Rory’s attitude adjustment
Rory refusing to panic as winless streak continues
THIS time last year, Rory McIlroy played alongside Tiger Woods in the first round of the Genesis Open and reckoned it was like being handed a two-shot penalty, given all the noise and hoopla.
Relishing the opportunity for a spot of mischief, tournament host Woods made a pointed reference when he sent Rory a text recently offering a repeat engagement today.
‘Tiger asked me what I thought about walking the fairways with him again, and giving a two-shot head start to everyone else,’ said McIlroy, breaking into a broad smile. ‘Tiger never forgets.’
Three months shy of reaching 30, and two months before another tilt at the career Grand Slam, McIlroy ramps up his Masters preparations here with the first of four events over the next five weeks.
In a marked departure, there’s no talk of targeting a win or two, or any trace of impatience at the fact it’s almost 12 months since his last victory.
‘It’s not hard at all to stay patient,’ insisted McIlroy, during a stroll around Riviera on Tuesday. ‘It might have been in the past but it’s far easier now.
‘I look at my game and I like what I see on a week-to-week basis. Sure, there are things to improve but my results show I’m in contention practically every time I play, so what is there to complain about? Sooner or later, the door will open.’
McIlroy’s laid-back attitude has been prompted by reading a number of motivational self-help books, the latest of which is David and Goliath, by Malcolm Gladwell.
Over the years, he’s probably played both roles, with the all-conquering Goliath of 2014 morphing towards David of late, as he tries to cast a stone at the likes of Brooks Koepka and Justin Rose.
‘I like to have David’s mentality but there’s obvious advantages to being Goliath as well,’ he said.
As he approaches his milestone birthday, McIlroy has found a new way to assess his career. ‘You’ll hear me talk a lot now about it being a 25-year journey and that’s the way to look at it, rather than worry about the here and now,’ he said.
‘Look at Phil Mickelson. He might be the ultimate example of someone who has stayed the course. He never got bogged down after setbacks or fretted about not winning his first major until he was 33. Now look at him, winning his 44th PGA Tour title at 48. What a fabulous achievement.’
As we approach the final hole, Rory the competitor shows himself. A little side-bet with caddie Harry Diamond, with the loser paying for dinner, hinges on whether McIlroy can get down in two from a tricky lie beside the severely sloping green. McIlroy made it look easy, chipping stone dead. ‘I should have given him the wrong club,’ said Harry. ‘Get your wallet out, Diamond,’ laughed McIlroy.
‘It looks like we’re having a 1982 Chateau Latour tonight.’
This is the sort of laid-back Rory we want to see at Augusta.
Woods will be hoping 13 proves to be his lucky number as he seeks to fill in one of the few gaps on his incredible golfing CV.
At the 1992 Los Angeles Open, Woods made his PGA Tour debut as a 16-year-old schoolboy, but he has never tasted victory at the iconic Riviera. This tournament is the only one where Woods has made 10 appearances or more without a victory. His best results in 12 starts were runners-up finishes in 1998 and 1999.
Woods also missed the cut at Riviera last year after rounds of 72 and 76, but that was still early on in his comeback from spinal fusion surgery. McIlroy and Woods tee off with Justin Thomas at 8.22pm Irish time. Seamus Power is the only other Irishman in action and he will get his round underway half an hour earlier.
Six of the world’s top 10 are in the field along with world No 16 and defending champion Bubba Watson, who is seeking a remarkable fourth win here in the last six years.