Fellow US Open winner and close friend, Graeme McDowell has declared not to write off World No. 1 Rory McIlroy after his shock withdrawal from the Honda Classic.
It was uncharacteristice McIlroy slamming his clubs into the ground on route to being seven over par through just eight holes on day two in the defence of his title.
Then when McIlroy found water down the 18th or the ninth hole of his round, he turned to playing partners Ernie Els and Mark Wilson saying he’d had enough.
Rory McIlroy in plenty of pain at Palm Beach Gardens. (Photo – www.pgatour.com)
McIlroy, who could be facing a fine for his actions, later issued a formal statement citing an aching wisdom tooth in storming off a golf course for time in his career.
In contrast, McDowell kept himself in contention adding a second round 68 to an opening 67.
He later spoke about McIlroy’s plight with Brian Keogh, covering the event for the Irish Examiner.
“Don’t write that kid off,” declared McDowell.
“He has got the X-factor and he will be okay. I’m sure the guy has a lot on his mind..
“When you start trying to prove things to other people and you stop playing for yourself it is a very dangerous place to be.
“He is playing to prove things to you guys [the media], playing to the naysayer and people who said he shouldn’t have done what he has done.
“Everyone is saying he can’t do it with Nike equipment. This game is an extremely difficult sport, especially when you start playing for other people.
“He is trying to prove to the world that he is good enough with Nike equipment and it is early days.
“We’ve had some time off. He’s rusty. I know where he is at. I can’t compare 2011 where I was after I changed equipment and where he is.
“He is a superstar, a global superstar at that, it can only be pressure magnified. But he will get over it. He is a smart kid.
“He is one of the most talented players I have ever seen and once he starts believing in himself again he will be back. To me he is not swinging the club the way he was late summer last year.
“His familiar right to left ball flight has gone to a little bit of a cut shot. I know he has been working hard on that shot but he just looks a little underneath it and the right side of the golf course is now in play for him and he doesn’t have that flight we are all used to seeing.
“To me it is not equipment, it is all technique and a little bit of belief inside his own head. He will be okay. He’s a young and very talented individual.”
And Brian reported McDowell had noticed that McIlroy was not his normal self in warming-up on the PGA National Course at Palm Beach Gardens.
“His demeanour looks a little different,” admitted McDowell.
“I warmed up beside him on the range this morning and it wasn’t the normal display of ‘flushery’ that we normally see.
“I felt he was a little off with his swing this morning and there were a few moans and groans coming from the bay next to me and that’s not like him.
“It is normally a display, normally a clinic with superlatives from the coach and caddie being thrown out in the background and it wasn’t like that this morning.
“That’s a sign to me of a guy who is lacking a bit of belief in his game and a bit of belief in his technique.”
