Rory McIlroy gets answers to ‘bad habits’ in distance session to give swing boost ahead of PGA Championship | Golf News
Rory McIlroy is confident that the post-round session has “straightened out” his swing as he prepares to enter the PGA Championship, as it did during his title defense at The Masters.
McIlroy saw his hopes of a record-setting Truist Championship title dashed with a third-round 75 on Saturday, his highest score on the PGA Tour since last June, when the Northern Irishman kept hitting left shots.
The world No. 2 hit ‘100 balls’ on the range on Saturday evening to try to control his swing, four weeks after he had a post-round session on the practice area at Augusta National to address a ‘miss left’.
McIlroy’s practice at The Masters helped him recover from a six-shot deficit to win the Green Jacket, while his performance at Quali Hollow saw him bounce back to post a final round 67 ahead of the year’s second major.
“I started hitting it yesterday [Saturday] with everything,” McIlroy admitted after his final round. “I spent a little time with friends last night just trying to straighten it out.
Rory McIlroy is looking to make it back-to-back major wins at the PGA Championship
“On the course this week, the wind was from the left. I think if you hit a lot of balls in the wind from left to right you start pointing a little bit left, your club face can close a little bit to try to fight that wind.
“Hitting balls the last five or six days in that wind from left to right on the range I just started missing the left side of the fairway. I was trying to clear it up a little bit on the range last night, which I felt like I did and hit the ball a lot better.”
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The Sky Sports Golf podcast discusses how Rory McIlroy is the greatest European golfer of all time, following his recent victory at The Masters.
Regarding his swing being compared to The Masters, McIlroy added: “Exactly the same thing, so I’ve just got to work on that. That’s kind of my bad habit at the moment and I’ve got to be aware of it.
“I got a few things. I feel like I got into a few bad habits just because of that wind going from left to right on the range all week, so I corrected that.
“I’m going home tonight, it’s going to be nice, I’ll sleep in my bed and practice at home tomorrow. [Monday]. Try to carry on that feeling and bring that to Philadelphia all week.”
Can Rory McIlroy add another big win at Aronimink Golf Club?
McIlroy had a blister on the little toe on his right foot – under the nail – which left him in a bit of trouble over the weekend at Quail Hollow Club, although he confirmed he will be back to full fitness this week.
Big win coming for McIlroy?
McIlroy will be among the pre-tournament favorites for his second major title of the season and seventh of his career, 12 years removed from his second PGA Championship win.
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Wayne ‘Radar’ Riley looks back on Rory McIlroy’s victory 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 big win, skipping three PGA Tour events after The Players, leading many on social media to argue whether that gave him an unfair advantage.
This idea was quickly dismissed by players and experts, as the entire field of The Masters can play practice rounds during construction, McIlroy also made an early trip to Aronimink before the PGA Championship.
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Highlights of Rory McIlroy’s final round from The Masters, as a one-under 71 won the Northern Irishman a second straight Green Jacket.
When asked if he only visited the PGA Championship site once, McIlroy joked: “No, I stayed there for a week. I just played it every day. I think that’s allowed.”
McIlroy confirmed he made one pre-major trip to the venue and did not keep score, and the six-time major champion now expects to play nine holes on Tuesday and nine on Wednesday before the tournament.
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Watch Rory McIlroy’s bid for back-to-back majors when the PGA Championship gets underway on Thursday, live only on Sky Sports.
“I’m happy about it,” McIlroy said Sky Sports. “I think [Aronimink] it fits my game perfectly. It looks like there will be a lot of drivers, a lot of wedges, especially in the front nine.
“The back nine starts to be a little stronger, but it seems like a course where if you can’t build your score on the front nine, I can see many guys continuing like three or four under. But big, slippery greens – they can move the pins away – so you have to be – your mind is with you.
“I’m excited to go up there and go to the big tournament again.”
Who will win the PGA Championship? Watch all week live on Sky Sports. Live coverage of the opening round begins on Thursday from 12.30pm on Sky Sports Golf. Get Sky Sports or stream without a contract.
