In normal circumstances, Rory McIlroy returning to a scene of triumph would be cause for deep reflection. McIlroy finished in darkness at Valhalla when claiming the US PGA Championship of 2014, in what provided a theatric backdrop to his fourth and hitherto last success in one of golf’s majors. McIlroy landed back in Louisville, Kentucky, this week with back-to-back PGA Tour wins to his name.
These are no ordinary times. A McIlroy media appearance on the eve of this US PGA lasted a mere nine minutes and seven questions from a packed floor. The appearance of news on Tuesday that 24 hours earlier the 35-year-old had filed for divorce from his wife of seven years has suddenly distorted the scene around McIlroy. On Sunday, McIlroy stood with trophy aloft at Quail Hollow after a dominant closing 18 holes.
It was made plain he would make no comment on his private life, a mantra to which he stuck firmly. “I’m ready to play this week,” was McIlroy’s businesslike reply when asked simply how he was feeling.
If it seems a pity it has come to this, it must also be remembered McIlroy has form for thriving inside the ropes when there is noise elsewhere. He played some of the finest golf of his career in 2022 while basically fronting the PGA Tour’s war against LIV. In 2014, he announced the end of his engagement to Caroline Wozniacki days before winning on Wentworth’s West Course. Two majors swiftly followed. This touch continued into the early part of 2015, when the Northern Irishman had been embroiled in a costly court battle with his former management firm. When recent joy in New Orleans and Charlotte is factored in, evidence points strongly towards McIlroy prominence here.
“I feel good,” McIlroy said. “Obviously had a great day on Sunday at a golf course that I’ve grown to love over the years and had a lot of success at, coming to a venue where I’ve had some success at before as well.
“I get to go back to Quail Hollow every year. Don’t really get to come back here too much. Today was the first time I was on the golf course since 10 years ago, so it was good to refamiliarise myself with the place. The golf course is a little different than it was 10 years ago, a little longer. A couple of little minor changes but for the most part pretty much the same that I can remember from 10 years ago.
“But, look, [my] game feels good coming off the back of two wins, a fun one in New Orleans with Shane [Lowry, at the Zurich Classic team event] and then a really good performance last week. I think it’s all about confidence and momentum. I have a lot of confidence and quite a bit of momentum coming into this week.”
Xander Schauffele, whom McIlroy swatted aside for his five-stroke win on Sunday, seemed able to compute what had transpired. Schauffele said: “If someone would have told me I’d shoot four under at Quail Hollow on Sunday and lose … it’s just a testament to how good Rory played. When someone like him is firing on all cylinders, he’s a tough man to beat.”
One topic McIlroy was characteristically effusive on was the state of golf. Days after it emerged he had in effect been blocked from rejoining the PGA Tour’s policy board came the resignation of Jimmy Dunne. The American businessman had been viewed as hugely influential in respect of existing tours forming an agreement with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. Without such a deal, LIV and the PGA Tour will operate on totally different paths.
“Honestly I think it’s a huge loss for the PGA Tour if they are trying to get this deal done with the PIF and trying to unify the game,” said McIlroy of Dunne’s exit. “Jimmy was basically the relationship, the conduit between the PGA Tour and the PIF. It’s been really unfortunate that he has not been involved for the last few months and I think part of the reason that everything is stalling at the minute is because of that.
“So it’s really, really disappointing. I think the tour is in a worse place because of it. We’ll see. We’ll see where it goes from here and we’ll see what happens but I would say my confidence level on something getting done before last week was as low as it had been. Then with this news of Jimmy resigning, knowing the relationship he has with the other side and how much warmth there is from the other side, it’s concerning.” Eric Nicoli, the chairman of the European Tour Group, is one option to replace Dunne.
McIlroy touched on his practice routine and he assessed the relative failure of European golfers in this major. And with that, he was off. Back alone with thoughts he understandably has no desire to share.
