Rory McIlroy hopes to make use of the subsequent three weeks to “change the narrative” of his season as he bids to win the FedEx Cup title for a record-extending fourth time.
McIlroy has gained twice worldwide this season however is all too conscious of letting different probabilities slip by means of his fingers, most painfully within the US Open at Pinehurst and the Olympic Video games in Paris.
Because of this, the 35-year-old heads into the primary play-off occasion – the FedEx St Jude Championship at TPC Southwind – virtually 3,500 factors behind Scottie Scheffler, the world primary having gained six occasions on the PGA Tour earlier than securing Olympic gold at Le Golf Nationwide.
“I actually don’t need to sit up right here and belittle my achievements in any respect this yr and what I’ve accomplished, however on the identical time I count on a sure commonplace from myself,” McIlroy mentioned.
“I’ve gained a few occasions. I’ve had a possibility to win a number of extra occasions than that and haven’t been in a position to recover from the road. So I’d have preferred to have added a pair extra to that win column.
“However as I mentioned, there’s nonetheless three tournaments left on this PGA Tour season. I believe I’ve really received eight or 9 tournaments left this yr, however three on the PGA Tour to show an okay season into an excellent one.
“I believe when the majority of the season has come and gone and also you’ve received this chance of three weeks to essentially, I assume, flip the script a bit bit or change the narrative and what that season means, I believe that’s a motivating issue and a part of the explanation that I’ve in all probability performed properly within the play-offs for the final three years.”
FINISHING OFF TOURNAMENTS
Requested if he wanted to do something completely different to do away with the “practically man” tag he gave himself after the Olympics, McIlroy added: “I simply have to complete off tournaments higher.
“There’s been glimpses the place I’ve accomplished it, like Quail Hole (on the Wells Fargo Championship), for instance. However clearly the US Open, Olympics.
“I really feel like this yr and perhaps the final couple years I’ve simply discovered a technique to hit the incorrect shot on the incorrect time. That may go into preparation and making an attempt to apply a bit extra underneath stress at dwelling.
“You undergo these items in golf and also you undergo these little challenges and also you simply need to attempt to determine a technique to get by means of it and my problem proper now could be that.
“It’s actually good however not fairly adequate to take dwelling the silverware. It’s simply one thing I’m having to work by means of.”
TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Scheffler has topped the FedEx Cup standings heading into the season-ending Tour Championship in every of the final two years however has relinquished the two-stroke lead that offers him on each events.
McIlroy overturned a six-shot deficit within the ultimate spherical at East Lake in 2022, whereas Viktor Hovland worn out Scheffler’s benefit by the top of the primary spherical 12 months in the past.
“I don’t actually take into consideration an exclamation level (on the season) or something like that, however I undoubtedly need to win the FedEx Cup,” Scheffler mentioned.
“It’s quoted because the season-long race however on the finish of the day it actually all comes all the way down to East Lake. I didn’t have my finest stuff at East Lake the final couple of years.
“I’m form of excited that they modified the course a bit bit. It could give me some new vibes round there.”
