Rory McIlroy - 4 Time Major Winner

We're talking about execution though not luck. Rory hit the bunker exactly how he wanted and would have had a tap in either way, Scottie didn't execute his exactly as intended, but it was meant to take the possibility of it coming back to his feet out of play and it did, so job done, going in was lucky, no two ways about it.

Rory did very well yesterday but it’s another example of playing well without pressure when he wasn’t expected to do much, nice confidence booster, but he’s misfortune to be born in an era of everything being ridiculously over analysed, “here’s Rory getting the clubs out of the boot, and he’s dropped his 9 iron on the way to the locker room whilst eating a banana”. We have butch in the commentary box, how do you think that will affect his confidence? “Well Nick, no one has won the masters after dropping a 9 iron in the car park since Gene Sarazen in 1935” and he wasn’t eating a banana at the time” I know that’s exaggerated but there are some ridiculous statements made as to his mental state or confidence levels, pure psychological muck. And on top of it you have people like Andrew coltart who was a very limited player, acting like he won 5 majors. The perspective is missing from lots of coverage, and while I don’t think Rory is being criticised for finishing second, there are people out there that just don’t like him, and seize opportunities to spin everything he does as a negative result.

I agree with most of this for sure, my frustration with him is that on ability level he is elite class, yet you have him making wrong decisions in the heat of battle, and often making problems for himself, yesterday he got the absolute most he could have got from that round, and was only one shot per round away from winning, but he left a few behind on Friday, I am a casual golf fan, but one thing I will say about him is how polite and courteous he is in interviews and interacting with fans, also we are not supposed to discuss nationality as far as I know, but the criticism of Mcilroy mostly comes from southern armchair republicans who would struggle with the day to day situation in Northern Ireland, it’s still a very difficult place to navigate without offending someone, and it’s absolutely no fault of his. When he did play the Olympics he competed very well and got to the bronze medal playoff, so that should have put that issue to bed, also his on course behaviour and respect for the game is very high, I have seen him interact with rules officials and referees and discuss and accept the outcome without any bother, also 32 years old, loads of time, and plenty of ability so hopefully lots more to come

May well have done, it’s been a bad habit for quite a while, but lots of golfers do that, it’s not an easy game, Scheffler didn’t win on the PGA tour until February of this year, and Zalatoris never has, and they are only 2 examples, yesterday was very positive whatever your take on it, and as I have already said, he got the lowest possible score he could have shot, and played very well without much pressure on him, the flip side is his undoubted ability, and the possibility of more consistent all round displays

Such a hot take

Look he made mistakes when he was young, he was very opinionated and some people don't like that. Then the delay on deciding who he'd say for in the Olympics was another thing that created detractors.

The fact he saved and increased the profile of the Irish Open never gets much attention, the fact he financially supports Provincial rugby doesn't get any media coverage and the fact he's an Ireland rugby supporter never gets any media attention.

The sad thing in this country is that some people are jealous of anyone who has great success and scramble to find a reason not to like them.

Open a crap shoot?

So Tom Watson, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Nick Faldo, Seve Ballesteros and Tiger Woods were just lucky to win it a couple of times each?

Gary Player went seven years where he only won one major. Gene Sarazrn went nine years without winning one. Lee Trevino won his sixth ten years after his fifth.

There's no defining when somebody will win one or multiple majors. McIlroy could well win more in his thirties than he did in his twenties.

I've shown you that golfers have won after a long time not winning majors. I mentioned some of the greatest players ever.

Who was the last shock winner of the British Open. Maybe Darren Clarke in 2011? Before that was Ben Curtis in 2003.

How about the Masters? Willett 2016 and Schwartzel in 2011 maybe?

US Open? Glover 2009 and Campbell 2005?

PGA Championship? Mickelson in 2021 and Y E Yang in 2009?

Looking at the last twenty two years I don't see any more shock winners in the Open than any other major.

Paul Lawrie won eight European tour events, he also had another top ten in the Open, had a top 15 finish in the Masters and a top thirty finish there as well.

Todd Hamilton won the Honda classic the same year he won the Open, it was before the Open. He had a tied 15th at the Masters too and made more cuts than he missed in majors.

I've already said that Rory needs to work on his mindset.