Rory hopes for Hollow victory to end drought
RORY McILROY admitted that three years is too long without a Major success and described the Open at Birkdale as a “lost opportunity”.
The Ulsterman was already five over after his first six holes on Thursday and could never quite redress the balance, starting too slowly with eight successive pars and eventually carding a 67 yesterday. “I got within four at one point and with the two par-fives coming up, I thought I had a chance to post a number and at least scare them a bit,” he said.
“But it’s a lost opportunity. On Saturday I had a chance to get in a few shots better than I did and maybe I would have been able to put a bit of pressure on the guys in front of me.
“And I wish I could have had that start back. But these things happen and I’m just proud of how I held it together and battled.”
Even when he finally eagled the 17th, the abiding memory will be with him stood garlanded by a huge clump of rough as he shot for the 18th hole that meant the best he could finish was five under.
It means McIlroy, 28, has not lifted a Major trophy since the 2014 USPGA Championship, with the 2017 version of the event at Quail Hollow Club in just 17 days’ time.
Tiger Woods never went three full years without a Major success until he fell out of form once and for all, and while the great Jack Nicklaus won nothing between the US Open of 1967 and the Open of 1970, McIlroy admits it is a big gap.
“One year, one Major feels like too long,” said McIlroy. “But these things happen. You look at Jack Nicklaus, he went through a stretch where he didn’t win a Major in three years.
“I’m not comparing myself to Jack but it’s hard to win them.
“But I’ve still got 15, 20 more years to add to that tally and while I feel like three years has been too long, at the same time I’m not going to rush it.
“I’m not going to stay impatient. I’m going to play my game. And hopefully my chance arrives at some point and I’m able to take it.”
Luckily, the North Carolina course is one he likes. He has twice won the Wells Fargo Championship there and holds the course record of 61.
“I’m happy that’s coming quite quickly on the back of this as my game is in much better shape than it was heading into this week,” he said.
“I’ve played well there. I’ve shot a couple of course records, had a couple of wins. I’ve been beaten in a play-off as well. Add to that another couple of top-10s and it’s fair to say I play well at Quail Hollow.
“I love the course. I know they’ve made a few changes, but I’ll have some really good vibes going into that week.”
I’ve still got 15 or 20 years