Round 4: the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance
June 5 2011
8:05 pm
McIlroy pleased overall
DUBLIN, Ohio — Rory McIlroy knew he faced an uphill battle, trailing Steve Stricker by five at the start of the final round of the Memorial Tournament.
“You know you’re going to have to do something pretty special,” McIlroy acknowledged.
The Northern Irishman gave it a go, too — shooting a 32 on the front side that included four birdies in a row — before signing for a 68. McIlroy had two holes remaining after the weather delay and finished things off on a positive note with an 11-foot birdie putt.
"It was a great way to finish the tournament," McIlroy said. "I felt as if I played really good this week, I just made a few too many mistakes, which really cost me, and we’ll have to try and cut those out before the U.S. Open in a couple weeks’ time. But there’s definitely a lot of positives to take from how I’ve played this week."
McIlroy heads to Haiti on Monday on a mission for UNICEF. He’ll return to the States on Wednesday and play several rounds at Congressional in advance of the U.S. Open.
"I feel as if I drove the ball really good, putted the ball really good this week," the 22-year-old said. "Game is in good shape. I feel really good about it.
"My putting has been very solid the whole week, so you know, that’s a huge positive to take into the U.S. Open. … If anything, just a little bit of strategy more than anything else, just if you’re going to miss shots, miss it in the right places.
"This week if you miss greens it’s very penal here and you get punished quite easily. It’s the same as the U.S. Open, if you miss it in the wrong places you’re looking at a 5 or a 6. So it’s just something I need to address a little bit."
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Poor tournament Rory….you only finished 7 shots in front of Rickie Fowler! Probably the closest he has ever been to Rory in a competition.
Yes giles and u can just hear the so called golf fans from across the pond saying how he had a poor tournament and threw this one away too!!
Giles, thats mean,Fowler had a really good run today until the back 9 but neither were near Stricker.. he is a stat , Stricker is older than both put together
Good finish Rory,just swing within yourself as hard as you can and stay in Balance…No more off your feet.
Rickie will make it too,he just has to get a little meaner out there…..
YOU know,neither Ricky or Rory has to go up against a player like Woods,who the kids who came on tour after 1998 did,they had to go against a golfer who took pleasure in ripping out one’s competitive heart and handing it to you! I know old man Kevin is rooting for Rory!
Rory moves and pouts like a sissy. Fowler looks and plays like a melted candy bar. They’re not real golfers. They’re stage acts, and that’s why they choke under pressure while the real McCoy wins the tournaments.
Any questions?
One who had heart ripped out is over in France right now in bed,also Sergio It seems like the ones who survived never had to go toe to toe with Woods.
Great job Rory… I can understand why you’re so pleased. Of course not a win, but more WR points. Can it be that we get everyone at the top of the heap with ZERO majors? It takes more than being a great swinger of the club to win an event in the US. Ask Monty, who was the best player on the European “Hooters” tour for about 10 years and couldn’t win once in America. Thought he would at Winged Foot, with a stock 6 or 7 iron into 18, just needing a par to win the US Open, but he pulls a “Rors” like #10 at Augusta and hits it only about 50 yards off line. Funny how these guys become 20 handicappers with a little pressure. Also funny how folks reference the Ryder Cup for Rory, when in singles he leaves it in the bunker on #18 while Fowler birdies in from #15. Now that’s playing with pride!!
Gail…
You do realise that when Rory left that shot in the bunker on 18 at the Ryder Cup that he then proceeded to get up and down for a par. This allowed him to half his match. If he had failed to get up and down, the Ryder Cup trophy would be in America now as they would have won by a point.
And European ‘Hooters’ Tour? Seriously? Have you ever even watched a European Tour event? Stronger and more diverse fields than the PGA Tour most weeks of the year.
Gail: The European Tour is not nearly as deep as the PGA. I figure they have 20 world class players, while the PGA has about 50. But to call the Euro tour Hooters is arrogant. The top dozen Euros match up very well with the top dozen American golfers. The World rankings give the TV folks something to talk about, but for me, I look at head to head competition. In the last 10 Majors the International players have 7 Wins.
He proceeded to get up and down for a halve? How about not leaving it in the bunker and getting up and down for a win? You’ve outlined EXACTLY the problem…being satisfied with a tie when a win is right in your grasp….being satisfied with top finishes instead of winning. We all know how bad of a guy Tiger is, so I’ll use Nicklaus as a comparison for greatness. In both of their minds, anything other than winning is losing. In the minds of the Euros, and the Brits especially (maybe with the exception of Faldo), anything near the top validates them, which is all that’s important. Maybe Donald can break through, as he realized that he needed to go to college in America to be toughened enough to compete, and has used that to his advantage. If he stayed across the pond, he’d be another Monty in the wings…..and by the way, the last European event I watched was won by a guy named Horsey, who you’re going to tell me is the next great player no one has ever heard of???
What about Nicklaus conceding a 2 to 3 foot putt to halve the entire Ryfer Cup in 1970. It was considered sportsmanship not to force Jacklin to putt the tricky but very makeable downhill putt. Snead among others hated Nicklaus for conceding the putt but that is Jack Nicklaus. The competition, the sportmanship not gamesmanship of the competition has always been paramount to Jack.
If you look at Nicklaus after he lost the 1977 Open to Watson, he looked happier for Watson than Watson did for himself.
Gail:
Rickie Fowler only halved his Ryder Cup Singles Match also so what’s your point? Rory messed up one shot by leaving it in the bunker on 18. He recovered. Rickie messed up in a bigger fashion by being 4 down after 14. He also recovered. I don’t know why this is even a discussion?
And re the David Horsey comment….who’s Keegan Bradley? Surprises pop up in golf all the time. And picking out the winner of the event that has the weakest field on the European Season and is held in Morocco the week before The Masters doesn’t really prove a point very well.
As for Donald, he absolutely needs to win a major this season. Westwood has never really seemed to have the edge required to win. He didn’t give those majors away he contended in but he never nobody really snatched anything from him either. Maybe Mickelson at the masters but Westwood never had it and likely never will. Gail how do you explain the success Harrington had winning 3 majors. Kaymer, Schwartzel…every major is currently held by regular European tour players. If they are a hooters league what the hell does that make the PGA of America?
Giles…the point is that when Fowler had to dig deep, to birdie the last 4 to keep the USA in the match, he did. That’s what this discussion is….digging deep, having the heart to finish, using the pressure to your advantage rather than having it be an albatross around your neck. I’ve never thought Fowler is the new face of American golf, as I’m not sure he’s solid enough to be a consistent winner. My point is that in any sport, to be considered the best player on the planet requires winning the biggest events. Westwood hasn’t done it, Donald hasn’t done it, and Rory hasn’t done it. Nevertheless, “Rors” and guys like Poulter chirp that they would “fancy” playing Tiger, “guarantee” that he won’t finish in the top 5 at Augusta, etc…. How do guys that have won nothing of significance talk about anyone else? Why? Because that’s what the Brits do…they put on a pompous air and never back it up…read these posts…most of the guys sound like chicks. Wonder if they play from the Ladies Tees?
Brian…the PGA of America is the standard. How many Euros play on that tour, some even full time, and how many have moved to the USA because they realize that’s where competitive golf is played. When you talk about the different major winners, the rest of the world is just a hair bigger than the US, and should have more winners. Regardless, even though golf was invented outside the USA, that’s where most of the major winners come from, that’s where the best players on the planet were born, and that’s where the best golf is still played, period. Paddy was a solid player during the time he won those majors, but he’s a perfect example of a “flash in the pan.” Not sure with all the tinkering that he’ll ever be in the discussion of greatest players, and if he ends up with three majors, I don’t even see him in a Hall of Fame discussion.
*Duval that should say. My bad
Why is my first post ‘awaiting moderation’ while my 2nd post correcting the typo in my first post showing up fine *rolls eyes*
What is the hold-up. I posted this hours ago ? Is there a problem with the language ?
Giles…wish I could see your post, if it discusses Duval, but I guess it’s awaiting moderation, whatever that means. Considering the guy you mentioned, he’s another self-centered player who was great for a minute but decided he wanted something other than golf. He didn’t win enough to be in the discussion, never really advanced the sport when he was #1 in the world, and also doesn’t deserve any consideration when talking about the greatest players. Greg Norman stands head and shoulders above Duval in all aspects, as far as I’m concerned….
Gail,
1. Rory has already won on the PGA Tour.
2. He won at Quail Hollow on a course which is set to host the PGA Championship in a few years and is acknowledged by most Tour Pros as one of the most complete tests of golf on the Tour.
3. He shot 62 (Course Record) in the FINAL round of the tournament when the pressure is at its peak.
4. Tiger Woods was in the field. He shot 74-79 and went straight home without so much as an interview.
5. Why not stick to something you actually know and stop commenting on things you don’t.
Bruce…great job. You might be the only guy to write that much commentary on one 18 hole round. Just goes to show the volume of Rory’s accomplishments. I think you should have gone hole by hole, but if you decide to do it, include the back nine at Augusta. We’d love to hear shot by shot on #10 with the “shrimp” into the cabins, the flop shots off the trees, the 4-putt from inside 20 feet on #12, etc…. One round doesn’t make a career, and Rory is quickly earning the reputation as a sweet swinging gag. Also, when you compare his results to Tiger (#4 on your ridiculous list of stupidity), remember to compare the 14 majors to 0, and the total wins (70+ to what, 2 or 3?). You sound foolish to EVER include Woods in a conversation about McIlroy, and to also comment about his performance when “the pressure is at it’s peak.) We saw that pressure performance at The Masters. Well done, Bruce…you successfully made my point!!
More time in front of the computer than in the kitchen again eh gail. U trot out the same tired paragraphs every time. You obviously do nt realise that the world rankings reflect the hardest discipline in golf , consistency. Fred couples and David duval got to no1 without winning a major and only a total fool would not recognise what an awesome talent mcilroy is . Get up from in front of your screen, go to any tour event in the world and ask the players who is the best player in the world at the mment, the biggest young talent and which tour has got the strongest players.donald, mcilroy and Europe would be the stock answers from those who know best. I am glad u are still arrogant and ignorant to what is going on in the world of golf, you should be a contender for tim finchems job, lol.
Looks like no Tiger in the US Open, so this could be the opportunity for Rory, Donald, and Westwood. No more excuses, so time to belly up to the bar….regarding my posts, I rarely call any of the folks that post “arrogant” or “ignorant” or any other derogatory comments. I did say that a post was ridiculous and/or stupid, but I do try and keep the comments like that to a minimum. I think guys like Jason need to try and be condescending to better make a point that has very little basis in fact. I’ll keep mine above board, and hopefully the Euros can take a little more of the high road….