McIlroy taking slow boat to success

World No 4 takes ferry to begin drive for titles at Dundonald this week

When you’re a superstar millionaire golfer and the venue for your next tournament is just 86 miles as the crow flies from home, you just helicopter it, right? Not if you are Rory McIlroy. The Northern Irishman took a text from his friend and countryman Graeme McDowell on Monday thanking him for his work organising the Irish Open and casually inquiring where he was.

“I’m waiting to board the ferry,” was Rory’s reply. “Nice,” texted back G-Mac. “I didn’t know that NetJets did ferries.”

If the private jet hire company did do ferries then no doubt Rory would be able to afford it, but he was boarding the regular car ferry going from Belfast to Cairnryan, and coming to Dundonald for the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open for the entire week.

“I like it, I’ve done it a lot from when I was pretty small, going with the family,” he said. “It’s good to have your own car at the other end and just throw everything you need in the back.

“I did it last in 2014, drove up to Royal Aberdeen the last time I played the Scottish, then down to Hoylake, and that worked out pretty well.”

Having missed the cut at the Irish, Rory has applied himself to practice this week, one marathon putting session on Monday evening conducted completely solo, by design.

He is conscious that he is well behind where he wants to be this season – partly due to injury – and impatient to be winning again.

It’s also three years since his last major win, astonishingly. No wonder he’s trying to get that 2014 vibe back.

“I definitely think playing a links golf course leading up to an Open is a very good way to prepare,” he continued. “In Aberdeen in 2014, I found something for my putting that week, just a little key that I took to Hoylake and the rest of that summer.

“You never know when you’re going to stumble upon these little epiphanies.”

He didn’t work solo this week because he’s fired everyone including putting guru Phil Kenyon, but to try and take complete responsibility for his game.

“With everything other part of my game, I have ownership of it,” he added. “I always have had ownership of my long game. I’ve worked with (swing coach) Michael Bannon for over 20 years, I know my golf swing better than anyone else and I know what I want to do.

“But the putting has never really felt that way. I don’t make it my own. It’s always with someone, whether it was Paul Hurrion, Dave Stockton or Phil.

“There’s a balance between instruction and taking ownership of your game. So it’s about me having a little bit of time on my own and try and figure out my own thoughts. I think that definitely will help.”

He feels like his game is close – “I know we all say that, but does feel that way” – and likes the way the next few weeks shape up for him.

“I’m excited to be back here at the Scottish,” he said. “The stature of this tournament is massive and it’s a great field. I’m excited to play tomorrow with

“I think playing a links golf course leading up to an Open is a very good wayto prepare. RORY MCILROY

Rickie (Fowler) and Henrik (Stenson). I think that’s going to be a pretty cool group to be a part of the next two days.

“I always thought that this summer stretch was going to be one that I could do well at because of the golf courses that are coming up. You can definitely hit driver a lot this week.

“Birkdale, it all depends on the conditions, but I don’t envisage myself hitting a lot of drivers there.

“The bunkering is really good, the slight doglegs and the angles that you might have to hit a driver at just aren’t worth it. So I can see myself hitting a lot of long irons at Birkdale.

“But we go to Akron (for the WGC Firestone) and Quail Hollow (PGA Championship) where the driver is a huge weapon, and if you drive the ball well, you can shoot good scores.

“And driver is the least of my worries right now. I feel like I’m driving the ball pretty well. I can use it this week and hopefully take advantage of that here.”

Furthermore, this current “slump” doesn’t match others he has had.

“I feel good. I don’t feel like I’m struggling and I’m not really searching,” he continued.

“It feels nowhere near like 2013, I turned up to Muirfield and I was completely lost. I wasn’t in a really good frame of mind, my golf swing wasn’t good, I had a couple things going on, I just wasn’t in a great place.

“This year, I’ve just got married. I’m in a great place personally. I think my golf game is really close to being where it needs to be.

“I’m in a way better place. I feel like it’s all sort of there. It’s just about trying to piece it all together I guess.”