Rory McIlroy, the world’s second-ranked golfer, thinks he ‘only needs a little something’ to snap his major slump as he prepares for the 2024 PGA Championship.
Rory McIlroy, the world’s second-ranked golfer, believes he will need a ‘little bit of something’ to break his major drought.
McIlroy, who turned 35 last week, has three more opportunities this year to break his drought.
You’ll probably be aware that it’s been ten years since McIlroy won one of the major four tournaments.
His last major victory came at the PGA Championship in Valhalla, where he beat Phil Mickelson by one stroke.
McIlroy won by finishing his round in near-complete darkness, and it was his second major victory after winning the 2014 Open at Royal Liverpool.
McIlroy told the Belfast Telegraph that he relies extensively on analytics to tell himself that he is a better golfer now than he was as a bushy-haired 25-year-old.
“There was more volatility in my game back then,” he stated.
He went on to say, “I don’t want to get too into the data stuff, but if you look at my numbers over the last four years and compare them to earlier in my career, yeah, I’m a better player.”
“The results in the big competitions haven’t been consistent, but I’m still working hard.
“I’m a decent enough player to play my way into contention, but when I get there, like on that back nine on Sunday at Valhalla, it just takes a little bit of something.
“At Valhalla, Phil and Rickie [Fowler] were fist-pumping their way to the 12th tee. Whatever it is, just tell yourself a tale to get the fire started.
“Playing for a major championship shouldn’t need you to be on fire. It’s the most significant thing we do. I’m confident that I’m a better player today than I was then.
“And the narrative has been, ‘Rory hasn’t won a major in ten years, so what’s wrong?'”
“But I’ve done everything else in the game over the last ten years. It’s simply a matter of crossing the finish line in one of the big four.”
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McIlroy will return to Valhalla next week.
He told the outlet that his most vivid recollection from back then was seeing Fowler and Mickelson fist-pumping during the final round, which elicited a reaction.
“That almost felt like two-on-one in a way,” he commented. “And I was like, ‘I’m going to get these guys.'”
Before travelling to Louisville, McIlroy will be the headliner at the Wells Fargo Championship.
He’s hoping to win at Quail Hollow for the fourth time.
If he is successful, he will have won 26 PGA Tour titles.