Rory McIlroy explains the issue he’s having with his new swing and admits what he ‘struggled’ with on day two at the HSBC Championship

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Rory McIlroy has been the talk of the Yas Links golf course this week after he turned up after a few weeks break with some big changes to his swing.

McIlroy is clearly tinkering with a few things and so far, it’s yielded mixed results for the four-time major winner over in the Middle East.

McIlroy spoke on the opening day of being relatively happy with his new swing, while Wayne Riley admitted to being impressed by McIlroy on the range as well.

However, after another round of five-under today and a miserable triple bogey on the 17th put him out of the mix for now, McIlroy was always going to be asked about his new swing.

And speaking to the media immediately after his round, McIlroy admitted that round two was more of a struggle.

Rory McIlroy not happy with his new swing during round two of the HSBC Championship

Speaking to Sky Sports about matters on the course, McIlroy was pressed on his round in general with the new swing.

And this time, McIlroy admitted that things didn’t go quite so well.

“I felt like I missed a few more shots to the right today than I didn’t yesterday. With what I am trying to do in my swing sometimes I will leave the club face a touch open going back and then it’s hard to square it up from there,” McIlroy explained.

“I struggled a bit in left to right winds today but overall, with wanting to go out and perform and score well along with trying to keep some of the feelings I have had in my swing, it’s been a good couple of days.”

McIlroy waiting to click ahead of 2025

With McIlroy likely to win the Race to Dubai anyway, there is probably not better time for him to put the work he’s been doing into practice out on the course.

McIlroy was always going to tweak something this year after missing the majors again in 2024 and this new effort feels like it might work for him.

Yes, he’ll need to put the time in to getting things perfect.

But as Wayne Riley hints at, McIlroy is showing some shots on the range which he might not necessarily have hit last year.

If it comes together quickly, then 2025 could be a huge year for McIlroy.