McIlroy slump impossible to ignore

FORMER PGA Tour pro Brandel Chamblee, chief analyst for the Golf Channel in America, appeared to be sticking the boot in last week when he said Rory McIlroy was further away than ever from rekindling past glories. The trouble is, the facts support his argument.

The latest world rankings show Tommy Fleetwood achieving a new landmark by moving inside the top ten for the first time, with McIlroy moving the other way to 12th.

You have to go back to the 2010 Masters to find the last time McIlroy was ranked so low.

Combine that with the fact that he’s enduring the longest winless run of his career, and no wonder Chamblee was so forthright.

What’s more interesting, though, is how McIlroy responds — for he usually emerges squeaky clean when people start throwing mud at him.

He’s playing at the Valspar Championship in Florida this week, the first of three consecutive events before a one-week break leading to the Masters, and I’m looking forward to seeing something approaching the real Rory.

One thing’s for sure, though. If he’s still 12th in the world after the Masters, there will be repercussions.