
Rory McIlroy is optimistic about a return to form after he “found a feeling” while finishing inside the top 20 in last week’s US Open at Oakmont.
McIlroy clinched the career Grand Slam by winning The Masters in April but ended in a share of 47th place at the PGA Championship in May and refused to speak to the media throughout after reports of his driver being deemed non-conforming became public.
The world No 2 then missed the cut at the Canadian Open the week prior to the US Open, before fighting hard to reach the weekend on the taxing Pennsylvania course and once again opting out of post-round interviews across the opening two days.
McIlroy closed out the third men’s major of the year with a three-under 67 and will now tee it up at the latest Signature Event of the PGA Tour season – The Travelers Championship at TPC at River Highlands in Connecticut, live on Sky Sports – with confidence.
He said on Wednesday: “I don’t think it’s one shot, it’s the repeatability of shots. If I can see something or have a feeling that is very repeatable… I think proof is in the pudding.
“I definitely found a feeling last week, especially off the tee, that was repeatable. That was working well. I led strokes gained off the tee last week which was a big thing for me. I thought I drove the ball well all week last week.
“I think the weeks after major championships sometimes when you’re in contention and you’re trying to win them, it can feel quite difficult to go play the next week.
“After a week like I had at Oakmont, where you’re not quite in the mix but you might feel you find something in your game, you’re excited to come back and play.”
McIlroy: Players have been put through the wringer recently
World No 1 Scottie Scheffler emerged victorious at the Travelers Championship in 2024, claiming the 12th of what is now 16 PGA Tour titles in a little over three years.
Scheffler beat Tom Kim in a play-off after both players ended up locked on 22 under in regulation play.
McIlroy says he is excited about returning to a venue offering ample birdie chances with players having been forced to “grind” out scores in tournaments over recent weeks.
The Northern Irishman added: “There’s a lot of guys in the field this week where this is their fourth tournament in a row. They’ve been put through the wringer.
“So this is a welcome set-up where they feel like they can relax a bit and not have to grind so much for your score.”
Watch The Travelers Championship live on Sky Sports from Thursday or stream without a contract on NOW. Early coverage of day one begins at 12.30pm on Sky Sports Golf, Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports+.
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