Rory McIlroy could have hardly done more to win over the last two weeks without getting across the line, with the world number three losing in a play-off to Billy Horschel at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.
Of course, Rory McIlroy went into the BMW PGA Championship off the back of an agonising finish at the Irish Open last week at Royal County Down, with Rasmus Hojgaard edging the 35-year-old in Newcastle.
It did appear that McIlroy was going to have a little too much to do to win at Wentworth, before an eagle on his penultimate hole moved the Race To Dubai leader level with Thriston Lawrence. Pars on the last for each would set up a play-off, with Billy Horschel joining the mix with a superb birdie on the 18th.
Paul McGinley criticises one part of Rory McIlroy’s game at the BMW PGA Championship
McIlroy had been in and around the lead all week without ever looking like he was going to run away with the title, so it is fair to say that he did not all of his best stuff throughout the tournament. In fact, speaking on Sky Sports (broadcast on 22/9; 16:42), Paul McGinley suggested that one part of his game had been really disappointing in Surrey.
“Yeah it’s not been his day, his iron play has been poor. He hasn’t hit a whole lot of greens by his high standards, and yet, here he is at five under par for his round. Only hit 11 greens over 17 which is not of the standard we normally expect from McIlroy, but that shows you, not only is he a hell of a player when he’s on, but when he’s not on, and the short game has been simply brilliant this week,” he said.
“He’s right up in the top five for putting statistics and we know how good his chipping has been too, so it’s a different style of play we’re seeing from McIlroy today.”
Some real positives to take
McIlroy’s game is clearly not exactly where he would like it to be right now. He had a tough time on the PGA Tour following the agonising finish at the US Open, with only a few glimpses of his quality in recent months. McIlroy was disappointed to not be in contention at The Tour Championship.
But McIlroy suggested this week that he is working on small changes to his swing at the moment as the tournaments continue to come thick and fast for him. So it should be very encouraging that he has been so close to winning two weeks in a row.
Once again, McIlroy will probably be able to reel off a handful of shots he wishes he could have back. But he will be very pleased that he was in the mix again – only being denied when Horschel made an eagle on the second play-off hole.
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