Rory McIroy insists there are no major issues that need to be fixed in his game but feels the more relaxed environment of the Zurich Classic can help build some confidence after an underwhelming start to the PGA Tour season.
McIlroy has looked out of sorts Stateside with just one top-10 finish so far and issues with his iron play were highlighted at the Masters as his tenth bid for a career grand slam never got off the ground in a 22nd place finish.
The Holywood man was also inconsistent with his game at the RBC Heritage as Scottie Scheffler won for the fourth time in five starts but he is looking forward to relaxing this week in Louisiana – where he will team up with Shane Lowry – and taking the pressure off.
“I don’t think there’s things that need to be fixed, but I think a week like this to sort of relax and play under maybe not the amount of pressure or the stress that we’ve both been under the last couple of weeks I think is a nice thing. And it’s nice to be able to rely on a teammate every now and again and bail you out of trouble or know that you don’t have to play perfect golf because you’ve got someone right there beside you.
“It’s a nice week for that. There’s still a lot of FedExCup points on offer, and we know if we have a good week this week, that’ll get us both up the FedExCup list and put us in a really good spot going into the summer.”
This is McIlroy’s fourth event in a row and his first start in the team event having turned Bubba Watson down on multiple occasions. He has been in popular demand as a partner for the tournament.
“Yeah, a few people have asked me over the years. Bubba Watson hounded me for years to come play this with him and I politely declined every time, not because I don’t like him.
“But no, it was never part of — I guess it never lined up with my schedule and just wasn’t — this is my fourth week in a row, and it’s not as if I haven’t played four weeks in a row before, but for a fourth tournament in a row, something like this that is a little more relaxed, not as much pressure, I thought it would be a good thing to do.”
Lowry replied: “Rory is probably like No. 1 on people’s lists to come play here with. He obviously thinks I’m good enough to be a teammate and come out here and compete with.
“I think we’re good for each other. I think we’ll be good for each other on the course. We’ll enjoy doing it, which is a big part of it, as well. Whenever we’re out there and competing, you want to enjoy it, as well. At the end of the day when it comes to it, we are competitors, and I think we’re two very competitive people, and when we get to the first tee on Thursday, we’re there for one reason, and yes, it’ll be to enjoy it, but it’ll be to give ourselves a chance to win the tournament.”
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