Rory McIlroy – Losing His Head When it Matters Most

Rory McIlroy, currently the world’s third-ranked golfer, has had a tough few weeks in his pursuit of victory. He came close to claiming the Irish Open trophy on his home soil, but a late bogey dashed his hopes. A week later, world number 24 Billy Horschel’s inspired play-off round denied McIlroy a chance for redemption at the BMW PGA Championship. Episodes such as these mean McIlroy has been accused of ‘losing his head’ at crucial moments. This criticism became literal during the opening round of the PGA tournament when the head of his golf club flew off mid-swing. It's not often you see something like that in golf, and just as rare to see a player of McIlroy’s calibre face such unexpected near misses so often.

McIlroy’s stint at the BMW PGA Open followed a close call at Royal County Down, where he once again failed to secure a home victory. Despite this, his opening round at Wentworth matched his career-best at the tournament. McIlroy’s game showed moments of undeniable beauty, but that is to be expected of one of the greatest golfers of all time. But peculiarity is never too far from McIlroy.

Round two was less box office, with a few lapses in his putting allowing the field to close in. Still, he was never far from brilliance, ending the day with a few shots that will be discussed for years to come.

During round three, the weather took a turn for the worse, with moisture adding complexity to an already testing course. But, showing his class, McIlroy quickly moved towards the top position. It was a day of top-notch tee shots that, despite the rain, was dampened only by a shot into the water. Rory’s game remained as good as ever, but it seemed his luck was beginning to run out.

Golf is often said to be a game played on the margins, won by those who manage disappointments best. McIlroy closed his tournament in a play-off against Horschel and Lawrence. The latter was quickly eliminated, leaving McIlroy to face Horschel, who was having an inspired run. In the end, McIlroy fell just short, missing his eagle putt. Fortune had not favoured McIlroy in this instance.

The disappointment of these two tournaments can easily overshadow the fact that McIlroy’s performance was excellent by any standard. However, his inability to close out tournaments is puzzling. McIlroy continues to play momentous golf, bringing viewership and attention to the sport that very few athletes have accomplished. But for him that will not be enough — he will be judged by the majors he wins, not just the quality of his play. His loss at the BMW PGA does not bode well for this.

History suggests that winning another major will only get harder. Having turned thirty-five this year, the hope that McIlroy’s level of play and ongoing contribution to golf will somehow provide him with another win is now fading. He is still in control of his technique, but he doesn’t seem quite as ruthless this season, despite the fact that he seems to be enjoying golf more than he has the past few years. This mentality, along with his immense talent, will serve him well. So, if McIlroy can be dealt a touch of luck, I have no doubt wins will come his way.

McIlroy’s long wait for another victory and eventually a major will continue; he’ll be eager to end it sooner rather than later with the Abu Dhabi Championship in November. But before he can get to that, he will be at the Alfred Dunhill Links in our very own St Andrews on October 6 — which students can snag free tickets for. Playing alongside his dad, perhaps McIlroy will find his spark on the iconic Old Course. If not, there's always a Guinness waiting in town.

Image from Wikimedia Commons