Daily Record

Spieth tips McIlroy for 2018 glory

- BERNIE McGUIRE

JORDAN SPIETH insists struggling Rory McIlroy will come back “fitter and stronger” to win more Majors next year.

The Northern Irishman heads into today’s BMW Championsh­ip in Illinois needing a top-four finish to retain any hopes of repeating his 2016 FedEx Cup triumph.

It’s an uphill task for injury-hit McIlroy who is winless in 2017 but Spieth insists he can make a winning return with time off to recover after next month’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championsh­ip in Scotland.

Spieth, who heads the FedCup race, said: “I can’t really get a handle on what Rory is going through because I have not been injured but if I was in his shoes I could not believe how frustrated he must be.

“There really is not a whole lot he can do. Although the great thing is that I have not seen any change in his personalit­y.

“I really can’t relate to what he is going through but he is taking it all in his stride and recognisin­g the longevity of his career.

“Look, he could easily go out there on course and rip it out but then he does recognise that is only going to hurt him.

“Rory is still going to be a force to be reckoned with for decades to come and I can see him easily winning double the number of Major victories he already has and dozens of more regular tournament­s.

“And I am sure when he comes through this three to four-week hiatus or whatever time he intends taking off that he will come through it all fitter and stronger.”

 ??  ?? WINNERS Spieth, left, and McIlroy
WINNERS Spieth, left, and McIlroy

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