Rory McIlroy praised for doing something in The Showdown which hasn’t been seen from him for 16 years

Add as preferred source on Google

Rory McIlroy was the star of the show during the first-of-its-kind LIV Golf vs PGA Tour ‘Showdown’ at Shadow Creek in Las Vegas.

McIlroy proved his doubters wrong on Tuesday evening and produced some scintillating golf during the early exchanges. The Northern Irishman and Scottie Scheffler eventually cruised to victory over LIV duo Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka.

Fresh off a sixth Race to Dubai title at the DP World Tour Championship, McIlroy’s game appears to be trending in the right direction ahead of what is a massive season for the 35-year-old.

With some favourable major championship venues in the pipeline, the 2025 season feels like McIlroy’s best chance in years to end his long wait for major number five.

Rory McIlroy swinging like his 19-year-old self at The Showdown

The Northern Irishman’s performance at The Showdown has rightfully been praised, and Mark Immelman, speaking on the First Cut Golf Podcast, has claimed McIlroy was swinging the club the best he’s seen in 16 years.

“I do want to draw a comparison, this kept coming to me as I was watching. When Rory and Scottie are playing their best, Rory is the best player. When the two of them aren’t playing their best, Scottie is the best player. That’s why when the two of them get together in a fourball, you have to be Jesus and somebody else to take care of them. That’s how good the two of them are together,” the South African said.

“McIlroy was swinging with a freedom that was to me something I haven’t seen since he was about 19. This is the kind of Rory I have been waiting for. Every putt he hit was rolling at the hole. He just looked like he was there to let it hang out.”

He added: “Scottie looked a bit more defensive, but in the end, it kept on occurring to me that’s how Scottie plays. Scottie doesn’t make a mistake; he will just wear you down. Whereas Rory will come out in a blitzkrieg and get a massive lead and try to hold on to the thing.”

What Rory McIlroy said immediately after The Showdown in Las Vegas

McIlroy, unsurprisingly, was pretty humble regarding his performance at Shadow Creek.

“We’re super happy to get the win. It’s a nice way to finish the year,” McIlroy told BBC Sport. “Scottie and I got off to a pretty good start, and then from there, it was just about trying to keep the momentum.”

Despite the Showdown being an exhibition, McIlroy will surely feel slightly more optimistic about his chances heading into 2025.

The Northern Irishman knows that when his game is at its best, no one can compete, not even world number one Scheffler.

For McIlroy, the biggest challenge next year involves staying in tournaments and avoiding any major mistakes. Too often, errors have let the Northern Irishman down, or he’s been left with simply too much to do when heading into the latter stages of tournaments.