A total of 31 days have passed since the Pinehurst collapse; is too soon for a Rory McIlroy renaissance at Royal Troon?
This year’s Open had looked set to be the one when finally the Northern Irishman no longer had to field questions about when a next major win might follow 10 years after the last.
But then those horrible putts inside four feet failed to make their mark and the questions still linger large.
McIlroy may simply be a remarkably good actor but his has been a sunny disposition since arriving in Scotland first for the Scottish Open – where he finished fourth – and now for the final major of 2024. And he has tried to exude the impression that all is well both in his head and in his game, although it takes a stretch to fully believe he is over it, such was the agony of the US Open and his immediate disappearance in a waiting car moments later.
The 35-year-old is adamant it was days rather than weeks that it took him to get over the pain, the missed opportunities, the what might have been.
After a night spent at home, he escaped to New York for a few days where, ear pods in and cap on, and went around largely unnoticed by his fellow tourists.
Now, he finds himself back in the familiar territory, in the firing line about the ones that got away on the biggest stage and when major No5 might finally materialise.
“It doesn’t bother me,” he said of such talk ahead of tomorrow’s start when he will tee off in a group with Max Homa and Tyrrell Hatton.
“I know that I’m in a good spot. If I think about 2015 through 2020, that five-year stretch I seldom had a realistic chance to win a major championship in that five-year period.
“So, I’d much rather have those close calls. It means that I’m getting closer. I’d love to be able to play the golf and get one over the line but, as soon as I do that, people are going to say, ‘Well, when are you going to win your sixth’? So, it’s never ending.”
Among those to have sent messages of support were Tiger Woods, who found himself in an unlikely spat with Colin Montgomerie yesterday, which McIlroy unknowingly ignored having decided to change his phone number in the aftermath of Pinehurst.
“So, I blanked Tiger Woods, which is probably not a good thing,” he said. “But I caught up with him earlier. It’s always nice when your hero and the guy that you had on your bedroom wall is reaching out and offering words of encouragement.”
It’s one thing to say all is fine, another to pose a challenge for the Claret Jug over four days. As for where his game and mind are will become clear in the ensuing days.
Whether it’s the truth or he is simply trying to convince himself, he said: “Game’s in really good shape. Had a nice reset after Pinehurst that was needed and felt like I shook off a little bit of the rest last week [at the Scottish Open] and played okay.
“I felt like I probably could have given myself more of a chance to win the tournament. I thought it was a solid week. Again, it’s like one eye on preparing for this week but another eye on trying to get into contention as well. It’s felt nice to get back over here and get back into the swing of things.”
Will the next four days finally be the time when he puts both Pinehurst and all the questions fully to bed?
