Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
SAN FRANCISCO He likes therors
SKY PUNDIT DOUGHERTY SAYS MCILROY STRUGGLES TO SPARK WITHOUT CROWDS
NICK DOUGHERTY believes Rory Mcilroy has been “rusty” during golf’s restart and is missing the crowds.
But the former pro turned TV presenter says the sport’s belated first Major of the year can spark Mcilroy again after his blistering opening to 2020 was halted.
Dougherty reckons the Holywood star will be anxious to impress – after slipping to World No.3 from top spot in recent weeks – when the USPGA starts at Harding Park in San Francisco on Thursday.
“From a purely golf perspective, the shutdown came at a bad time, when Rory was playing really well,” said Dougherty. “He was late picking up his clubs because he took some time to reflect, which is understandable. But he then came out of an extended break a little bit rusty.
“The momentum he had before the pandemic and lockdown was lost. The impatience will be there because he knows how well he was playing.
“He won’t like being overtaken at the top, by first Jon Rahm and then Justin Thomas, as well. The signs aren’t encouraging in terms of his
Charles Schwab: T32 RBC Heritage: T41 Travelers Champ: T11 Memorial: T32 WGC St Jude:
T47 recent results. But he has found it tough with no crowds.
“This tournament will hopefully give him a little bump in intensity that’s been missing since lockdown, because this blip will end somewhere and it could be this week.”
Mcilroy has won at Harding Park previously on the PGA Tour, in the WGC Cadillac Match Play in 2015. But he has not won a Major since 2014 and his form since the Covid-19 shutdown has been underwhelming.
Mcilroy was 47th out of 78 players at the WGC Fedex St Jude Invitational, and only finished in the top 30 once in his four prior appearances.
It is a stark contrast to his early form this year when he enjoyed top-five finishes in his first four outings.
Sky Sports golf presenter Dougherty added: “His iron play was superb pre-lockdown and ranked third. He is a long way off that now, edging towards the 100 mark. It is unlike Rory but not something he can’t fix.
“His driving is very good, which is important around this course – and he has won at Harding Park before, which is always a bump in confidence. I expect Rory to be in full flow by the Masters.”