YOU’LL NEVER GET THAT IN THE HOLE, PEP!
After bingeing on a Billions box set and wine.. Man United fan Rory says he needs a Major victory to get over his Masters meltdown
RORY McILROY believes he needs to win another Major this season to banish the memory of his latest Masters meltdown.
The Ulsterman revealed he spent a week binge-watching TV show Billions and drinking wine to get over his closing 74 in the final group at Augusta.
And the world No.8 said he has “struggled” with his swing as he “hit six or seven balls into the water” in his two tournaments since.
Back in the UK for the BMW PGA at Wentworth, McIlroy (right) claimed he is “close” to his best and the Masters was already in his “rear-view mirror”.
But the four-time Major winner said: “These things happen. It’s not as if I had the lead. I was three shots behind. It was always going to be a tough task to make that up.
“But I gave myself a chance at the first Major of the year. It didn’t happen. I’ve got three more to go this year and I think if I could add to my Major tally this year, that Sunday afternoon at Augusta would be long forgotten and you’d move on and just concentrate on next year.” McIlroy, who will play the US Open next month, had two top-three finishes in the Gulf and won the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March, but has also missed three cuts on the PGA Tour. “I guess the good has been very good and the bad has been worse than I would want it to be,” said the 29-year-old. “It’s been a little more inconsistent than I would want it to be.”
McIlroy’s performances at Wentworth have been equally hot and cold.
He has missed the cut here four times out of eight – and won in 2014 days after dumping his then fiancee Caroline Wozniacki. He went on to win two Majors that summer. “I guess all you need is that spark or that catalyst,” he said. “I felt like my game was trending in the right direction in 2014, but didn’t quite have the win. “I’ve got a busy summer coming up. Maybe this could be the spark that gets that all going again.” McIlroy has this week been ranked the most famous British athlete by ESPN ahead of footballers Gareth Bale and Wayne Rooney. Earlier this month he was named as the richest person under 30. “I just try to live my life the way I normally would – I never dreamed of being famous,” he added. “I never wanted to be famous. I wanted to be known for my golf and that was it.”