Claude Harmon has predicted what he believes Rory McIlroy could do at the US Open this week, after watching the four-time major champion on the range ahead of the tournament.
Rory McIlroy feels like a real wildcard at Pinehurst No. 2, with the 35-year-old looking for his first major title in a decade in North Carolina.
In that time, McIlroy has been tipped for so many titles, having gone into events in unbelievable form, seemingly finding his unstoppable best at the ideal time. Unfortunately, there have been several false dawns.
So it is going to be difficult to tip McIlroy this week, but it does seem that he is, at least, in a good place ahead of the third major of the year.
Claude Harmon predicts how Rory McIlroy will fare at US Open
Speaking on Son of a Butch with Claude Harmon, Harmon noted that he had been impressed by what he had seen from McIlroy on the practice ground at Pinehurst, and believes that he could definitely contend at the US Open – on one condition.
“What does Rory McIlroy do this week? He is saying that he has never felt better and never had a better opportunity and been more ready to win his fifth major. I think it’s shocking to me given how great a player McIlroy is,” he said.
“On the range today he is hitting balls next to DJ and it’s hard not to watch him. He has just got everything. He is so impressive as a player. I could see him win this week and get his fifth major. But if he doesn’t get off to a good start, sometimes in these majors he doesn’t get off to a fast start. This is not a golf course that you can play offence on, it’s a course where you are trying to play defence.”
Expectations have rarely been lower
It may potentially help that the form of Scottie Scheffler is taking some of the spotlight away from McIlroy, as he really appears to have been weighed down by his drought in the majors.
Initially, that pressure seemed to particularly hit when The Masters would come around, but over time, he has had to deal with questions at all four of the game’s biggest events.
He seems to have tried every possible way to prepare for the majors over the years, so perhaps it may be the time when people start to really doubt whether he can do it that he feels the freedom which allows him to play his best golf.
As Harmon suggests, few have the game to take down Pinehurst quite like McIlroy if everything clicks.
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