Defending PGA champ Rory McIlroy arrived at Oak Hill looking firstly to get a hair cut and declaring in future he will add a tournament to his schedule in the week before every Major.
McIlroy’s getting his curly brown locks trimmed ahead of tonight’s (TUES) hosting of the annual Former Champion’s Dinner.
Among those past winners present will be four-time PGA champion, Tiger Woods along with the likes of fellow Irishman Padraig Harrington, Germany’s Martin Kaymer, new British Open winner and double PGA winner, Phil Mickelson and fellow double PGA title holder, Lee Trevino who is behind honoured this week for his services to the game.
A painting of Rory McIlroy on an oversize golf ball on show at this week’s PGA Championship. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
McIlroy arrived in upper New York State early Sunday evening after having finished in a share of 27th place and 15 shots behind now eight-time WGC – Bridgestone Invitational winner Tiger Woods.
And while McIlroy failed to get himself into contention he confirmed he will now schedule his season to play the week before a Major and something he’s only done just twice this year.
“I do feel as though I got what I wanted out of playing in the Bridgestone and it was nice to have four competitive rounds going into a major,” said McIlroy.
“And after playing in Akron, it is something that I will try and do from now on and play the week before a major as my game is feeling good even though I didn’t drive the ball the last couple of rounds in Akron.
“I had taken a couple of weeks off after playing the Irish before going into Muirfield but I just didn’t feel sharp enough going into The Open and felt I needed more competitive play, so I will look to try and do that in the future.
“I drove the ball much better the last day and that is something you need to do around here at Oak Hill.
“So I’ve now got three days where I can just go and play and sort of see what happens and maybe I might come into a little bit of form.
“I definitely feel like now I can go out and have more control of my golf ball which is a good thing while my short game is pretty good so I have brought a few positives here to the PGA.”
McIlroy managed to hit just 25 of 56 fairways at Firestone and singled out his driver and wedge play as the two keys areas he needs to sharpen this week ahead of ‘Glory’s last shot’.
“My two main concerns are my distance control with my wedges or with my short irons at least and driving the ball on the fairway,” he said.
“So they are the two things I guess have been holding me back a little bit.
“I am just getting a little steep with my wedges and I am catching a few a little heavy and some are coming out a little fast. So I am just trying to shallow them a little bit.
“I am putting nicely and I had a lot of birdie putts the last day in Akron.”
But while McIlroy should have arrived with a spring in his step, given his picture adorns posters, programs and other promotional material, the current World No. 3 is just trying to treat the week as any other tournament.
“Yes, it’s another Major but I’m just trying to win another Major and I don’t really think about it like that being the defending champion and it just doesn’t matter as it’s a new year and a new tournament,” he admitted.
“I am just looking forward to playing another Major and getting myself into contention.
“Last year was a great week and I remember everything how it was what with the delay on Saturday and having to play 27 holes on Sunday.
“We rented a really nice house on the beach and we were on the beach every afternoon and it was just a great chilled out week.
“I remember JP (caddy) and myself saying lets win this by eight as I had done at the US Open and yes, it was great to have that wonderful control and I knew I was going to win the tournament but it was nice to have that little goal going down the last.
“I never ever want to get complacent but it was nice to be able do that. I had hit a nice drive but not a great second shot and it was nice to see the putt finally drop.”
And while girlfriend, Caroline Wozniacki will be competing this week across the border in Canada, McIlroy said he’s going to take time looking a video highlights of his win last year along the Kiawah Island shoreline.
“I am definitely going to look at the video again this week,” he said.
“But my first priority is to get a haircut for the Past Champions dinner tomorrow (TUES) night.
