MCILROY RUSTY BUT READY TO PLAY AFTER FOUR-WEEK LAYOFF
Rory McIlroy’s season begins anew this week. Again. The world’s No. 2-ranked player is making his third comeback this year, the latest beginning Thursday in the first round of the U.S. Open at Erin Hills. All because of a nagging stress fracture of a rib he suffered when he finished second in the South African Open in January.
The four-time major champion missed seven weeks as the rib began to heal, making his first comeback in the World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship, where he tied for seventh. He played two tournaments heading into the Masters, but after finishing in a tie for seventh at Augusta National, he was forced to the sideline for four weeks to allow more time to heal.
His second comeback came in The Players Championship, where he tied for 35th. Erring on the side of caution, McIlroy decided to take another four weeks off.
In all, he’s played six times since the calendar hit 2017.
“I’m feeling better,” the 2011 U.S. Open champion said Tuesday. “Obviously I’ve had a few weeks off to try and rest this injury that I’ve had all year, but I feel good. I’ve played, over the past 10 days, eight or nine rounds of golf. I’m totally fine to play. I don’t feel it at all. ...
“I miss playing golf. When you’re away from it, you realize how much you miss it, how much you love it and how lucky you are being able to play this game for a living, and I just want to get back to that.”
And stay there this time. Everything off the golf course is going great — he marred Erica Stoll in an elaborate, intimate wedding at Ashford Castle in Ireland two weeks before The Players and signed with TaylorMade for $100 million over 10 years the week of The Players.
On the course, McIlroy, 28, said he thinks everything will get right again after his latest absence. The weeks of rehab are over. His short game got tons of work as he was limited in the number of full swings he could take during his time away. He said there are no limitations. He’s ready to play seven tournaments in nine weeks. But there is a hint of concern. He’s not sharp. He said there’s no way to simulate competition in the pro ranks by playing prac- tice rounds, that certain situations arise in tournaments that just don’t pop up playing with your buddies.
But he has tried. McIlroy said he played one ball in Sunday’s practice round, telling himself it was the first round of the tournament. He shot 69.
“Obviously, I haven’t had many tournament rounds under my belt,” he said. “But at the same time I’m coming in fresh to this part of the season. Hopefully it doesn’t take me too long to get into that (a playing rhythm) again, and I can get off to a fast start here.”
It’s a tall ask, his good friend and reigning Masters champ Sergio Garcia said.
“We know the qualities that Rory possesses and how good a player he is. But I’d be lying to you if I didn’t tell you that it does hurt him a little bit because he hasn’t had much continuance on his playing,” Garcia said. “Obviously, practicing and all is great, but you need competition golf. And you need to feel those juices that you feel when you have a chance of winning a tournament or you have to make a putt to get a round going or make a cut or something like that.
“But at the same time, he’s a wonderful player. We all know how much quality he has. ... At the end of the day, it all comes down to commitment. And when you’re playing a little bit more, it’s easier to commit because you’re in a situation. But I’m sure he’s had some good practices and he’ll be as ready as he can be on Thursday.”
He was ready the first two days when he made his first comeback in Mexico, where he shot 68-65 to take a two-shot lead into the weekend. But his layoff caught up to him, he didn’t swing as freely on the weekend when in contention and faded in the final two rounds. He said he took confidence in how he came back that week but added that the WGCMexico Championship is not the U.S. Open.
Still, he likes Erin Hills, where he said his driver will be the No. 1 weapon in his bag and gives him an advantage on most in the field. The course allows for aggressive play, which plays right up his alley. And the course could play soft and long because of impending rain — the same conditions he faced when he won all four of his majors.
“I don’t feel like my body is limiting me from doing what I want to do out there. It’s just a matter of being able to do it,” he said. “If I play the way that I know I can, I fully expect to have a chance on Sunday.”