Rory McIlroy is confident that a post-round range session has “straightened out” his waywardness ahead of the PGA Championship, mirroring the recovery he made during his title defense at The Masters.
The Northern Irishman’s hopes for a record-extending fifth Truist Championship victory faded after a third-round 75 on Saturday, his highest score on the PGA Tour since last June, as he repeatedly pulled shots to the left. The world No.2 hit “100 balls” on the range Saturday evening to regain control of his swing, four weeks after a similar post-round session at Augusta National addressed the same “left miss.”
McIlroy looks ahead to the PGA Championship after his final round at the Truist Championship, where he closed with a four-under 67.
His practice at The Masters helped him recover from losing a six-shot halfway lead to win the Green Jacket, while his work at Quail Hollow saw him bounce back to post a final-round 67 ahead of the year’s second major.
“I started to hit it left yesterday [Saturday] with everything,” McIlroy admitted after his final round. “I spent a good bit of time on the range last night just trying to straighten it out.”
Highlights from the final round of The Masters, where Rory McIlroy successfully defended his title.
Image: Rory McIlroy is looking to claim back-to-back major wins at the PGA Championship.
“On the range this week, the wind has predominantly been off the left. I think when you hit a lot of balls in a left-to-right wind you start to aim a little bit left, your club face can get a little bit closed at impact just to try to counteract that wind,” he said. “Hitting balls the last five or six days in that left-to-right wind on the range I just started to miss some left on the course. I was trying to figure it out a little bit on the range last night, which I felt like I did and I hit the ball much better.”
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On how his swing issue compared to The Masters, McIlroy added: “Exact same thing, so just have to straighten that out. That’s sort of my bad habit at the minute and I just have to be aware of it. Figured out a couple of things. I feel like I got into a couple of bad habits just because of that left-to-right wind on the range all week, so straightened that out.”
“I’m going to go home tonight, which will be nice, spend a night in my own bed and practice at home tomorrow [Monday]. Try to just continue that feel and bring that up to Philadelphia for the rest of the week.”
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McIlroy also dealt with a blister on his right foot’s little toe, under the nail, causing discomfort over the weekend at Quail Hollow Club, though he confirmed he will be fully fit for this week’s major.
McIlroy is seeking a seventh major title and his second of the season at the PGA Championship, a month after winning The Masters. He is a two-time winner of the PGA Championship.