After a somewhat difficult start to the PGA Tour’s resumption, former world No 1 Rory McIlroy is eager to deliver an excellent showing at this week’s PGA Championship.
McIlroy has been far from his best since golf took an unexpected break due to the Covid-19 pandemic, during which the Northern Irishman also relinquished his spot at the summit of the Official World Golf Rankings.
A best-placed finish of T11 in recent weeks is a far cry from the consistency McIlroy established prior to the lockdown, when he claimed seven consecutive top-five finishes.
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He reclaimed top spot in the world at the beginning of the year and for a brief period it looked as if he was going to build on something special.
But, McIlroy is now determined to regain that momentum with a solid performance at the first Major of the year.
‘I was playing some really good golf consistently, and then having that three-month break everything sort of changed, everything feels different,’ McIlroy said after a practice round on Wednesday.
Thick rough. Big swing. In the hole.
What a shot from @McIlroyRory at the 2018 @PGAChampionship.pic.twitter.com/5UQrvw3h7s
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 5, 2020
‘My game doesn’t feel that far away. I feel like I’ve played pretty well, I just haven’t got a lot out of my game, I haven’t scored as well as I was doing before the lockdown – I haven’t been efficient as I was back then and my short game hasn’t quite been as sharp.
‘It’s the first Major in over a year and it’s a great week to get back into some form and give it a good run.’
McIlroy has been paired in a highly-exciting grouping for the opening two rounds of the event at TPC Harding Park where he will tee off alongside Tiger Woods and current world No 1 Justin Thomas on Thursday.
READ: JT, Tiger, Rory in one group
