McGINLEY WORRY FOR RORY’S FUTURE

PAUL McGINLEY is concerned that the current generation of golfers will face difficulties in their 30s, because of the amount of time they are spending in the gym. Rory McIlroy, Jason Day and Dustin Johnson have all battled some form of back problem in the past couple of years and McGinley believes that it is something that will occur more frequently with the top players. ‘It is interesting to see how sport is changing, not just golf, with the longevity of careers. With the power these guys are swinging and the amount of time they spend in the gym, what is going to happen when they get into their 30s, like Rory is approaching now,’ he wondered. ‘Bodies are going to start breaking down a lot earlier than they did for the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino and Tom Watson, because these guys are pounding their bodies so hard in the gym from a very early age. ‘And I think that applies not just to Rory, but to everyone else. I include Rickie [Fowler], Dustin and Jordan Speith in this. Are they all going to have trouble in their 30s with injuries like Tiger did? So, maintaining his body as he enters his 30s and staying fit and staying strong is the challenge [for McIlroy].’ On the subject of Woods, McGinley (right) is pleased that the 14-time Major winner looked fit as he finished joint ninth in the Hero Challenge last month. ‘Where he was at the President’s Cup, saying he mightn’t play again and his career might be over, to five weeks later, having a ball speed of 181 mph, that doesn’t add up. He has obviously been practising a lot more than he has been letting on,’ he added.