Ryan Lavner has shared what he believes will definitely happen to Rory McIlroy before the Northern Irishman’s career comes to an end after a turbulent 2024 in the major championships.
Rory McIlroy was one of the biggest question marks heading into The Open Championship at Royal Troon, with the 35-year-old making only his second appearance since that agonising conclusion to the US Open in June.
He played well at the Scottish Open the week before Troon, though McIlroy endured a frustrating time on the greens. Unfortunately, it was a lot more than his putting that let McIlroy down in South Ayrshire, with the four-time major champion missing the cut by some way.
Some will feel that the scars from Pinehurst have not fully healed. McIlroy has never got closer to winning a fifth major than he did in North Carolina, so there must be doubts in the minds of many that he will ever win another of golf’s biggest events.
Rory McIlroy backed to win another major despite US Open heartbreak
However, speaking on Golf Channel Podcast, Lavner suggested that he has no concerns when asked if he believes that McIlroy will win another major.
“Absolutely, yeah, he’s still 35, he’s in great shape, but I think he has to work through it,” he said.
“I do think there are some changes that he needs to make. I’m not saying that he should blow it up and start all over again, but I do think that there are some frailties in his game, particularly his iron play, that do need to be addressed.”
The problem Northern Irishman now faces
In truth, it is hard to be so confident about McIlroy winning another major. Clearly, he has the talent to do so, and he has got himself into a good position on enough occasions. However, it is obviously not just a question of talent stopping McIlroy getting across the line again.
He had made nearly 500 putts from inside three feet before missing the one on 16 at Pinehurst – that was such a significant moment in the tournament. And it would be no surprise if he managed to make a par on 18 had he holed that short putt two holes earlier.
Unfortunately, he cannot replicate that pressure in a regular event, when he has won so many of them down the years. Ultimately, it is only going to be when he is faced a massive putt down the stretch of a major when everyone is going to learn whether those scars have healed.
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