Ryan Lavner explains what he wants Rory McIlroy to do now after failing to win the Irish Open

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Rory McIlroy came up short again this weekend as he effectively threw away his chances of winning the Irish Open.

McIlroy was leading the charge all the way through the tournament but had a couple of bad holes on the back nine to allow Rasmus Hojgaard to sneak in and win.

McIlroy conceded after the tournament that a few mistakes had cost him and while Smylie Kaufman tried to suggest McIlroy had still done well to be in with a chance, the 35-year-old will know he’s let one go here.

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Of course, 2024 was a strange year where he won a few times but also had some near-misses and nightmare situations in the majors.

And with 2025 soon to be upon us, Ryan Lavner has suggested McIlroy go away for a while.

Ryan Lavner tells Rory McIlroy to take a big break from golf

Speaking on the Golf Channel podcast, Lavner believes McIlroy should some time away from the game and get himself set mentally for 2025.

“I would love for Rory McIlroy just to have a reset. Just to take three or four months off of golf. Reset,” Lavner said.

“Brandel has been harping about him needing to change the top of his back swing position if he wants to be more consistent with his wedge play, that is the biggest difference right now between where Rory McIlroy is right now and where Scottie Scheffler is. There is too much variance and volatility in Rory McIlroy’s game.

“To do that you need to have dedicated time off. I think Rory has four more events in 2024. I want to see a full blown reset from Rory. I want him to go seek him mental help.

“Get him in the proper frame of mind to go absolutely berserk in 2025.”

McIlroy will be expectant of himself in 2025

McIlroy will know full well that the pressure will be on when 2025 rolls around and talk of a fifth major will continue until he gets one.

For now, the BMW Championship is next up for Rory and if he can get a win on English soil, that would be quite the boost.

• READ MORE: Rory McIlroy reveals what he found ‘very difficult’ during the third round at the Irish Open

The strange thing for McIlroy is that he’s not particularly playing badly, it’s just he’s not getting over the line when it matters and as Laver says, has some volatility in his game.

McIlroy, then, will be desperate to put things right and come back fighting next year.