McIlroy's Players' Championship verdict says everything about major desire
Rory McIlroy admits that he needs to produce the goods during the Players Championship this week to give himself the platform to finally win The Masters.
The Northern Irishman, 34, made a storming start to the season but has failed to finish inside the top 20 of any of his last four tour events ahead of this week's tournament at Sawgrass. He's scheduled to play the Valero Texas Open before heading to Augusta National but the Players Championship represents a major opportunity for the World No.2 to build momentum.
McIlroy only needs a green jacket to claim a career grand slam; a feat just six others in the sport have managed. And he was honest enough to admit that a positive week was pretty much a non-negotiable ahead of The Masters.
When McIlroy was asked whether he needed or wanted a good week at the Players, he told reporters: “Both probably. They’ve been middle of the road [finishes], 20th places or whatever it is. I’m not missing cuts but, at the same time, with how I’ve driven the golf ball the last three weeks I should be contending in the tournaments that I’ve played.
“I have this amazing feeling with my woods at the minute, but when I try to recreate that feeling with the irons, it starts left and goes further left.
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“I have a swing thought for my woods and I need a different swing thought for my irons, and that’s what I’ve been working on over the last couple days. I feel like every other part of the game is in great shape.”
McIlroy has recorded 19 top-10 finishes in majors since winning US PGA at Valhalla back in 2014. He won his maiden major at the US Open back in 2011 and has won all of the big-hitters bar The Masters.
Despite his impressive resume, McIlroy himself admits that he is running out of time to clinch that elusive green jacket ahead of his latest bid to do so. His best ever finish at Augusta was second back in 2022.
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McIlroy is aiming to build momentum at Sawgrass ahead of The Masters (Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images)McIlroy added: “Look, I’m under no illusion that the clock is ticking and it has been 10 years since I’ve won one of them, and I’ve had chances, and those just haven’t went my way. I just need to keep putting myself in those positions, and sooner or later it’s going to happen.”
McIlroy also expressed his disappointment at the fact that tournament would be missing major names such as Cameron Smith - the 2022 Players champion - and major holders John Rahm and Brooks Koepka.
“It's the biggest tournament outside of major championship and you don't have all the best players in the world here, that's a shame,” continued McIlroy. “I hope that changes quickly because unfortunately I think fans are losing interest.
“In the wider world of golf I think people will tune in four weeks of the year for the majors, but I would like to think golf can be more relevant than just four weeks a year, so the faster we can try to figure this thing out the better.”
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