Rory McIlroy feels the low scoring Travelers Championship is the “perfect chaser” after a gruelling week at Oakmont’s US Open as he starts a very global schedule which he hopes can maintain his excitement levels after a dip in form since winning the Masters.
McIlroy will play the last Signature Event of the season this week at TPC River Highlands where 22-under-par was only good enough for a playoff last season before playing in Scotland, Royal Portrush, the FedEx Cup, the Irish Open, Wentworth, India, Dubai and Australia.
The Holywood man spoke of trying to find a new mountain to climb following his grand slam win in April, with the Open Championship in Portrush next month his main focus he feels this week is the perfect scenario to get back on track.
“I think the weeks after major championships in these events sometimes when you’re in contention and you’re trying to win them, it can feel quite difficult to go play the next week. After a week like I had at Oakmont last week, where you’re not quite in the mix but you might feel you find something in your game, you’re excited to come back and play again.
“Yeah, looking forward to the week. This is the perfect sort of chaser for what Oakmont was last week, and nice to get out on a golf course where you feel you can make quite a few birdies.”
McIlroy had been struggling with his driver since winning the Masters, especially when his driver failed a conformity test ahead of the PGA Championship. But a return to a Taylormade Qi10 model at the US Open saw him back to his old self off the tee.
“I found a feeling, especially off the tee, that was repeatable, that was working well, and I led strokes gained off the tee last week, which was a big thing for me.”
As golf still wanders aimlessly towards a peace deal between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf in order to unify the men’s game, McIlroy has talked the talk about his desire for a world tour based on national opens.
The five-time major winner is certainly going to walk the walk in the second half of the season as he edges away from the spotlight of the PGA Tour and parades the green jacket around Europe, a debut at the DP World India Championship and a first Australian Open since 2014.
“I’ve always wanted to go to India, and the European Tour and DP World created a new event there. I was asked at the start of the year would I be interested in going, and I said yeah, that sounds amazing,” explained the world number two.
“The Hero Indian Open is always when we’re — it’s like March-April time. I’d love to play DLF and figure out my way around that place, but this one in Delhi in October made more sense.
“I’ve always loved the Australian Open. I’ve won there before. I played there as an amateur in the Australian Open, qualified for it, went through a qualifier in 2005, got through like a nine-man playoff to get in. So I’ve always had a huge affinity for that part of the world. So to go back especially Royal Melbourne this year, Kingston Heath next year, two of the best golf courses in the world on the Sandbelt, that’s awesome too.
“Yeah, it’s that part of the year where we have the ability to travel and to do these things, and if it makes sense for the schedule — especially, look, I’m excited to — there’s never been a green jacket in India before. So to bring the green jacket to India is something that’s going to be really cool. To go back to the Australian Open, I won that in 2013. Adam (Scott) and I had a great battle down the stretch on the last day, he was the Masters champion at that point.
“I’ve never been to India. I haven’t been to Australia in 10 years. So it’s nice to go back to these places.”
It’s been a busy week in the boardroom for the PGA Tour with Brian Rolapp named Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Rolapp spent more than two decades with the National Football League (NFL).
McIlroy feels this is a positive move for the PGA Tour.
“I haven’t met Brian yet, but obviously I followed quite a bit of the news and the coverage yesterday. He certainly said all the right things and has an amazing background, two decades in the NFL, helping them expand internationally and basically become the behemoth that they have become.
“So for him to bring that experience to the PGA TOUR I think will be amazing, and I think it’s great that Jay is there to help with the smooth transition also. Yeah, I think it’s a really positive thing for the TOUR.”
Leave a comment