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Rory McIlroy admits one area of his game he’s not happy with despite winning at TPC Sawgrass, he’s held discussions with his team

Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
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Rory McIlroy can’t do much more on the PGA Tour at this moment in time, but he is still looking at ways to improve.

McIlroy was praised by J.J. Spaun after their Players Championship playoff earlier this month, which the Northern Irishman won.

He emerged victorious relatively comfortably at TPC Sawgrass, where McIlroy clinched his second PGA Tour win of the season.

Having also won at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, the four-time major champion now turns his focus to the Houston Open.

The world number two is joined in the field by world number one Scottie Scheffler, with the pair the only top 10 players involved.

THE PLAYERS Championship 2025 - Final Round
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Rory McIlroy talked with his team about improvements despite Players Championship win

The PGA Tour schedule continues in Houston after Viktor Hovland won the Valspar Championship last week, which came immediately after McIlroy won the Players.

Discussing his work since then, the Northern Irishman told Golf Channel: “It’s great when you win and you can go away and be happy but I spent the week picking holes in my game and what I felt like I could have done better and talking with my team and Harry [Diamond] about I think I need to tidy this up and do this better.

READ MORE: Houston Open 2025: Predictions, prize money, how to watch and more as Scottie Scheffler takes on Rory McIlroy before the Masters

“Winning is always great and it was awesome to win in the way that I did but I also spent the week trying to refine a few things that I needed to work on.

“But it’s nice to have a week off and a break and recover and get some work in and get back in at here in Houston.”

Rory McIlroy wants to test his driving at the Houston Open

Innisbrook’s Copperhead Course witnessed a rare win for Hovland given his struggles, with McIlroy having previously won at the iconic TPC Sawgrass.

Both courses are in Florida, but the PGA Tour now heads to Houston, Texas, where McIlroy is excited to get going.

READ MORE: What Rory McIlroy is expected to do at the Houston Open as one thing he needs to improve before the Masters identified

“It’s nice being able to come to new venues still and do something new, being out here for a while now,” he said. “It’s a cool golf course.

“It’s very generous off the tee, there is not a lot of rough, it really plays into the longer hitter’s hands. All of the thought or the thinking on this golf course is done from the second shot in.

“You have to be a little bit careful on the approaches because of some of the green complexes and getting up and down and chipping is important this week. It’s bombs away off the tee and then figure it out from there.”

Such a scenario means he has a real focus on his driving this week, having been displeased about that area of his game in recent times.

That displeasure comes despite superb success, meaning his game could be taken to yet another level should he fix the issue, with McIlroy struggling with driving accuracy.

AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am 2025 - Final Round
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Time is, of course, running out as the first major championship of the season approaches, with the 35-year-old having also shared his preparation for the Masters at Augusta.

“I think if I can see some improvements in some of those areas,” he added. “It’s a great week to hit the driver a lot.

“I didn’t hit the driver very well at Sawgrass or Bay Hill so to be able to get up on pretty much every tee shot this week and give myself an opportunity to test myself with the driver is a good thing.”