NO MAJOR CONCERN
RORY McILROY insists he won’t lose any sleep if he never wins another Major in his career.
The four-time champion needs a Masters victory to complete a Grand Slam but this year’s bid ended in disappointment with a closing 74 at Augusta National.
After also missing the cut in the US Open, McIlroy has just two chances – in this month’s Open at Carnoustie and then the US PGA – remaining this season to avoid extending his Major drought to four years.
But the former world No.1, who tees off in the Irish Open at Ballyliffin today, is not unduly concerned by the prospect of never again tasting victory in one of the game’s biggest events.
He said: “If I didn’t win another Major for the rest of BY DALE RANKIN my career nothing is going to change in my life. Obviously I won’t feel like I’ll have fulfilled my potential.
“But at the same time there are other things in my life that are more important than golf.
“I’d be disappointed to not win another Major but I don’t panic. It doesn’t keep me up at night.
“I just need to give myself chances. I was proud of myself getting into the final group at the Masters.
“I’ve got two more chances this year to hopefully play myself into contention. That’s my goal.
“My goal this year wasn’t to win Majors. It was just to put myself in positions to see how I fair. I did that at Augusta. I felt I learned from it and hopefully going into Carnoustie and Bellerive I can get in similar positions.
“I still feel like I have a lot of time left to make my mark on golf but it doesn’t keep me up at night thinking if I never win another Major, then I can’t live with myself.”
Tournament host McIlroy won the Irish Open at the K Club in 2016 but has missed the cut in four of his last five appearances at the £5.3million event.
The 29-year-old revealed he’s now cut down on his off-course commitments to focus more on his game.
He said: “I’ve cut back from a few things off the course. A couple of times I just haven’t felt as prepared as I could have been walking onto the first tee on Thursday.
“I’ve done my work so there’s no excuse about not being prepared. This year I’m right where I need to be.” MUSSELBURGH Going: Good to Firm 2.00: SCOUNDREL Super Florence Burmese Blazer 3.00: JAN SMUTS Maestro Dizoard 4.00: JACOB BLACK Mywayistheonlyway 4.30: FALCON’S FIRE Angel Fillydelphia Zeshov New Abbey 5.20: HITMAN Bibbidibobbidiboo 3.40: ALCOCK AND BROWN Solatentif The Sweeney