While Scottie Scheffler, Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau all did their part by contending on Sunday at the PGA Championship, it was a much less impressive week for Rory McIlroy.
So much appeared to be in Rory McIlroy‘s favour heading into the PGA Championship. He has won three times already this year, including at The Masters. Meanwhile, Quail Hollow has brought him plenty of joy over the years, with four victories at the North Carolina course.
However, it proved to be a hugely disappointing week for the 36-year-old.
McIlroy barely made the cut and went on to finish the tournament at three over par. McIlroy also came in for criticism for not speaking to the media after any of his rounds at the second major of the year.
The PGA Championship could be an important turning point for Rory McIlroy
It was a bizarre week for the Northern Irishman. But perhaps it should not have come as a huge surprise.
Understandably, McIlroy took some time away from the game after his triumph at Augusta National. It was the tournament he would have dreamt of winning for at least 11 years. And you could almost see the burden removed from his shoulders after holing the putt to win.
Many asked whether McIlroy would have the same motivation after. Perhaps he would become the first player to win all four of the current majors in the same year.
However, the warning signs were there leading into the PGA Championship.
Understandably, he was off his game at the Zurich Classic. It is a unique event, and it was his first appearance since The Masters. He had also been ill earlier in the week.
But McIlroy was also far from his best at the Truist Championship. And clearly, he was unable to snap out of it in time for a major which was set up for him to win.
Meanwhile, the likes of Scottie Scheffler, Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm were all on the first page of the leaderboard on Sunday.
Quail Hollow disappointment could have been exactly what Rory McIlroy needed
The finale provided an emphatic reminder to McIlroy that he cannot afford to take his foot off the pedal if he wants to secure his sixth major a lot sooner than his fifth came about.
The good news is that McIlroy was exceptional in the early months of the year. Winning at Pebble Beach, TPC Sawgrass and Augusta National is about as impressive as it gets.
The PGA Championship may, inadvertently, have been exactly what he needed to put The Masters behind him and get back on track ahead of the US Open and The Open Championship.
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