When Rory McIlroy won the PGA Championship back in 2012 for his second major title, it looked like the golfing world had finally found the man who could challenge Tiger Woods both as a golfer and as a face of the sport. Just like Tiger, he dominated in both of his major victories, winning both the US Open and the PGA Championship by eight shots. He was a marketing goldmine as well, as his charisma made him a fan favorite.
But his seemingly unstoppable path to greatness was put to a screeching halt last year when a change in golf equipment and his highly-publicized romance with tennis star Caroline Wozniaki clearly affected his golf game: Rory went winless in 2013.
Lately, however, McIlroy’s golf game has somewhat returned to the form which saw him win two majors in two years. Read on for analysis on Rory McIlroy’s golf game as we dissect his chances in winning his first British Open title, and check out our in-depth breakdown of the entire event here.
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Three Keys to Rory McIlroy’s Performance at the 2014 British Open Golf Championship
Consistency
[sc:Golf240banner ]After a lackluster 2013 during which he struggled mightily with his swing, Rory McIlroy has slowly rediscovered the form that won him two majors so early in his career. In fact, he has been one of the most consistent golfers on the tour this season, carding eight top-10 finishes, punctuated by a victory in the BMW Championship in Wentworth where he shot a 32 on the back nine to overcome a seven-stroke deficit in the final round to win.
He also finished eighth at the Masters but had a disappointing outing at the US Open last month, finishing tied for 23rd with a six-over 286. The most important thing here is he is giving himself chances to close the deal come Sunday afternoon and will be a big threat if he is near the lead next week at Royal Liverpool.
Loving the Links
During a wet and wild 2011 British Open, a then 22-year-old Rory McIlroy, who had just won the U.S. Open a month earlier, issued a statement that raised a few eyebrows among media and golf fans.
“I’m not a fan of golf tournaments that the outcome is predicted so much by the weather,” a visibly irritated McIlroy said after finishing seven-over-par for the tournament and in a tie for 25th. “It’s not my sort of golf.”
It was surprising given McIlroy grew up in Northern Ireland which is also known for its temperamental weather. This year, however, McIlroy has adopted a different mindset to improve his chances of winning his first British Open title.
McIlroy is now following the model set by Mickelson in his successful British Open win last year. Prior to his Open victory, Lefty took part in the Scottish Open where he managed to win the tournament via a playoff over Branden Grace. The momentum and the confidence he took on that victory in Scotland was instrumental in him winning his first British Open title the very next week.
McIlroy took notice of Mickelson’s improvement last year when he was paired with the eventual champion in the first two rounds and he is applying the same method in the hope of replicating Lefty’s win last year.
McIlroy in fact opened his Scottish Open campaign with a stunning round of 64 which was a course record at that time (eventually broken by Felipe Aguilar in the final round with a 63). He then followed that up with a disastrous 78 to fall out of contention but his rounds of 68 and 67 on the weekend will help boost his confidence as he heads to the British Open knowing he has the tools to handle links golf and is the odds-on-favorite to take his first Open title at +1000.
Focus
No doubt McIlroy is one of the most talented golfers in the game but that doesn’t mean he isn’t prone to losing focus once in a while. Evidence of this is his poor performances this year in the second round following some brilliant golf in his opening round.
Apart from his 64 in the Scottish Open last week which was followed by a horrendous 78, he has shot first round 63s in three tournaments this season but he has failed to convert those into victories. He posted those scores in the Dubai Desert Classic in January, the Honda Classic in March and the Memorial Tournament last month but he followed it up with 70 in Dubai and another 78 at the Memorial which doomed his chances.
McIlroy can’t afford those big rounds especially in a major tournament like the British Open. The 2010 British Open is a perfect example of this scenario where McIlroy posted three rounds in the 60s but was sunk by his second-round 80 that left him eight shots back of champion Louis Ooosthuizen as he finished in a tie for third.
Off the course, McIlroy also has been in the news lately with his high-profile break-up with his then fiancée tennis star Caroline Wozniacki. Some have pointed to their relationship as one of the reasons why McIlroy’s golf game dipped last year yet it was still a complete surprise that McIlroy ended their engagement last May.
Questions concerning McIlroy’s state of mind and focus following his break-up with Wozniacki were immediately quashed when he won his first tournament in 18 months at the BMW Championship just days after his announcement.
That steely determination amidst intense scrutiny is what McIlroy needs at this week’s British Open and, based on his response at the BMW Championship last May, he’s got what it takes to bring home his third major crown.
Writer’s Prediction
McIlroy’s good form will continue at Royal Liverpool where he will finish in the top 5 and will be in contention come Sunday for the championship. Create a betting account now and see if you can predict who will come out on top in this year’s British Open.
