McIlroy has FedExCup target

Rory McIlroy heads into this weekend’s Deutsche Bank Championship confident that he still has a chance of claiming FedExCup play-off honours.
The world number four is currently in 36th place on the points table, but with a large number points available for winning in the play-off stages and then a re-set ahead of the final event, positions at the top of the leaderboard can still change dramatically.
Any player that is in the top five when the season-ending Tour Championship takes place from September 19-22 goes into the event with the knowledge that a victory in Atlanta will hand them the FedExCup and the tournament purse of $10million.
Although the Ulsterman knows that he will need a marked improvement in his results in the final weeks of the season after enduring a torrid time in 2013 so far, he hasn’t thrown in the towel yet.
“What I’m trying to get out of this week is just trying to move up in the FedExCup,” he told reporters on Thursday.
“Going into the little week break that we have next week, playing myself into a nice position, then I can go into Chicago and play well and maybe get myself into the top five in the standings … so I actually have a chance to still win the thing going into Atlanta.
“I know I’ll need to produce a couple of really good finishes to do that, but I feel like I’m playing well enough to do that.
“I’ve played pretty well at times this year. Five top 10s (on the PGA Tour), and I feel like my game is definitely running into a little bit of form.
“I don’t think there’s anything wrong.”
“I guess I’m a victim of my own success at times. But I know how well I can play … and I want to get back to that level,” added the double major winner.
“All I want to do is just keep trying to improve my position. I’d love to make a big jump this week, and obviously jump into the sort of competitive places going into the Tour Championship.”
Latest
-
PGA Championship
Graeme Storm recalls ‘surreal’ US PGA adventure after battle with Rory McIlroy
His famous victory over McIlroy came on the third extra hole in the 2017 South African Open in Johannesburg
-
PGA Tour
Lee Kyoung-Hoon shoots his lowest round on the tour to retain Texas title
Dallas-born Jordan Spieth went close with a chip for eagle on the 18th which would have forced a play-off.
-
European Tour
Sam Horsfield ‘so happy’ after winning Soudal Open to secure another title
Horsfield overcame overnight leader Ryan Fox in a thrilling final-round battle.
-
PGA Championship
Justin Rose still has drive to succeed as ‘exciting challenge’ of US PGA arrives
Rose won the US Open in 2013 and Olympic gold in Rio three years later, but has not tasted victory since February 2019.
-
PGA Championship
Tiger Woods will expect to do better at US PGA Championship – Curtis Strange
Woods returned to top-level action after a long injury absence with a 47th-placed finished at the Masters.
-
PGA Championship
Defending champion Phil Mickelson withdraws from US PGA Championship
The six-time major winner has been taking a break from golf.
-
PGA Tour
English rookie David Skinns shares lead in Texas
The 40-year-old from Lincoln shot a second-round 63 in the AT&T Byron Nelson.
-
PGA Championship
Jordan Spieth looking for career grand slam at US PGA Championship
The presence or absence of defending champion Phil Mickelson which will dominate the conversation at Southern Hills.
-
PGA Championship
5 contenders to win the US PGA Championship
Tiger Woods could contend for victory in Tulsa.
-
News
We’ve got your back – Greg Norman promises to defend players on breakaway tour
Phil Mickelson and Lee Westwood are among the professionals to have asked for the required release to play the first event at Centurion Club.