Rory McIlroy says what has ‘deteriorated’ about his game throughout 2024

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Rory McIlroy remains in high spirits ahead of the Irish Open despite a roller-coaster PGA Tour season.

McIlroy feels a ‘distant third’ to Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele in 2024, with the Northern Irishman currently behind the American duo in the world rankings.

His lengthy search for a fifth major title will continue into next season, with McIlroy enduring a very frustrating year in that regard.

He finished T22 and T12 at the Masters and PGA Championship respectively, with the four-time major winner missing the cut at The Open Championship.

McIlroy did, however, come agonisingly close to ending his drought at the US Open, but a final round collapse saw him lose out to Bryson DeChambeau.

Rory McIlroy says what has ‘deteroriated’ about his game in 2024

The Northern Irishman then finished T9 at the Tour Championship as the PGA Tour season came to an end.

But his focus is now on the DP World Tour, with McIlroy feeling good back in his home country for the Irish Open at Royal County Down.

He told UTV Live News: “I think there’s a few things I need to clean up in my game. It’s been such a busy year I haven’t been able to work on my swing or my technique a little bit, and I feel like that’s deteriorated as I’ve went throughout the year.

“So it’s been nice to reconnect with Michael [Bannon], try to get some work in this week, and obviously going into the last few months of the year, feel like there was a couple of wins that I let get away. But overall, it’s been a decent year, and I feel like I’m in pretty good form coming in here.”

Can Rory McIlroy clinch success at the Irish Open?

McIlroy plans to reduce his schedule next season, such has been his very busy 2024, which is still a long way from being over.

But he now feels good with his coach at his side in Northern Ireland, ahead of a tournament that he won for the first time back in 2016.

McIlroy is nowhere near his best, but home comforts could bring out the best in the former world number one.

But that certainly wasn’t the case at The Open in 2019, when McIlroy missed the cut at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland.

Despite another missed cut at the major this year, he does still boast two PGA Tour wins, along with seven top-10 finishes.