Rory McIlroy weakness sends Sky Sports commentator into a rage at Alfred Dunhill Links
An old failing came back to haunt McIlroy as a dreadful shot cost him a shot and sent the TV analysts on Sky into a rage
by Staff reporter · Irish MirrorRory McIlroy was back to his Jekyll and Hyde efforts on the golf course on Thursday at the Alfred Dunhill Links in glorious conditions in Scotland. After a run of second place finishes, Holywood ace McIlroy was showing signs of his recent form again playing alongside his dad Gerry in the Pro-Am event which runs alongside the main event.
However, an old failing came back to haunt him as a dreadful wedge approach cost him a shot and sent the TV commentators on Sky into a rage.
McIlroy was hitting his second shot on the par four third hole at Carnoustie after a sublime drive off the tee. After starting on the back nine, it was his 12th hole of the day but he pushed his relatively simple approach shot to the right and found a greenside bunker.
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From there he produced an average chip out to the green and missed the putt for par. On top of that, he had to watch his father Gerry drain a brilliant putt from over 30 feet on the same hole in the Pro-Am competition.
Former tour star Andrew Coltart did not hold back on commentary on the approach shot for Sky Sports and said: "There's no excuses for missing the green with a wedge in your hand. There is no wind there. he should just be taking dead aim, five yards left of it and set up a nice straight-forward birdie chance."
After McIlroy fell back to one under for his round on the day, Coltart couldn't contain his anger with McIlroy's approach play.
"I'm sick of saying it, but he's about 100th from that distance with a wedge in his hand. For the world no.3 it's absolutely not good enough. That's one of the easiest holes on the golf course and he should be having a putt for birdie no longer than that (his par putt) 99 times out of a 100.
"I'm just going to say it today, and I don't want to say it again because I say it too often. But it needs to be said. He worries about his golf swing a little bit. I think his choice of shots is wrong in a lot of instances when he's got a wedge in his hand.
"That's like a double bogey for him. That's given the rest of the field a couple of shots.
"I remember following him at the Open Championship which he finished just two shots away from Molinari I think. And in one round he had 13 shots into the greens at Carnoustie here with nothing less than a nine iron and he didn't get one inside 20 feet. He lost by two. And that was just in one round.
"I don't want to see him spending any time on the range working on his golf swing. It's not that, it's those shots which he has an abundance of round every single golf course. He just leaves far too many of them out there.
"He doesn't want to be third in the world, he wants to be taking on Scottie Scheffler. He is one of the most frustrating players in the world and we know the talent he possesses.
Laura Davies agreed with the stinging criticism and added: "It's amazing isn't it. So talented, yet that part of the game lets him down. It's his way of giving everyone else a chance."
Many have pointed the finger at his caddie and great pal Harry Diamond regarding his shot selection over the years but McIlroy has consistently been among the world's best in recent years and came agonisingly close to ending his major drought this year.
In 2014, Rory McIlroy won his fourth major title, capturing the PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club with a final round 68. He was just 25 years old. The only other golfers to win three legs of the career Grand Slam at such a young age were Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. he has not won another one since.
In typical fashion, in ideal conditions in Scotland, he produced a jaw-dropping drive of over 350 yards on the next hole to leave himself another simple wedge approach. This required only a half swing and he knocked the ball to within six feet and sunk the birdie putt to go back to two under. He is ranked 32nd on Tour for those shorter approach shots.
On a fascinating opening day in Scotland at the Dunhill Links, PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan and LIV Golf Chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan were paired together at Carnoustie. Golf's civil war appears to have settled and a deal of sorts could be just around the corner.
LIV Golf stars lilke Brooks Koepka and Jon Rahm are also in the field in Scotland this week alongside McIlroy and the PGA and DP Tour stars.
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