Grand Slam golf rival Jordan Spieth is confident struggling Rory McIlroy will return in the New Year fitter and stronger to again be a dominant force in world golf.
McIlroy tees-up in this week’s 70-player only BMW Championship in suburban Chicago staring at the possibility of not defending next week’s season-ending Tour Championship should he not move inside the top-30 on the FedEx Cup standings.
McIlroy will tee-up at 11.17am (local Chicago time/5.17pm UK), and alongside Scot Martin Laird, in 51st place and needing to jump 21 spots to be assured of heading next week to Atlanta.
And McIlroy’s task takes on Everest-like proportions given he is winless in a 2017 season derailed by injury.
Grand Slam rivals Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth and with Spieth declaring McIlroy will be around for decades to come.
In contrast, Spieth heads the FedCup race and with a third Major and two other Tour victories this season is a favourite to be also voted ‘PGA Tour Player of the Year’.
And while the 24-year old Texan is not one of McIlroy’s closest friends on Tour he nonetheless is sympathetic and also confident will emerge in 2018 all the better with his decision to ‘shut down’ his season at the completion early next month of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland.
“I can’t really get a handle on what Rory is going through at present because I have not been injured but if I was in his shoes I could not believe how frustrated he must be,” said Spieth
“There really is not a whole lot he can do.
“Though in saying that, and while he must clearly be frustrated, he does not seem to let it out as he is being himself and the great thing is that I have not seen any change in his personality.
“I don’t usually spend a whole lot of time with Rory but then, and as I said, I really can’t relate to what he must be going through but boy, he is taking it all in his stride and recognising the longevity of his career.
“Look, he could easily go out there on course and rip it out but then he does recognise that is only going to hurt him.
“Rory is still going to be a force to be reckoned with for decades to come and I can see him easily winning double the number of Major victories he already has and dozens and dozens of more regular tournaments.
“And I am sure when comes through this three to four hiatus or whatever time he intends taking off from the game that he will come through it all fitter and stronger”.
Laird is also very much in the same boat as McIlroy lying just two places higher at 49th on the Cup standings.
