Paul McGinley very ‘worried’ by what he has already seen from Rory McIlory at Oakmont before the start of the US Open

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Rory McIlroy is at Oakmont for the US Open this week but while he might be there in body, there’s an increasing worry that he’s not there in mind.

McIlroy has not been the same in the last few weeks and since winning The Masters, has appeared a different animal to what we’re used to.

Indeed, McIlroy very much looks to have checked out and ahead of a chance at winning a sixth major, it’s a big surprise to see the Northern Irishman like this.

• READ MORE: Why Rory McIlroy now needs Bryson DeChambeau more than ever after his deeply concerning admission

With so many good players in the field this week and Oakmont set to provide the toughest test we’ve seen all year, you’d have to go a long way to find someone backing McIlroy to come out on top.

And now, after seeing McIlroy speaking to the press on Tuesday, his former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley has expressed a major concern.

Paul McGinley concerned by Rory McIlroy ahead of the US Open

Speaking on Sky alongside Brandel Chamblee on McIlroy’s chances this week, McGinley expressed a fear for The Masters winner based purely off his demeanour in his press conference.

“You would have to say very worrying looking at his press conference. His eyes weren’t alive. The energy was not there. He certainly did not have the pointy elbows as we saw coming into The Masters, he did not have the bounce, when he was a man a mission. He was a man out to prove something. Get out of my way, I have something to accomplish. You could see that and see the energy.You do not see that at the moment,” McGinley commented.

“I know myself when I won tournaments you check out, you don’t feel the same. You put in the practice but something inside of you is just missing and sometimes it takes time for that to reset and I think he is going through a period of that.

“He has completed the Grand Slam. The sixth player in history to do that and it’s a huge achievement. I’m no psycologist but it looks like something has gone out of him since that, the air has been sucked out of him. Not just in the way that he has played but in his press conference. It’s very un Rory like. They are such low energy.”

However, keeping a sense of optimism, McGinley suggested there might well be a comeback from McIlroy albeit right now, it doesn’t look like it will be this week at Oakmont.

“There will be a reset at some stage but it doesn’t look like it will come this week even though his team are saying he is playing okay. This is not normal Rory or when he’s playing his best in my opinion. I think he is at his best when he is out to prove something or chasing something or following a big loss.

“I hope I am proven wrong and I hope he is contending this week. I want to see him back and getting some form particularly going into Portrush in a few weeks’ time. But it doesn’t look like it and I would be worried for his performance this week, judging not just by the way he has played this month but the low energy in his press conference.”

• READ MORE: How many shots a 10 handicap golfer would receive at Oakmont off the back tees under US Open conditions

Only Rory McIlroy knows where his true focus lies right now

We’ve become so accustomed to seeing Rory McIlroy be all in whenever he turns up to play a golf tournament that to see him having a bit of a nonchalant attitude at a major is more of a shock than anything.

Clearly, McIlroy has achieved his lifelong dream and with that, it looks like some of the life has been sapped out of him to push on again.

McIlroy is perfectly entitled to do what he thinks is best and that is his choice at the end of the day.

Right now, it feels like McIlroy is trying to be as honest as he can with the press but in turn, he’s coming across like he’s almost not bothered.

At just 36, McIlroy has so much more to give to the game of golf and as McGinley suggests here, we can only hope it’s a small dip before a big reset gets his head back in the game.