Rory McIlroy hesitated for a second, cleared his head and declared that the Irish Open fit his schedule better than it ever has before. Pulling up short of calling the event in previous incarnations a ‘pain’, the world number one admitted that he hadn’t being enjoying his home tournament in the past. But this year’s championship has rekindled more positive feelings.
After his third outing on the course at Royal County Down since he blew out of last week’s PGA Championship event at Wentworth, McIlroy said that he is relaxed as well as physically and mentally prepared for a track that almost all of the players, after Wednesday’s pro-am, were saying was playing tough.
“Four shots tougher than Portrush,” quipped Graeme McDowell.
After playing in the pro-am with Rickie Fowler and Tony McCoy, a breezy McIlroy admitted he was pleased despite the Mourne Mountains shrouded in mist and driving rain almost drowning out his words.
“You know the Irish Open for me was becoming a bit of a . . . I don’t want to say a pain. But it didn’t quite fit the schedule or I just wasn’t enjoying it as much as I could,” said McIlroy.
“Then the European Tour approached us about getting involved and we thought it was a perfect way to really kick-start the foundation (Rory Foundation) and really start to help other people because of who I am and what I do.”
What he is and what he does will unfold over the coming days. With fairways rock hard and difficulty holding the ball up, it could be a wrestle with the elements and the course. McIlroy’s now famous schedule of five tournaments in succession has asked questions of his endurance, mental more than physical. He does not see that as an issue.
Not making the weekend cut at the PGA, he believes, may turn out to be a blessing. He’s had three practice rounds at Royal County Down, not something he has been able to do at any tournament since The Masters.
“I wanted to play last week but I think at the same time having the weekend off will benefit me for this week. I do feel refreshed. I didn’t get out of bed until one o’clock in the afternoon on Saturday,” he said.
“I came here on Sunday and played a quiet 18 holes. I came back on Monday morning and played. I haven’t played three practice rounds for a tournament since The Masters. I really just want to do well this week and it’s given me a bit of extra time, which I think I can use.”
“Yeah honestly,” said the 26-year-old who said he feels fitter and recovers faster than he once did.
“Even if you play four or five weeks in a row, physically you feel fine. It’s more just the mental challenge of trying to keep it at that high level the whole time.
“I think that’s more the challenge and sometimes you need to let yourself come down for a few days. That’s what sort of happened. I just couldn’t really keep it going. But physically I feel fine.”
