Golfer Rory McIlroy has expressed a feeling of being “limited” in his driving game, acknowledging the need for significant improvement before his upcoming US Open campaign. The athlete concluded the Memorial Tournament in a tie for 12th place, with a score of four under par. He shared this position with fellow Ryder Cup competitor Justin Rose and the current world number one, Scottie Scheffler.
Driving Woes Plague McIlroy’s Preparation
While McIlroy feels confident about most aspects of his game leading into the third major championship of the year, which commences on June 18th, he voiced his frustration regarding his performance off the tee at Muirfield Village. During the tournament, he managed to find only 30 out of 56 fairways. Despite this challenge, the six-time major champion finds some comfort in the prospect of easier driving conditions at Shinnecock Hills.
Assessing the Memorial Tournament Performance
When asked to evaluate his week at the Memorial Tournament, McIlroy described it as a mixed bag. “It was sort of like two steps forward, one step back,” he stated. “Off the tee still wasn’t where I want it to be. I feel limited at the minute. Thankfully the fairways at Shinnecock are a little wider than they are here.”
He elaborated on his focus for the coming week, saying, “I need to work on how I’m hitting it off the tee. But everything else, (my) putting felt pretty good for the most part and my iron play and wedges were pretty nice.”
McIlroy plans to dedicate the next few days to refining his game. “I’ll just try to keep getting a little bit better each and every day heading into Shinnecock.”
Following his participation in the Memorial Tournament, McIlroy returned home on Sunday evening. His itinerary includes a return to the United States over the weekend, with the intention of heading directly to Long Island, New York, the venue for the US Open.
Looking Ahead to the Championship
Reflecting on his recent performance, McIlroy noted, “Overall, (it was) not a bad week, got some good stuff out of it, and I’ve got a week to prep and get ready for Shinnecock.” The golfer’s focus now shifts entirely to addressing his driving concerns and preparing for the major championship.
