Rory has found his fighting spirit as he targets the finest year of career
RORY MCILROY’S impressive win at The Players certainly validates his decision to start his season Stateside.
Those who claimed he couldn’t close out tournaments will also be in hiding this week.
The former World No1 looked patient and poised winning the ‘fifth Major’ at Sawgrass and it’s clear he’s got his mojo back.
Winning is the biggest catalyst of all and climbing to fourth in the world for the first time in 19 months will do wonders for his confidence.
He’s also leading the way in the Fedex rankings and his game is exactly where he’d want it to be four weeks out from the Masters.
Rory’s game is enough to bring any course to its knees and blow competitors out of the water – he can out-drive everyone and his short game is also on point.
But crucially, his body language also appears to be on a different level this year and he is showing a renewed passion for the game.
His early season form in the States certainly doesn’t augur well for him playing the European Tour’s desert swing any time soon.
But he has to look after himself and you can’t argue with the stats.
Top-six finishes in six outings – including a first ever Players title – is a remarkable run and his form this year has been sparkling.
Golf is an intensely competitive sport with an ever increasing depth of talent, so to finish fourth, 5th, 4th, 2nd, 6th and first in six outings is a stunning return.
Having a god-given talent sometimes isn’t enough, you also have to have the desire to hone that talent and bring it in the toughest of environments.
Rory did that at Sawgrass and he showed a steely resolve down the final stretch.
Mcilroy believes he is entering the “second phase” of his career and there’s every reason to believe he can be an even better golfer during that phase.
The challenge now will be dealing with the heightened expectation, but aligning himself to the American dream has been a success and he clearly boasts a renewed sense of impetus.
Sawgrass is a reminder that four Majors would be a meagre return for a player of his quality.
There’s always a greater pressure on the likes of Rory to deliver at major tournaments – he walks under a sharper spotlight.
But after a vibrant start to 2019, he stands on the threshold of a fairytale year.
Completing the grand slam at Augusta and winning The Open at Royal Portrush in July is everything he would have dreamed of as a young boy.
He has a wonderful CV for a 29-year-old, but perhaps even better is to come.
The stars are aligning for him at the perfect time.