McIlroy eyes quick start in major quest

RORY McILROY is targeting a fast start to the 120th US Open as he seeks to add further credence to golf’s so-called ‘Nappy Factor’. New fathers have been seen to experience an unusually high rate of success and McIlroy is hoping that rings true as he seeks to end a sixyear major drought, either at Winged Foot this week or in the Masters in November. With a home in Florida and an American wife it will be the ‘Nappy Factor’ getting the credit if McIlroy can claim a second US Open title on Sunday, but the world No 4 is well aware he needs to get himself high on the leaderboard from the outset. ‘If you’ve looked at my major championship performances over the last few years, I’ve just gotten off to slow starts,’ the four-time major winner (right) said. ‘I probably put a little too much pressure on myself going into tournaments. ‘When I start tournaments well, I seem to stay up there. If I can put a solid round together on a Thursday, I’m usually right there.’ McIlroy’s wife Erica gave birth to the couple’s first child, Poppy Kennedy McIlroy, two weeks ago and the timing allowed him to compete in the season-ending Tour Championship. A tie for seventh place at East Lake was the 31-year-old’s first top 10 since the sport returned following the coronavirus shutdown. ‘I think it just puts things in perspective a little bit,’ added McIlroy. ‘My career matters to me and I care about it very much, but at the same time, it makes the hard days a little easier to get over, right?’