McIlroy in hunt for title even without his ‘A’ game
As Rory McIlroy hunts his fifth tournament win of the year at the Tour Championship, his rivals could well feel a sense of foreboding that the world No 1 is tied for the lead despite not playing at his best.
Just as Tiger Woods in his heyday used to intimidate his peers by contending for titles even when not possessing his ‘A’ game, McIlroy has swept to the top of the leaderboard without playing at his best.
‘‘It gives me a lot of confidence knowing that even when my golf game isn’t feeling 100 per cent, I can still tee it up and get it around, grind the score out,’’ McIlroy said after shooting a threeunder par 67 in yesterday’s third round.
‘‘Today could have been a 71 or a 72, but all of a sudden it’s a 67 and I’m tied for the lead. I think that really just comes from experience, and not pushing too hard.
‘‘The last few weeks, I definitely haven’t played the sort of golf that I’ve played over the couple of months . . . but I’m still able to get myself up to the top of the leaderboard and you can only take confidence from that.’’
McIlroy, who has already enjoyed a brilliant 2014 campaign, clinching two major titles among four wins worldwide, mixed three birdies with two bogeys and an eagle at the par-five 15th to end the day level with American Billy Horschel.
Good friends who teed off together yesterday, they will again be paired in today’s final round at East Lake, where the PGA Tour’s season finale, FedExCup honours and a mind-boggling bonus of US$10 million are on the line.
For McIlroy, however, another tournament win and a first ever FedExCup crown are all that matters. The money is incidental.
‘‘I don’t think I’ve ever thought about money on the golf course,’’ said the 25-year-old, who won back-to-back majors this season at the British Open and PGA Championship, sandwiched around his victory at the WGCBridgestone Invitational.
McIlroy is one of just five players in the elite field of 29 at East Lake automatically guaranteed the overall playoff prize if he wins the Tour Championship, as is Horschel.
Rory McIlroy, front, or Billy Horschel were tied for the lead at the PGA Tour’s season-ending Tour Championship.