SCARS ON SUNDAY

Black sabbath for Rory, who keeps on fluffing up his final rounds

RORY MCILROY has “lost his confidence” in final rounds and the problem is getting worse, according to Paul Mcginley.

At Bay Hill on Sunday the Ulsterman failed to win a tournament after starting in the final group for the eighth successive time.

The world No.6, who turns 30 in May, has started the year with five consecutive top-six finishes on the PGA Tour.

But speaking before the Players Championship at Sawgrass, former

Ryder Cup captain Mcginley said

Mcilroy ( far right, practising at the course yesterday) will be feeling “frustration” after extending his winless streak to over a year just a month before the Masters.

“It is great to see him play as consistently as he has been because that is something that has been missing in his career,” said the Sky Sports pundit (above).

“One of the things that has been great to watch with Rory over the years is that when he gets hot, he gets really hot and generally wins.

“That hasn’t been the case in the last couple of years. You know how talented he is but golf is about winning and there is no doubt that he has got an issue on a Sunday and it is growing. There are a lot of questions being asked about him.

“We have got a saying in Ireland that when the dogs are barking, keep walking – he has got a lot of people barking in his ear.

“People are questioning why he is not getting it done on a Sunday. Is it a question of guile? No, he has won big tournaments in the past.

“But he has lost his confidence when it comes down to the last day and that is why he is not winning.

“He is not freewheeling on Sunday the way he does when he is at his best. You can see he is holding off a lot of shots – that is indicative of doubt.”

Mcilroy, who has decided to skip the Irish Open hosted by Mcginley this summer, has missed the cut four times in nine appearances at Sawgrass in Florida.

“Rory is an inspirational player and when he gets inspired he is great,” Mcginley added.

“But he has not got that inspiration on a Sunday.

“I think Rory is better when he has got an edge about him and has something to prove. Generally, when he has that attitude, that is when he bursts through.”