Rory McIlroy cited a lack of preparation and a niggling wrist injury for his underwhelming performance thus far at the DP World Tour Championship.
McIlroy had already wrapped up a fifth Race to Dubai title before the championship began and rounds of 71 and 72 left him out of contention heading into the weekend. Having not played since the Ryder Cup over a month ago, the four-time major champion hasn’t looked sharp at Jumeirah Golf Estates and says a small wrist injury reduced his practice at home.
“I haven’t done much at all after the Ryder Cup. You know, tried to putt in a little bit of practise over the last couple of weeks. But I sort of jammed my wrist, as well, a couple weeks ago and that sort of limited how many balls I hit too.
“Yeah, just sort of came in not as prepared as I could have been or should have been, but feel like I’m starting to find my feet a little bit after a few days.”
Saturday’s third round of 65 was much more like it from McIlroy who finished with a flourish of birdie, eagle to move to eight-under.
“Fitz and I sort of had it going on the back nine there, we both shot 5-under, which for me is a nice turnaround from how I played the back nine the first two days. It was a good score.
“For me I felt like it was similar enough the last couple days but I just didn’t make any mistakes, and then it was obviously really nice to finish the way I did with the birdie on 17.”
The Holywood man is still too far back to win the Tour Championship but he is still determined to end a “seven out of ten” year on a positive note.
“It’s the last round of the year. Go out and try to shoot a good score and get myself a decent finish.
“Yeah, I would say, as well, coming into the week, already having wrapped up The Race to Dubai, I’d say my expectation levels weren’t super high. But still, every day I go out there, I go out there and try to do my absolute best. It was nice to play a little bit more like me today.”
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