Mcilroy back on track after putter switch
Ulsterman upbeat after 64 in Connecticut Spieth survives play-off showdown to claim title
When a golf professional is using his third different putter in three competitive rounds then it is usually worth watching, if only for the comic value.
Yet the only thing funny about Rory Mcilroy in the final round of the Travelers Championship yesterday was the sheer ridiculousness of his talent.
Mcilroy’s 64 to move to six under was not about to win him the title in Connecticut, but, after such a frustrating, injury-plagued season it did launch him back on a very confident track towards next month’s Open Championship. The 28-year- old missed the cut at last week’s US Open and feared he would also have to sit it out at the weekend at RPC River Highlands after a second-round 73. But he scraped in on the number and capitalised with a final-round display of which he was plainly in need.
The rib fracture, which he sustained in January, has finally healed and the Taylormade clubs to which he switched after signing a 10-year, £785million deal in April, seem to be bedding in nicely. It is the putter which has been the obstacle.
Mcilroy switched to the Spider Tour Red at the US Open, and, after a dire display, vowed to give it one more week. Following an opening 67, which he insisted should have been at least three shots better, and then a 73, he swapped again – this time choosing a Taylormade Mullen model. There followed a 70 with 33 putts and once more the flat-stick received the P45.
This time it was a blade from the Taylormade TP range which gained the nod and he and they will be relieved that the hole was finally located. In truth, this was a glorious tee-to-green performance which highlighted why you can never rule out this Northern Irishman.
“I’m right there with my ballstriking,” he said. “I missed one fairway, missed one green. Everything’s right there where it needs to be.”
Jordan Spieth survived a play-off showdown with Daniel Berger to record a wire-to-wire victory. It looked like Spieth might have blown his bid for a 10th PGA Tour title when he found a bunker on his approach to the replayed 18th hole, but somehow he holed from the sand for a decisive birdie.
On the European Tour, the Argentine Anders Romero enjoyed a remarkable win at the BMW International Open in Munich.
The 36-year-old – ranked 837th in the world – shot a 65 for a 17-under total to overhaul Sergio García and Richard Bland, who tied for second alongside Belgian, Thomas Detry, one shot behind.