Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
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AS Rory Mcilroy tries to put all pieces of the puzzle together and claim a fifth major title at this week’s US Open, he has received a vote of confidence from his putting mentor.
Brad Faxon, probably the best putter in the world during the 1990s, rates Mcilroy as “one of the best players of all-time” and believes his next major win is a matter of when, not if.
But it is now 13 majors and counting since Mcilroy lifted the 2014 PGA Championship at Valhalla, and the scorecard does not lie.
Even winning regular tournaments has been tough over the past 18 months for the Holywood man, who has tasted victory only once since the 2016 Tour Championship.
Nonetheless, he will start among the favourites at Shinnecock Hills, where he has already been embedded for more than week.
“Rory’s got more potential than anybody,” said Faxon.
“He’s got the most complete game I’ve ever seen. (He can hit the ball) long, high, low, right, left, and he’s good around the greens.”
Maybe so, but mediocre putting has prevented Mcilroy from closing the deal more regularly. He was given a pep talk by Faxon before the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March and proceeded to putt like a master.
After shooting a closing 64 at Bay Hill in Florida to storm to victory, he was quick to credit Faxon.
“(He) freed up my head more than my stroke,” said Mcilroy.
Faxon, for his part, is modest about his involvement, saying Mcilroy had already set in motion the wheels of success.
“He had already made two changes,” Faxon said. “He went to a longer putter, and felt better with an open stance.
“He told me that’s something he wanted to do, how he putted when he won his four majors.
“How am I going to say ‘no, that’s not a good idea’?”
Last time out, Mcilroy barely made the cut at the Memorial tournament before rallying to tie for eighth.
“I’m happy enough with that and feel like I’ve seen a lot of good stuff over the last couple of days to give me encouragement heading into the US Open,” he said after his final round.
“So my game feels pretty good. A long as I can keep the ball in play at Shinnecock, I feel like I’ll have a good chance.”