by On Thursday, Rory McILroy shot the lowest round of the year when he made a beginning of morale for his accumulation for the emotional return of Northern Ireland next month to the Open.
The World No. 2 described its 64 in the first round of the Travelers championship as “a tonic” and, after last week’s torment at the US Open – and makes it its current difficulties since the Masters’ victory in April – it is easy to understand why.
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On Saturday in Oakmont, he admitted that he had not really cared if he had cut the third major of the year, and that his goal during the last round was simply to play in “a tour in less than 4 and a half hours and get out of here”.
In this case, he pulled a fine 67 on Sunday to reach a rear place in the top 20, and then spoke of his eagerness to return through the pond.
McILroy is due next week to move into a new house in Wentworth with his wife Erica and his daughter Poppy, before playing in the Scottish Open, the week before he surrounds him at the Royal Portrush.
In The Ulster Links, just an hour north of Holywood, his suburb of the hometown in Belfast, he will show the green jacket to his countryfolk for the first time before trying to lift his second jug from Bordeaux.
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McILroy now feels confident to make this trip at the top. “It is a nice tonic compared to last week in terms of slightly more mild golf course and the penalty to miss is not as serious,” he said.
“I just want to see good golf course and see better plans. If you focus on it and focus on your quality of golf course and you simply focus on the best of your abilities, the result will take care of itself. I’m just trying to play as well as I can and do good swings, and if I do this enough, I will probably find myself in a position to have a chance to win. ”
McILroy shares a joke with his game partner Keegan Bradley, Captain US Ryder Cup, who also filmed 64 – AP / Jessica Hill
The morning -free morning from McILroy to TPC River Highlands – which gave it an early part of the second, two behind the club leader, Austin Eckroat – presented six Birdies, whose culminating point was probably the three in the 17th by four. There, after having shot his journey towards trouble, he stole the lake, keeping the green at 175 meters, before lowering 28 feet.
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What made his efforts in Connecticut all the more laudable is the fact that, for once, he was not the star of the show. His game partner was the captain of the Ryder Cup, Keegan Bradley, who also displayed a 64. “There were certainly many more songs” Captain America “and” USA “there, which is cool,” said Mcilroy. “It’s cool for Keegan to be here, be the United States Captain Ryder Cup and get all this support.”
Another in six under by is the former champion of the United States Wyndham Clark. The American obtained his own big titles in Oakmont after causing damage in the locker room, when he is angry with the cup. Clark offered apologies on Thursday, but his comments also raised some eyebrows.
“I made a mistake that I deeply regret-I’m really sorry for what happened,” he said. “But I would also like to move on, not only for myself but for Oakmont, for the USGA [the US Golf Association, which organises the US Open]And in a way the emphasis on the rest of this year. »»
