Rory returns, sets sights on PGA
Newest career slammer eases back into competitive mode with mate after Masters drama
Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy came up short in Zurich team defense (Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
It was hardly the final round he wanted, but nothing was going to bother Rory McIlroy much over the weekend in New Orleans.
McIlroy and partner Shane Lowry were unable to defend their title at the Zurich Classic, but no matter. The Irish mates bonded as they did a year ago, gave it a run with a 61 on Saturday and then were never able to get much going on Sunday during the final alternate-shot round of the team event.
Andrew Novak and Ben Griffin combined to win the annual team event that sees a combination of best ball and alternate shot over four days. It marked the first victory for both players in their 100th and 90th PGA Tour starts, respectively.
Two weeks after McIlroy’s riveting and uplifting playoff victory at the Masters that completed his career grand slam, this was not going to be some make-or-break week for the 35-year-old from Northern Ireland.
McIlroy, who had a bit of a whirlwind 10 days following his win at Augusta National, admitted it is time to reset with the PGA Championship looming in two weeks and a signature event in which he’s the reigning champion the week prior.
“I’ve got to just take a little bit of time here,” McIlroy said after he and Lowry combined to shoot even-par 72 in the alternate-shot format Sunday and ended up in a tie for 12th. “It’s nice to have a week off, and yeah, reset and try to get some practice in. I feel like it’s like two practice weeks coming up in a way with next week at home and then Truist, as well, in some ways.
“I’m looking forward to a couple days off and then sort of kicking the feet up and trying to recharge the batteries a little bit.”
Before getting to New Orleans last week, McIlroy mostly avoided the media spotlight in the aftermath of winning the green jacket.
He and his family went to London to visit their new home they are building, then up to Northern Ireland to visit his parents, family and other friends for a few days before returning to Florida on the Sunday before the Zurich started.
“I could barley get out of bed on Monday,” McIlroy said in a pre-tournament news conference citing a cold he picked up along the way.
McIlroy said there’s been considerable reaction to his playoff victory over Justin Rose that saw him win a fifth major championship and become the sixth player to complete the career grand slam.
“It’s been an amazing few days after,’ McIlroy said at TPC Louisiana. “To be able to reflect on it and everything that happened and the magnitude of everything. I think the big thing for me is how the whole journey sort of resonated with people. That’s been absolutely amazing. It’s not every day you get to fulfill one of your life-long goals and dreams. And I’ve just really tried to enjoy everything that comes along with that.”
McIlroy said he spoke to two U.S. presidents — Obama and Trump — the day after his victory. He also heard from numerous people, many outside of golf, including Elton John.
“People reaching out from all walks of life,” he said. “Sports, entertainment, culture. People you would never even think that would watch golf or know what’s going on. That was very, very humbling. I think people can see themselves in the struggle at times and everything you try and get out of yourself and that journey. I think people watching someone finally get it done for a decade plus … it resonated with a lot of people.”
Of the six people who have achieved the career slam, McIlroy had by the far the longest wait to complete it. Neither Gene Sarazen (1935) nor Ben Hogan (1953) knew they were even playing for it. Gary Player has said he did when he won the U.S. Open in 1965. Jack Nicklaus (1966 Open) has been indifferent.
Tiger Woods did it quickly, winning the British Open in 2000 just weeks after winning the U.S. Open, having already won the other two majors. Both Nicklaus and Woods own each of the four majors a minimum of three times.
When it was over, Lowry was among the first to greet McIlroy near the scoring area at Augusta National. He understood the difficulty of the journey and how much it weighed on McIlroy. Lowry had a tough final round after being a shot out of second place late Saturday, shooting a closing 81 and tying for 42nd.
“It was the weirdest day ever for me,” Lowry said. “I got off to a decent start and I’m sort thinking Masters Sunday. Justin Rose is in the group in front of me doing what he’s doing (Rose made 10 birdies and shot 66). Very strange and ended up being a bad day.
“Then you get to watch one of your really close friends do what he did. I was out of it and watching leaderboards. I had to deal with my own disappointment first and went to the lockerroom. After that I’m just happy for him. I know what he’s been through certainly the last 10 years, the pressure has been put on him and he had to deal with the disappointment.
“It was a great day for golf. At the end of the day it’s history.”
Now awaits the possibility of more history.
McIlroy will defend his title at the Truist, formerly the Wells Fargo Championship, which he has won four times — all at Quail Hollow in Charlotte, site of the PGA Championship this year. The Truist will be played this year at Philadelphia Cricket Club.
The format in New Orleans allowed McIlroy to ease back into golf without a lot of pressure. The victory last year at Zurich propelled him to excellent golf. Since then, McIlroy has five worldwide wins and 14 top-10 finishes.
McIlroy might also be considered a good bet at the Open Championship, played at Royal Portrush where he once set the course record (61) as a teenager in the 2005 North of Ireland Championship near his hometown of Holywood, Northern Ireland.
The other major venue, Oakmont for the U.S. Open, saw McIlroy miss the cut in 2016.
No matter what happens, however, he’s got the Masters — and all the went with it.
“I do think that whole day on Sunday at Augusta … I don’t think I’ll have to play a harder round in my life,” said McIlroy, who was two ahead to start the day, fell behind after two holes, went back ahead by four through 10 holes, then trailed again after 14 before rallying back in from before bogeying the final hole to fall into a playoff with Rose. “I certainly don’t want to be placed back on that 15th tee box on Sunday. That gives me confidence and I can always draw back on that experience.”