Rory McIlroy plays alongside Brooks Koepka and Hideki Matsuyama through the first two rounds in Los Angeles; The world number 3 canceled his pre-tournament press conference ahead of the US Open; Watch live Thursday from 3pm on Sky Sports Golf
By Ali Stafford
Rory McIlroy believes he has made “big strides of progress” in his game ahead of his latest attempt to end his nine-year drought at US Open 123.
McIlroy canceled his pre-tournament press conference to avoid a repeat of the previous week at the RBC Canadian Open, where he later described questions about the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour’s surprise partnership with Saudi Arabia’s PIF as the “most uncomfortable” you have felt. for a year.
The former world number 1, who missed the cut at The Masters and failed to compete in the PGA Championship, finished tied for seventh at the Memorial Tournament after a final round of 75 before seeing his hopes of a Historic three-time championship in Canada ended on a disappointing Sunday.
The world number 3 finished ninth in Toronto, his third consecutive top-10 finish on the PGA Tour and fifth in his last eight starts, with McIlroy pleased with the progress he is making heading into the third major of the year. .
“I’d say I’m building something,” McIlroy said. sky sports. I certainly feel much better coming to this big championship than going to Oak Hill.
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“I kind of put it together around Oak Hill and did it well, but the last two shows, minus the two Sundays, have been really big steps forward and it’s just trying to build on that.”
McIlroy won the US Open in 2011, taking a record victory at Congressional Country Club, though he has been unable to add to his tally of four majors since his success at the 2014 PGA Championship.
The Northern Irishman missed three consecutive cuts at the US Open between 2016 and 2018 before finishing in the top 10 in his last four appearances, including a fifth-place appearance during Matt Fitzpatrick’s victory in Brookline last June, giving him gives confidence for this week in California. .
“It’s great to have your name on a trophy like this,” added McIlroy. “He [2011] It feels like a lifetime has passed and I honestly think it’s the best week of hitting the ball I’ve ever had. I don’t know if I’ve hit the ball better than that week.
“I’ve had my ups and downs at this tournament as the years have gone by, but I feel like I’ve figured it out. I’ve started to figure out how to handle the US Open conditions and tests and I think there’s certainly a lot more patience in my game than there used to be.” .
McIlroy, who will partner Brooks Koepka and Hideki Matsuyama for the first two rounds at Los Angeles Country Club, played a solo practice round Tuesday morning and is intrigued by the challenge of the par-70 layout.
Beem: McIlroy ‘should be very upset’ over inter-tour deal
McIlroy admitted before his defense at the Canadian Open last week that he felt like a “sacrificial lamb” and that he still “hated” LIV Golf in responding to the shock declaration of peace in golf’s civil war.
The 34-year-old only found out about the deal the morning the shock deal was announced last week, a decision that shocked players on all tours, and former PGA champion Rich Beem felt McIlroy may feel more battered than most by treatment.
“He’s the one who was really at the forefront and there were a lot of people who got sick of him being there, but he felt it was his duty to go out there and represent the PGA Tour,” Beem said. Sky Sports News.
Will Rory McIlroy be able to end his massive drought this week at the US Open?
“Then suddenly, Ponte Vedra [PGA Tour headquarters] He comes back and says ‘by the way, we’re merging with this group’, it’s like ‘I just did everything for nothing’. I think it hurt her feelings, as it should.
“If it were me, I’d be absolutely furious about it. Fortunately, he’s a bit more level-headed than me, but if there’s anyone in this discussion who should be more upset, I think it’s him.”
Who will win the US Open? Watch the third men’s major of the year exclusively live on Sky Sports. Live coverage begins Thursday from 3pm on Sky Sports Golf.
