McIlroy ready for Honda

Rory McIlroy is excited about this week’s Honda Classic and has vowed there will be no ‘toothache’ repeat.
In 2012, McIlroy won the Honda Classic and claimed the world number one spot as a result. Then last year, the Northern Irishman walked off the course citing a bad toothache for his perilous drop in form.
“You should never walk off the golf course, no matter how bad things are,” McIlroy reflected.
“It was just one of those days, I just felt like I couldn’t cope with anything more, especially not the way I was heading; I was going to shoot 90, the last thing I needed.”
At that stage, the youngster was dealing with new media pressure and after he changed all his clubs, he was about to enter legal issues.
“There was a lot of things going on at that time,” continued the 24-year-old.
“My game wasn’t where I wanted it to be. My mental state wasn’t quite where I needed it to be. There were a few things occupying my thoughts that probably didn’t need to be and shouldn’t have been, but it was just a very difficult time.”
Despite being knocked out in just the second round of the recent WGC-Accenture Match Play and slipping to eighth in the world rankings, the two-time Major winner is feeling much happier with his game than last season.
“It’s so much different this year. I’m much more comfortable. I’m in a better place, and I feel like my game is in a good place, and everything else can sort of fall in line with that.’
“I really can’t wait to get back to The Honda. It is one of my favourite events of the year and winning in 2012 was an important landmark in my career.
“Having a place in Palm Beach now also gives the tournament a kind of special feeling – nearly like a home event,” concluded the two-time major winner.
Latest
-
News
Steve Stricker makes Padraig Harrington sweat as Irishman wins US Senior Open
The pair were rival captains in last year’s Ryder Cup in Wisconsin.
-
News
Golfers warned of further sanctions if they continue to play in LIV breakaway
The DP World Tour has issued fines of £100,000 and tournament bans to its members who played in the inaugural LIV Golf event earlier this month
-
European Tour
DP World Tour hits members who played inaugural LIV series with £100,000 fines
They have also been banned from several forthcoming tournaments including the Scottish Open.
-
News
Rory McIlroy not impressed as Brooks Koepka becomes latest big name to join LIV
The world number two labelled the players who have joined the new series as “duplicitous” for the way they have handled their breakaway.
-
The Open
R&A confirms LIV Golf Series players will be allowed to compete at Open
The 150th Open Championship will get underway at St Andrews in three weeks’ time.
-
US Open
Matt Fitzpatrick turns to other major winners for advice on dealing with fame
Fitzpatrick won the US Open on Sunday.
-
News
Brooks Koepka set to join Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series
Koepka’s brother Chase played in the opening event at Centurion Club earlier this month.
-
US Open
Gary Player urges Matt Fitzpatrick to avoid ‘poison’ of modern-day coaching
Player tells US Open champion Fitzpatrick to learn from mistakes of recent major winners, saying: “The teaching today is the worst it has ever been.”
-
US Open
Matt Fitzpatrick’s caddie Billy Foster ready for ‘long party’ after US Open win
Foster won his first major after a 40-year career which includes spells working for the likes of Seve Ballesteros, Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke.
-
US Open
Matt Fitzpatrick backed to become a dominant force after winning first major
The Englishman claimed his first major title at Brookline.