Rory McIlroy is confident a post-round range session has “straightened out” his waywardness heading into the PGA Championship, just as it did during his title defence at The Masters.
McIlroy saw his hopes of a record-extending fifth Truist Championship title evaporate with a third-round 75 on Saturday, his highest score on the PGA Tour since last June, where the Northern Irishman kept hitting shots to the left.
The world No 2 hit ‘100 balls’ on the range Saturday evening to try and regain control of his swing, four weeks on from having a post-round session on the practice area at Augusta National to address the ‘left miss’.
Highlights from the final round of The Masters, where Rory McIlroy successfully defended his title
McIlroy’s practice at The Masters helped him recover from losing a six-shot halfway lead to win the Green Jacket, while his work at Quali Hollow saw him bounce back to post a final-round 67 ahead of the second major of the year.
“I started to hit it left yesterday [Saturday] with everything,” McIlroy admitted after his final round. “I spent a good bit of time on the range last night just trying to straighten it out.
Rory McIlroy is looking to claim back-to-back major wins at the PGA Championship
“On the range this week, the wind has predominantly been off the left. I think when you hit a lot of balls in a left-to-right wind you start to aim a little bit left, your club face can get a little bit closed at impact just to try to counteract that wind.
“Hitting balls the last five or six days in that left-to-right wind on the range I just started to miss some left on the course. I was trying to figure it out a little bit on the range last night, which I felt like I did and I hit the ball much better.”
The Sky Sports Golf podcast discusses whether Rory McIlroy is the greatest European golfer ever, following his latest win at The Masters
On how his swing issue compared to The Masters, McIlroy added: “Exact same thing, so just have to straighten that out. That’s sort of my bad habit at the minute and I just have to be aware of it.
“Figured out a couple of things. I feel like I got into a couple of bad habits just because of that left-to-right wind on the range all week, so straightened that out.
“I’m going to go home tonight, which will be nice, spend a night in my own bed and practice at home tomorrow [Monday]. Try to just continue that feel and bring that up to Philadelphia for the rest of the week.”
Can Rory McIlroy add another major win at Aronimink Golf Club?
McIlroy had a blister on his little toe on his right foot – underneath the nail – to leave him in discomfort over the weekend at the Quail Hollow Club, although he confirmed that he would be at full fitness for this week’s major.
More major success to come for McIlroy?
McIlroy will be among the pre-tournament favourites to claim a second major title of the season and seventh of his career, 12 years on from winning the PGA Championship for a second time.
Wayne ‘Radar’ Riley looks back at Rory McIlroy’s win at the 2014 PGA Championship, his fourth major victory
The 37-year-old played several practice rounds at Augusta National in the weeks leading up to last month’s major victory, skipping three PGA Tour events after The Players, with the move leading to many on social media debating whether that gave him an unfair advantage.
The notion was quickly widely dismissed by players and pundits, given all The Masters field can play practice rounds in the build-up, with McIlroy also making an early preparation trip to Aronimink ahead of the PGA Championship.
Highlights of Rory McIlroy’s final round from The Masters, as a one-under par 71 won the Northern Irishman a second straight Green Jacket
When asked if he made just one visit to the PGA Championship venue, McIlroy joked: “No, I lived there for a week. I just played it every day. I think that’s allowed.”
McIlroy confirmed he has only made one pre-major day trip to the venue and didn’t keep score, with the six-time major champion now only expecting to play nine holes on Tuesday and nine on Wednesday ahead of the tournament.
Watch Rory McIlroy’s bid for back-to-back majors when the PGA Championship gets under way on Thursday, live only on Sky Sports
“I’m excited for it,” McIlroy told Sky Sports. “I think it [Aronimink] fits my game pretty well. It seems like there’s going to be a lot of drivers, a lot of wedges, especially on the front nine.
“Back nine starts to get a little tougher, but seems like a course where if you can build your score on the front nine, I can see a lot of guys going on like three or four under. But big, slopey greens – they can tuck the pins away – so you’ve got to have – your wits about you.
“Excited to get up there and have another go at a major championship.”
Who will win the PGA Championship? Watch throughout the week live on Sky Sports. Live coverage from the opening round begins on Thursday from 12.30pm on Sky Sports Golf. Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract.
