Rory McIlroy Labels His One Victory Season In One Word – ‘Neutral’.

Rory McIlroy has likened his season this year in one word –  Neutral.

The four time Major winner is returning to competition at this week’s PGA Championship after sharing fifth place in last fortnight’s Open Championship but also walking off Royal Troon a massive 16 shots behind Henrik Stenson, McIlroy believes his best shot of winning a career fifth Major could be this week.

“The best I feel I could have finished at The Open was third and I never envisaged, even with good conditions, I could get to 17-under par so if third was the best I could of done, then fifth was okay,” he said.

“I felt I played pretty well all week and I handled the conditions well so coming to courses like Baltusrol it is more my type of golf and I feel like I can really do well this week.

“I have had some good practice sessions already this week while I worked hard last week with my coach Michael Bannon, and I am very comfortable with every aspect of my game.

Rory McIlroy reacts to his shot from the sixth tee in front of Rickie Fowler during a practice round for the 2016 PGA Championship golf tournament at Baltusrol GC - Lower Course. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Rory McIlroy reacts to his shot from the sixth tee in front of Rickie Fowler during a practice round for the 2016 PGA Championship golf tournament at Baltusrol GC – Lower Course. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

“So when you combine that with the layout of the golf course here I feel this is my best chance to win a Major.”

But then McIlroy, who has just one victory to his credit this season, was asked to describe his season ahead of the year’s final Major using just one word.

“To describe my season in one word I would say ‘neutral’ because my season has been in neutral,” he said.

“I feel there has been times this year I have got a little bit of momentum but then I was set back a little bit, so my year has been stop start in a way.

“But then while I trying to stay as positive as I can, and I feel as though I am positive as my game is in good shape, I do feel I am running out of patience a little bit by trying to just make it happen.

“So you get a sense of how I feel about my year as I try to get better and get my name into the mix more often.”

McIlroy’s only victory this year was in hosting the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open.

And on top of being fifth at Royal Troon the current World No. 5 was 10th in the Masters but then missed the cut in the U.S. Open.

However, of the four Majors his best record is in the PGA Championship winning in 2012 and then in 2014 while he was third in his first two starts in 2009 and 2010 and then eighth in 2013 at Oak Hill.

And after two practice rounds of Baltusrol McIlroy clearly likes what he sees.

“I just feel like the PGA Championship courses set up well for me as I can hit driver off the tee most time and from there, and if I drive it well, I have a big advantage,” he said.

“It’s always been a tournament that sets up well for me and I’ve had some good finishes including the wins in 2012 and 2014 but then I’ve also had two thirds and top 10s, so it’s been a good tournament for me.

“And two big keys this week will be firstly is that you will have to drive the ball as it’s a big, long golf course for a par 70 and with the two par fives at the end of the course.

“Then you look at the scorecard and there is a lot of par fours up in the 470 to 500-yard mark so you will have to drive it well while the greens are big, as well.

“So lag putting is going to be another important key this week because if you get good speed on these large greens you are going to do okay.”



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