Now McIlroy has Major plan to banish Augusta memory

BY NEIL McLEMAN three shots behind. It was always going to be a tough task to make that up.

“But I gave myself a chance at the first Major of the year. It didn’t happen.

“I’ve three more to go this year. If I could add to my Major tally, that Sunday afternoon at Augusta would be long forgotten and you’d move on and just focus on next year.”

McIlroy, who will play the US Open next month, had two top-three finishes in the Gulf and won the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March but he has also missed three cuts on the PGA Tour.

The 29-year-old said: “I guess the good has been very good and the bad has been worse than I would want it to be. It’s been a little more inconsistent than I would want it to be.”

McIlroy’s performances at Wentworth have been equally hot and cold. He missed the cut four times out of eight – and won in 2014 after dumping then fiancee Caroline Wozniacki.

He went on to win two Majors that summer. And he said: “I guess all you need is that spark or catalyst. I felt my game was trending in the right direction in 2014 but didn’t quite have the win.

“I’ve a busy summer coming up. Maybe this could be the spark that gets it going again.”

McIlroy’s been ranked the most famous British athlete by ESPN ahead of Gareth Bale and Wayne Rooney – and earlier this month was named the richest person under 30.

He said: “I never wanted to be famous. I wanted to be known for my golf and that was it.”