot margins - the Northern Irishman's difficult 2013 was highlighted by his disappointing performances in the majors.

He finished 25th in The Masters at Augusta, tied 41st in the US Open at Merion, missed the cut in The Open Championship at Muirfield and tied eighth in the US PGA.

Having secured victory in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth last month, McIlroy is relishing the chance to push for more major glory in this week's US Open at Pinehurst No 2.

"After the season I had in the majors last year, I was coming in this year and making them a real priority," he said in Wednesday's US Open press conference.

"I want to get in contention. I want to feel the buzz of being there on the last day of majors and having a chance to win and being more consistent.

"I didn't really do that at The Masters this year. I finished top 10 but I never really had a chance to win. I had a good weekend which was nice but I've got three majors left this season and they're the biggest tournaments in the world and you want to try and do as well as you can in them and you do everything you can do prepare the best way possible.

"It's only been five majors since I won at Kiawah (Island) so it's not that bad but, even if it doesn't happen this week, getting myself into contention and feeling that buzz of having a chance, that's really what I want to do."

The weather forecast suggests plenty of rain at Pinehurst this week and McIlroy believes it could help his bid.

"I seem to do well on wet golf courses. Even though this isn't going to get wet, it'll take the fire out of the golf course which might play into my hands a bit, it might make a few holes play a little bit longer.

"I wouldn't mind seeing a little bit of rain. I'm fine either way. I'm mentally preparing myself for it to be a firm and fast test this week. But if it rains a little bit it might make things a tad easier for me."

The Northern Irishman goes into the tournament ranked sixth in the world and admits he would love to get back to world No 1, a position currently held by Australian Adam Scott.

McIlroy has spent a total of 39 weeks at the top of the world rankings, his longest stretch coming between August 2012 and March 2013.

"There's a lot of guys that have a chance to get to the top of the world rankings. There could a real tussle for that come the end of the summer," said the 25-year-old.

"Of course I've got a desire to get back to number one in the world. I've been there before, I know what it feels like and I want to get back there again.

"I'd love to get back to the point where I can seize control of that like I did at the end of 2012. Hopefully I'd handle it a little better and keep hold of it a little longer."

8/09/2013

Rory Singing in the Rain

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Oak Hill was threatening to become "Soak Hill" as the second round of the 95th US PGA Championship continued amid persistent rain today and Rory McIlroy was among those struggling.

But Masters champion Adam Scott and England's Lee Westwood were coping well with the conditions as they set the pace at the top of the leaderboard.

Scott shared the overnight lead with former US Open champion Jim Furyk and started his round in perfect style, chipping in from just off the 10th green for a birdie.

That took him into the outright lead on six under but he was soon joined by Westwood, still seeking his first major title at the 63rd attempt after letting a two-shot lead slip going into the final round of the Open at Muirfield last month.

Westwood teed off in light drizzle and made regulation pars at the 10th and 11th before the rain became progressively heavier to threaten another stoppage in play after yesterday's 70-minute delay.

That did not stop the former world number one from rolling in a 25ft birdie putt on the 12th however, and although he was unable to birdie the par-five 13th for the second day running - he missed from four feet immediately after the stoppage yesterday - he did pick up a shot on the next.

Scott regained top spot when his birdie putt from 15ft on the 13th just had enough pace to trickle into the hole, and he was soon two clear as Westwood dropped his first shot of the week on the 17th.

Seeking to become the first man since Jack Nicklaus in 1975 to win the Masters and US PGA in the same year, Scott then missed a great chance to move three ahead, his birdie putt from six feet on the 15th catching the edge of the hole and spinning out.

In contrast, defending champion Rory McIlroy was facing a battle to make the cut after getting off to a disappointing start to his round.

McIlroy has been watching videos of his eight-shot triumph at Kiawah Island last year for inspiration and it looked to be paying off as he birdied three of his first four holes yesterday and eventually carded a one-under 69.

But the world number three carded two bogeys and a double bogey in his first eight holes today to drop back to two over, right on the early projected cut line.

The double-bogey came on the 15th where McIlroy threw his ball into the lake afterwards in frustration.

Meanwhile, Jamie Donaldson had earlier withdrawn from the final major of the year before play began, the Welshman citing a back injury after an opening round of 80. He joined American Bo Van Pelt in making an early exit, Van Pelt citing a hip injury after his own round of 80.

As McIlroy was staring a missed cut four birdies coming home have left him seven off the lead and his resurgence has given the former world No 1 fresh hope that he can contend at Oak Hill over the weekend.

"I was letting the round get away from me somewhat, but making four birdies on the last eight holes was nice to sort of redeem the round a little bit and keep myself in the tournament," he said.

"Walking up the second hole, which was my 11th hole today, all I wanted to do is be here for the weekend. All of sudden, I'm somewhat back in the tournament. I get off to a fast start tomorrow and I'm right there.

"It makes me feel good because maybe in the middle of the season or a couple of months ago I wouldn't have been standing up here. I would have been going home.

"It's good to be able to do that and fight back and makes you feel good about yourself going into the weekend."

8/07/2013

Mcllroy Read for Main PGA Course

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Rory McIlroy served up an interesting menu at the past champions' dinner at the US PGA Championship on Tuesday - and would love his critics to be eating humble pie this weekend.

McIlroy won five times last year, including his second major by eight shots, to finish top of the money list on both sides of the Atlantic.

But he has yet to record a win in 2013 and labelled his own play "brain dead" after an opening round of 79 in the Open at Muirfield, where he missed the cut on 12 over par.

Switching clubs in a controversial multi-million pound deal with Nike and spending too much time with girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki have been blamed for such poor form, but McIlroy went through a similar "slump" last year just before leaving everyone trailing in his wake at Kiawah Island.

"I love proving people wrong," the 24-year-old said in his pre-tournament press conference. "I loved sitting up here last year on the Sunday night and I proved a lot of people wrong. Maybe not necessarily in this room, but just people who had their opinions and said things and it was nice to be able to do that.

"I guess I've learnt to maybe not listen as much or not read as much, just sort of wrap yourself in your own little world or your own little bubble.

"I had to deal with it after the Masters in 2011 whenever people were saying, you can't come back from this, what's he going to do, he's blown his best chance to win a major. Two months later I was able to win (the US Open). I've dealt with it before and it's just something that's part of the job."

Previous wins could also be key to future success, with McIlroy watching footage of his performance at Kiawah Island and other career highlights to get back into the right frame of mind.

"I'm feeling good," the world number three added. "I've been watching a few videos of last year at Kiawah and watching some videos of some of my best weeks that I've played and it sort of lifted me a little bit and I took some good things away from that.

"First and foremost, I just haven't been swinging it the best this year. I got into a couple bad habits with my golf swing and it's just taken me a little bit longer to get out of them. When you're fighting that so much, it's hard to play the golf that I want to play, which is fluid and free-flowing. That's the way I play my best.

"Every time you play and you don't play well, it sort of chips away at your confidence a little bit, and it's just about building that back up. But I'm sitting here as confident as I have been all year, so I'm looking forward to getting going this week.

"I think everyone sees when I walk and I'm playing well, I have that little bounce in my step, so just trying to get that going again and trying to get that positive energy back. There's been times this year where I've really gotten down on myself and that's something that hasn't helped at all, and something that I'm trying to get better at.

As for that dinner menu, McIlroy opted for a goat's cheese and beetroot salad to start, Irish tenderloin for the main course and sticky toffee pudding for dessert.

"Everyone definitely enjoyed the last two courses; I don't know how the appetiser went down," he joked.

7/27/2013

McIlroy Could be the Man - Gary Player

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Gary Player is "perturbed" by some of the decisions being made by Rory McIlroy but the South African great believes the former world number one "could be the man" if he sorts out his problems.

The 24-year-old McIlroy's game has nosedived since he changed club manufacturer at the start of the season following a switch to Nike that, according to media reports, is worth $250 million over the next 10 years.

Last year the young Northern Irishman stormed to the top of the world rankings and won the orders of merit on both sides of the Atlantic.

"I love Rory McIlroy, he's got talent like you can't believe, but I was quite perturbed when I saw him win the U.S. Open (last year) and then the next tournament he played was one month later," nine-times major winner Player told Britain's Talksport radio.

"You can't do that. What he should have done was take a week off after winning the U.S. Open to settle down and then play two tournaments.

"You've got to prepare properly. He has a few problems at this stage of his life but everyone has problems," added the 77-year-old Player.

"He'll sort it out, he's got wonderful parents and he's got great talent. He'll come back."

Player's comments echoed those made about twice major winner McIlroy by former world number one Nick Faldo during last week's British Open at Muirfield.

Faldo hinted that world number three McIlroy, who missed the cut at the third major of the season, was spending more time than he should on off-the-course activities.

"You have a window of opportunity, that's my only words of wisdom to Rory," said the Englishman who now works as a full-time television commentator. "You have say a 20-year window as an athlete - concentrate on golf, nothing else.

"Hopefully you have another 40 years to enjoy it so just concentrate on your golf."

McIlroy is in a long-term relationship with former world number one tennis player Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark and Player said he could understand why golf was perhaps not quite as important to the Northern Irishman as it once was.

"When you're in love as a young man, naturally golf seems to take second place for a while," the South African explained. "It's natural - love is still the greatest thing that ever happens in our lives.

"But the thing is for a man like Rory with talent galore, he has got to make sure he has a woman like I've got, who has been married (to me) for 56 years, that has only encouraged me to do well and has made sacrifices.

"He's got to be intelligent and find the right wife. If he finds the right wife, if he practices and if he's dedicated, he could be the man," said Player.

7/22/2013

Major McIlroy Will be Back - Ian Poulter

Ian Poulter believes Rory McIlroy needs to go his own way to rediscover the form which brought him two major titles by the age of 23.

McIlroy missed the cut in last week's Open Championship at Muirfield, labelling his own play "brain dead" following an opening round of 79.

The 24-year-old Northern Irishman won five times last year, including his second major by eight shots in the USPGA Championship, to finish top of the money list on both sides of the Atlantic.

But he has yet to record a win in 2013 since a controversial multi-million pound switch to Nike in January, also damaging his reputation by walking off the course during his defence of the HondaClassic and bending a club out of shape during the final round of the US Open last month.

Asked if he had any advice for his Ryder Cup team-mate, Poulter said: "Stop reading the newspapers, stop listening to other people, go out there and do your stuff.

"There is a reason he was sought after by a new manufacturer and why they pay the big bucks because he is that good. He's just going to have to settle into the equipment, settle into himself being in a different environment now.

"The expectations after winning both money titles, there is some comedown after that. He just has to go out there and be himself."

Speaking at Woburn during his junior invitational event, Poulter added on Sky Sports News: "He knows how good he really is and the second he gets comfortable again you are going to see him winning golf tournaments.

"You don't win two majors by the age of 23 and disappear. Rory is here for a long time and he is going to be back at the top very soon."

Harry Needs Putter for Major Four

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Padraig Harrington grappled with demons of self-doubt on the greens, as he failed to register a birdie in his third-round 77, nine strokes worse than an impressive 68 by Garcia.

Harrington's faint hopes of carving out a top-10 finish at the 2013 Open expired.

After closing with a one-under-par 70 yesterday, Harrington finished in a share of 54th on 11-over, lamenting a paltry tally of six birdies in 72 holes at Muirfield, precisely the same as in last month's US Open at Merion.

Throw in a missed cut at April's Masters and it has been a fruitless and frustrating season for Harrington at the Majors.

Yet unlike Garcia, who took a complete three-month break from golf in 2010 saying, "I need to miss the game a little bit", Harrington is a relentless fighter.

No matter how torrid things get for him on the course, he will battle on. With three Major trophies on his sideboard in Rathmichael, he could rest on his laurels. "I could, but that won't happen," he insisted.

"A lot of pressure comes with winning a Major, including the frustrations of not getting that high again. The reward only comes when you stop playing, and I have no intention of stopping!"

Much was made in print of a tetchy remark by Garcia to a rules official on the way to the 15th tee on Saturday when he complained that telling Harrington they were no longer on the clock led to "the automatic handbrake" being engaged again.

Under the terms of their 'Valhalla Accord', neither will say a word against the other.

Yet Garcia's little exchange with the walking official and the couple of occasions he'd rushed to the next tee and was ready to go before Harrington arrived illustrated the Spaniard's frustration at the amount of time and attention his playing companion devoted to even the shortest putt.

Watching Harrington putt can be excruciating these days, though he insists there is no inclination to break the belly putter he has used since May over his own head.

Quite the contrary, in fact, as Harrington said: "I'm delighted with my putting!"

Instead, he attributed his failure to make birdie on any of the par-three or par-four holes at Muirfield to a continuing "lack of trust" in his reading of greens.

Never mind the swing changes Harrington infamously made after his world-conquering feats in 2007 and 2008.

He has slumped out of golf's upper echelons because of the negative impact the 2010 ban on box-grooves had on his wedge play and, principally, a marked decline in his confidence on the putting green.

Albeit controversial, the belly putter appears to have put manners on Harrington's stroke.

This leaves his difficulty reading and believing the line of longer putts as the Dubliner's biggest bugbear.

Languishing well outside the world top 50, Harrington is ineligible for the cash and point-rich Bridgestone World Golf Championship at Firestone next week, so he plays the Reno-Tahoe Open, where the modified stableford points scoring system will be anathema to a golfer struggling to make birdies.

After Reno, Harrington plays the PGA at Oak Hill, hoping to cement his place in the 125-man field for the first FedEx Cup play-off, The Barclays.

These are hard, frustrating times but the Irishman firmly believes redemption is just a birdie putt or two away.

With another forty plus year old winning at Muirfield, hot on the heels of a similarly aged Ernie Els in Royal Lytham and Darren Clarke at Royals St George at the previous Open Championship, Harrington knows there is still a reach major chance within reach.

7/21/2013

Foster Suffers Major Golf Twist

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Golf – and life – can be a savage master. In May last year Billy Foster had been Lee Westwood’s caddie for three years. But that month he snapped the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, playing football with his mates. He only went along to the game to watch, and refused to take part in the actual match for fear of any injury. But he was persuaded to join in the warm-up kickabout.

“I ran for a stray pass,” he says. “When I planted my foot it went in a bit of a hole and my knee went the other way. I thought I might be out two weeks, but it became a season-wrecker. I was distraught.”

Recovery went on for months, involving three operations, and every time he seemed near to a return, there was a setback. Westwood kept the position open for six months, but eventually with a complete heal nowhere nearer, had to engage another. And that was that. Foster understood but was devastated.

With recovery at last this summer, he carried the bag for Thomas Bjorn a couple of times, and came to Muirfield to caddy for the South African Branden Grace. Optimism was high as grace only just missed out at the Scottish Open last week, in the first extra hole play-off to Phil Mickelson.

“His game suits links golf but he’s had no luck and his putter has been cold,” says Foster ruefully, right after their final round 75 put them 13 over for the Championship. “It won’t be a permanent arrangement. I’m running round with different guys, biding my time. I just have to wait for the caddies’ merry-go-round to turn again.”

Above all, of course, he knows this is Westwood’s greatest chance yet to win a Major, going into the final round with a two-shot lead. And he knows it might have been him on Westwood’s bag for this greatest of all days.

“Oh yes, I want him to win, but I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t tinged with sadness, thinking about what might have been,” says Foster. “He’s a great player and a fantastic guy. Like everyone, I think he deserves it. His time has come. Yes, I’ve seen him here and we’ve spoken – the usual chitchat, nothing very deep. Of course I’ll send him congratulations if he wins.”

It was 12.40pm on Sunday as we spoke, with Westwood’s tee-off time still 90 minutes away. Would Foster be staying to watch his round?

“No,” he said. “I’m driving home. I won’t stay. It’s pulling on the heartstrings, a bit.”

Foster has also caddied for Darren Clarke and the legendary, but now absent, Severiano Ballesteros.

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