RORY MCILROY SAID he went in underprepared to the FedEx Cup play-offs opener The Barclays, after a first-round 73 yesterday.
The previously red-hot world number one, who has won three straight tournaments including The Open Championship and US PGA Championship, carded a three-over-par round at Ridgewood Country Club in New Jersey.
The round saw McIlroy card two bogeys and a double-bogey on his front nine, before two birdies in his final five holes spared him a worse scorecard.
The Irishman said he did not prepare adequately for the FedEx Cup event, although the PGA Tour’s points list leader will make the cut-off for next week’s Deutsche Bank Championship regardless of result at Ridgewood.
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“It’s more to do with just not putting the adequate time into my game over the past week for obvious reasons,” said McIlroy, who is tied for 102nd.
“I think that’s really been it, so I’m going to grab a bit to eat here and go to the range this afternoon and work on a few things and really just catch up on some practice that I probably missed out on over the past week. Missing the weekend is not an option.”
Such is McIlroy’s points tally this season – he has 2582, compared to the 30th-placed Ryan Palmer (1068) – he is even virtually assured of his spot in The Tour Championship in September, regardless of his results over the coming weeks.
But after his lethargic start in New Jersey, McIlroy did not regret celebrating his recent major triumphs.
“It was inevitable, after such a great few weeks – I wanted to enjoy it for a week,” McIlroy said. ”I came here Monday morning, hit some balls, practiced pretty well.
“But I guess taking a week off and sort of getting back into it this week, I probably just needed to give myself a bit more time. But I wasn’t going to do that. I was enjoying myself.”
Phil Mickelson – who shot an even-par 71 to be tied for 56th – said McIlroy will battle mentally to get himself up for the remainder of the season after such a purple patch.
“After you win the [Open] and the [US] PGA, I think it’s going to be hard to get up mentally for any more golf,” the American said. ”That made the year right there. Anything after that is irrelevant I think and I think it’s difficult for him to get up.
“Now he’s such a good player, he’ll end up coming back tomorrow and I would anticipate a low round. But there’s nothing he can do that is going to equal what he’s already done this year.”
Party boy Rory McIlroy lacked preparation, he admits
RORY MCILROY SAID he went in underprepared to the FedEx Cup play-offs opener The Barclays, after a first-round 73 yesterday.
The previously red-hot world number one, who has won three straight tournaments including The Open Championship and US PGA Championship, carded a three-over-par round at Ridgewood Country Club in New Jersey.
The round saw McIlroy card two bogeys and a double-bogey on his front nine, before two birdies in his final five holes spared him a worse scorecard.
The Irishman said he did not prepare adequately for the FedEx Cup event, although the PGA Tour’s points list leader will make the cut-off for next week’s Deutsche Bank Championship regardless of result at Ridgewood.
“It’s more to do with just not putting the adequate time into my game over the past week for obvious reasons,” said McIlroy, who is tied for 102nd.
“I think that’s really been it, so I’m going to grab a bit to eat here and go to the range this afternoon and work on a few things and really just catch up on some practice that I probably missed out on over the past week. Missing the weekend is not an option.”
Such is McIlroy’s points tally this season – he has 2582, compared to the 30th-placed Ryan Palmer (1068) – he is even virtually assured of his spot in The Tour Championship in September, regardless of his results over the coming weeks.
But after his lethargic start in New Jersey, McIlroy did not regret celebrating his recent major triumphs.
“It was inevitable, after such a great few weeks – I wanted to enjoy it for a week,” McIlroy said. ”I came here Monday morning, hit some balls, practiced pretty well.
“But I guess taking a week off and sort of getting back into it this week, I probably just needed to give myself a bit more time. But I wasn’t going to do that. I was enjoying myself.”
Phil Mickelson – who shot an even-par 71 to be tied for 56th – said McIlroy will battle mentally to get himself up for the remainder of the season after such a purple patch.
“After you win the [Open] and the [US] PGA, I think it’s going to be hard to get up mentally for any more golf,” the American said. ”That made the year right there. Anything after that is irrelevant I think and I think it’s difficult for him to get up.
“Now he’s such a good player, he’ll end up coming back tomorrow and I would anticipate a low round. But there’s nothing he can do that is going to equal what he’s already done this year.”
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