'ROBOT' ROTY FACES MAJOR FRUSTRATION

RORY McILROY can forget about winning another Major until he sorts out his “robotic” putting, according to top golf coach Butch Harmon.

McIlroy’s preparations for The Open at Royal Birkdale are in tatters after he missed the cut at both the Scottish Open and Irish Open this month.

The four-time Major champ also bowed out of the US Open last month for the second year running after just two rounds.

McIlroy is still adjusting to his new TaylorMade equipment and has not played as much this year following a rib injury in January.

But his biggest problem is on the greens.

McIlroy even ended up playing with three different putters at the Travelers Championship in America last month.

He is ranked in the top 15 on the European Tour for both driving distance and stroke average but is down at 107th for putting, with an average of 29.6 per round.

Harmon (above) said: “Rory tee to green is playing very well but he’s really struggling with his putting.

“As soon as he

DUSTIN TIME FOR MAC

RORY McILROY will partner world No.1 Dustin Johnson in the first two rounds of the The Open.

McIlroy will play alongside the American and South Africa’s Charl Schwartzel in a group that gets under way straightens out his putting I think he’s going to be fine.

“It will have been a huge disappointment for him at the Irish Open.

“He doesn’t look relaxed, he doesn’t have the flow he had when he was winning all those championships.

“It’s almost like everything’s too precise, he’s trying to make everything perfect.

“In the last month and a half, every time I’ve watched him he’s looked very robotic with his putting. He doesn’t look relaxed or confident.

“I think he’ll get back to basics, back to when he putted well when he was winning. “Like all good players he’ll look at film – they have so much stuff on TV – to see what it looked like when he putted better. As soon as he does this and putts better I think he’ll win again.

“He’s hitting the ball well, he just needs to sort his putting out which I’m sure he will do by the time he gets to Southport.”

Sky Sports will show The 146th Open Championship exclusively live as part of a summer of sport that includes Formula 1, England cricket and more. at 2.48pm on Thursday. Defending champion Henrik Stenson will partner former world No.1 Jordan Spieth.

The first tee shot will be hit at 6.35am by Mark O’Meara, winner at Royal Birkdale in 1998.