Rory McIlroy will be hoping for a more positive week at the Canadian Open, after his problems at the PGA Championship three weeks ago.
McIlroy endured an incredibly difficult week at the PGA Championship, most of which was entirely of his own making, it must be said.
McIlroy had to switch drivers just before the PGA began at Quail Hollow, after his club was adjudged to be non-conforming to the current rules and regulations.
And after that, he failed to speak to the media once throughout the entire tournament.
The Northern Irishman addressed the press in Canada on Wednesday, and explained how he was angry that his name got leaked by the press after his driver was deemed to be non-conforming.
Golf fans criticised McIlroy for his comments on the driver testing controversy.
Whether you agree with the five-time major champion or not, it’s obvious to see that he needs to flip the narrative with a positive performance this week, both on and off the course.
Rory McIlroy makes ‘phenomenal’ statement which wasn’t about his driver
McIlroy opened up to the world’s media on Wednesday.
It’s no surprise that his comments on his driver failing the testing process were the ones that hit the headlines.
However, another thing he said also caught the eye.
He said, “Yeah, I don’t know if I’m chasing anything. I would certainly say that the last few weeks I’ve had a couple weeks off, and going and grinding on the range for three or four hours every day is maybe a little tougher than it used to be.
“You have this event in your life that you’ve worked towards and it happens, sometimes it’s hard to find the motivation to get back on the horse and go again.
“I think the last two weeks have been good for me just as a reset, just to sort of figure out where I’m at in my own head, what I want to do, where I want to play. Yeah, reset some goals.
“I thought it was a good time to reset some goals. I’ve had a pretty good first half of the season, and I want to have a good second half of the season now, too.“
There were question marks regarding whether McIlroy would be able to maintain his focus and hunger after achieving what was a lifetime goal at Augusta National.
The proof will be in the pudding regarding that, but what did two high-profile golf journalists make of McIlroy’s comments about his lack of motivation at times?
Rex Hoggard and Ryan Lavner respond to Rory McIlroy’s comments
Lavner delivered his opinion on McIlroy’s comments ahead of the Canadian Open, when speaking on The Golf Channel Podcast with Rex and Lav.
“There was a moment during Rory McIlroy’s press conference on Wednesday where he served a reminder of why it’s so important to get him in front of a microphone and get his thoughts on things.
[He was asked] what are you chasing at this point. You have just accomplished the career grand slam, what are you chasing?
“Rory’s response was that I don’t know if I am chasing anything. In fact having a couple of weeks off after the PGA Championship, I found it a little bit tougher to grind on the range for three or four hours, because you just had a significant event in your life, something you have been dedicating your entire life to achieve in the career Grand Slam. It’s a little bit hard to find the motivation to get back on the horse and go again.
“That is a phenomenal quote! That is phenomenal insight that really lets us know what Rory McIlroy is feeling at this point in time on June 4th, with the Ryder Cup on deck, a couple of months after that.
“There is so much yet to play for this PGA Tour season and he is admitted publicly that it is really difficult for him right now to find some level of motivation. That is terrific. You would only get that if Rory McIlroy is in front of the microphone, that’s why I think he is such a crucial figure for the PGA Tour and that is why I think this conversation is worth having [about mandating players to speak to media] because if you don’t have that I think we are poorer as golf media, poorer as golf observers and fans don’t quite understand these players as well.
“It makes them more human and I think that is why we are tuning in in the first place.“
Then Rex Hoggard chimed in with his take on the situation.
He said, “I don’t know if there is an athlete at least since I have covered the PGA Tour who is as honest when it comes to what is going on in his own life and what is going on in his own head as Rory McIlroy.
“Sometimes that is to his own detriment, he has admitted in the past that maybe I need to keep some things to myself.
“I guess Jordan Spieth would be a very close second because both of them just seem like they are shot through of sodium pentothal every time you put a microphone in front of them.
“To that point it was a phenomenal answer because the entire narrative every since he won on that glorious Sunday at Augusta National is what is next? What do you do when you get to the top of The Masters?
“I don’t anticipate Rory McIlroy doing a David Duval. Where he got to number one in the world, won his first major and realised that was a lot of work for nothing.
“I don’t imagine that is going to be the case for Rory but a hangover, that is not only expected but I think it was obvious that there was going to be a few weeks afterwards where you are going to struggle a little bit. It will be telling by the time we get to the end of the season.
“It’s not going to happen at the US Open or The Open or even the Ryder Cup but if we get to September and the hangover has lasted then I think it is an interesting conversation.“
McIlroy will be desperate to play well this week in order to give him some confidence heading into the US Open at Oakmont.
It will be fascinating to see how he plays at Osprey Valley in Toronto, after having two weeks off following his disappointing showing at Quail Hollow.
Receive exclusive golf news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
