Versailles, France … Former Open winner Rory McIlroy has ten days to rid new swing gremlins from his game if he’s to capture a second Claret Jug in three years.
McIlroy will spend two days this week at Royal Troon familiarising himself with the only course on the Open Championship rota he’s not played.
And after a disappointing last day level par 71 for third place at six under par and third place in the 100th French Open the World No. 4 clearly has much homework ahead of a ninth Open showing.
Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee, and the oldest in the weekend French field at age 46, showed his younger rivals how to find the shortest route around the 2018 Ryder Cup venue winning by four shots with a 68, and despite his only bogey at the last, for an impressive 11-under par tally on the Le National course.
McIlroy had been looking to win back-to-back in Europe for a first time in his career and after his maiden win in Europe at May’s Irish Open.
Rory McIlroy during the final round of the 2016 100th French Open.
“I didn’t think I would win as all I wanted to do was try my best and especially with Rory starting two shots behind me,” he said.
“But then I played my own game found the fairways and putted very well on a very tough golf course, so I have played great for four days and I am very happy.
“It’s also my son’s birthday so is a great present for him for me to win.”
Jaidee not only becomes the oldest winner of the French Open but the first Asian-born player to win the oldest tournament on the Europe mainland.
It is Jaidee’s 19th victory worldwide and an eighth on the European Tour while it’s also his fourth straight success on the European continent after capturing the 2012 Wales Open, 2014 Nordea Masters and last year’s European Open in Germany.
The win also will send the very affable Jaidee to a carer high of No. 25 on the World Rankings.
McIlroy had been looking to win back-to-back in Europe for a first time in his career and after his maiden win in Europe at May’s Irish Open.
The frustration was clearly apparent with McIlroy who had to wait 14 holes for a first birdie and then could be heard to clearly exclaim ‘Jesus’ in playing a poor shot into the green at 15th.
A day earlier McIlroy produced a Wimbledon ’40-30’ round going out in a four-over par 40 but storming home and back into a share of second place with five birdies in an inward nine of 30
However, the late Saturday afternoon surge 24 hours early turned pedestrian-like on Sunday with McIlroy sandwiching a second hole bogey among pars from the first to 13th holes.
McIlroy did manage to par the 15th and then ended with three further pars and his seventh top-10 in eight Race to Dubai events this season.
He said: “It’s been a good week just to see where I am at with my game. There was signs it was really good and heading in the right direction but then today there was sometimes when it was good and a few swings on the back nine I need to work on.
“I was getting quite steep with my irons and I need to go and work on that aspect going forward.
“So the way I felt out there and to finish third on my own means it’s been a decent week in that regard.
“I now have 10 days until The Open starts to try and get better so I will play a bit of links golf and work on the shots I will need for Troon, as well.
“So I am confident where I am at and while it didn’t feel all that good this week I am doing some things right and we’ll go forward and hopefully be ready for Troon.
“The good thing, and after missing out on St. Andrews last year, is that the last time I played in The Open I won it so I have good memories so hopefully I can play well the the way I did at Royal Liverpool and give myself a chance.”
Fellow Irishman Padraig Harrington is headed to this week’s Scottish Open buoyed by a closing 67 that included four birdies over his closing eight holes for a share of 30th spot at three over par.
