Mission possible for Rory in States
Stop-start year forgotten if McIlroy scoops major
BACK in the days when Rory McIlroy was collecting majors rather like other people gather up souvenirs, there were two in the future that he circled with particular relish.
One was The Open at St Andrews in 2015. ‘And we all know how that went,’ said the Northern Irishman, drolly, about a major he had to sit out after damaging ankle ligaments playing five-a-side football.
The other was the USPGA Championship taking place this week at Quail Hollow, just outside Charlotte, North Carolina.
‘You can be sure I haven’t been anywhere near a football pitch in the build-up to this one,’ he added.
This major comes at a critical juncture in the 28 year old’s career. It’s 10 majors now since his last victory, the longest drought he has suffered, and another blank would open the door for his great rival Jordan Spieth to claim the title and complete the career grand slam before him.
It comes during a stop-start season filled with more injury and upheaval, exemplified by the eye-opening decision to sack long-time caddie JP Fitzgerald last Monday.
Yet McIlroy knows a victory would change everything.
Asked how he would sum up a year if that was his only win, McIlroy emphasised that majors are the name of the game, stressing: ’It would be an absolutely great year, no question.’
So why circle this particular major? Unusually for a tournament staging a Grand Slam, Quail Hollow is an annual pit-stop on the PGA Tour, the home of the Wells Fargo Championship.
In 2010, on his first visit, McIlroy shot a final-round 62 to claim his first PGA Tour victory.
Two years later he lost a thrilling shoot-out to Rickie Fowler, before winning it again in 2015.
‘The nice thing for me is I’m going there knowing it won’t be set up too differently from the PGA Tour,’ said McIlroy. ‘It will be the same sort of shots I need to hit and I’ve shown in the past I can play them. So yeah, it’s been on my mind for a while. This is one I’ve got a good chance at.’
That brings its own attendant pressures, of course. Augusta National is another course that fits his eye where he hasn’t yet delivered.
He has talked of playing ‘tight’ golf at the Masters, which might explain the presence of Rory’s best man Harry Diamond as caddy, with his easy Belfast manner and dry wit.
‘It’s good to have him on the bag,’ said McIlroy, at the WGCBridgestone Invitational last week.
‘He’s keeping it pretty lighthearted and positive, which all helps.’
McIlroy certainly looked relaxed here, as he played his way into contention in a tournament for the first time since March.
Rounds of 67, 69 left him tied for third on four under at halfway with world No2 Hideki Matsuyama and Zach Johnson, who won that Open Rory had to sit out in 2015.
Three shots separated him from American pacesetter Jimmy Walker, who defends his PGA title next week and fired a second-round 65, with Belgian Thomas Pieters on five under following his level-par 70.
Also in contention at four back was Spieth, who is shaping up nicely for his historic tilt next week at becoming the youngest player to complete the career Grand Slam.
Not that he’s putting pressure on himself. ‘I know I’ll do it one day,’ said the genial Texan, with all the confidence of a man who’s only just turned 24.
Scot Russell Knox is also in the mix in Ohio.
He showed signs of a welcome return to form with a first-round 66 in Akron and followed that up with a one-over 71.
That left him three under at the halfway stage alongside Spieth and a clutch of other big names, including Australian Jason Day (66), American Charley Hoffman (69), Canadian Adam Hadwin (69) and Swede Alex Noren (68).
Tommy Fleetwood was a shot further back after his 68 but Paul Lawrie dropped away tamely. He shot an encouraging 69 in the first round but followed that up with a 74 and moved further down the field during yesterday’s early action.
You can be sure I haven’t been anywhere near a football pitch this time