» McIlroy takes conservative approach to shoot 69,
RoryMcIlroy has theword “NASTY” writtenonthesoles of his golf shoes, and he’s talking about “going out swinging” in a bid to end his four-year drought in the majors.
McIlroy wants to be as aggressive as he can at the British Open this week.
It justwasn’t possible Friday.
Cold and wet conditions greeted the early starters in the second round, and McIlroywas forced to tinker with his game plan at Carnoustie, playing conservatively in shooting a 2-under 69 that left him two strokes offZachJohnson’s clubhouse lead at the time.
“It was definitely a day,” McIlroy said, “where you don’t shoot yourself out of the tournament.”
Expect it to be different over the weekend, weather-permitting.
“I’ve been a little bit too careful and tentative when I’ve been in these big tournaments,” the four-time major champion added. “So this week, one of my main thoughts is just to let it go.”
McIlroy was particularly perturbed by hismeek display in the final round of theMasters in April, which he started three shots off the lead and was only one back after two holes. Then his putterwent cold and he stumbled to a closing 74.
He missed the cut at the U.S. Open last month, for the third straight year, after opening with a 10-over 80.
So McIlroy arrived in Scotland pledging to have a bolder mindset, with a nod to his 2007 self. His hair was more curly back then and his body not nearly as chiseled, but his game was bold and he even made the cut as an amateur that year at Carnoustie.
“Sunday at Augustawas a big learning curve again for mebecause, even if I hadn’t won that tournament but I went down swinging and aggressive and committing to every shot, I would have walked away a lot happier,” he said.
“SoI’mcommittedtomaking sure, even if I don’t play my best golf and don’t shoot the scores Iwant, I’m going to go down swinging and I’m going to go down giving it my best ... I’ve sometimes forgotten that, and just need to get back in that mindset.”
McIlroy spoke, too, of his improved mindset in links golf.
“I just kept levelheaded when I needed to,” he said, “andyouknowwhat, Ididn’t let the conditions get to me. I wasn’t sort of saying to myself, ‘Geez, I wishIwason the other side of the draw.’ I just sort of got on with it.”