McIlroy has scar tissue – Irish golf icon talks major mentality ahead of US Open

FORMER Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley reckons Rory McIlroy need to overcome “scar tissue” in the major championships.

Four-time major winner McIlroy has failed to land a fifth title in a decade of events.

The Holywood hotshot will be hoping to add to his titles this week and break the ten-year drought with a win at this week’s US Open at Pinehurst No.2.

Down ace McIlroy is coming off his first singles win of the PGA Tour season at the Wells Fargo Championship on May 12 at Quail Hollow.

The win was his second in as many starts after his team win with Shane Lowry at the Zurich Classic.

But his eyes will be firmly trying to break the major duck when he arrives at Pinehurst in North Carolina this week.

MAJOR MINDSET?

And former Ryder Cup skipper Paul McGinley reckons that the Northern Irishman will have to overcome a lot if he’s to land another major title.

The NBC and Sky analyst was speaking ahead of the season’s third major in Dublin earlier this week.

He also believes the three time FedEx Cup winner must get his major mindset on point.

Dublin native McGinley said: “Golf is a game of doubt. You have to live in and deal with doubt, and there’s no doubt Rory McIlroy has got that scar tissue in major championships.

“When he gets into the Wells Fargo, it’s different. That doubt doesn’t scream the way it screams in majors.

“No question, there’s a mental hurdle he has to jump to get over the line in major championships again.

“As much as we have expectations for 10 years without a major nobody’s got more expectations than him. It’s tough, expectations handcuff you.

“When you don’t win (a major) for 10 years, that doubt creeps in. The rest of it is all there.

“He can do it in PGA events, he has more wins than anybody else in the last 10 years, comfortably, miles ahead of anybody else. Last year at the US Open, he got tight. He admitted it himself.

“And that’s just part and parcel of being an elite player that hasn’t won for 10 years in a major championship. He’s in a tough spot and I have a lot of empathy for him.

“I know what it’s like. The number of times I didn’t get over the line and the next time I got in position to win, I didn’t feel less pressure, I felt more pressure.”

And he may have a point as McIlroy questioned his own mindset in major tournaments during Netflix: ‘Full Swing Season 2’.

The world number two said after a 7th place finish at the USPGA Championship in 2023: “I f***ing s**t myself and left pins.

“My technique is nowhere near as good as it used to be.

“I almost feel like I want to do a complete reboot. It’s the only way I feel like I’m going to break through.

“Like, it feels so far away. I’m not at the stage of my life where I feel like I can do these two-week bootcamps.

“I feel good enough to be f***ing top-10 in my head, but not good enough to win.”

“Like winning f*****g majors.”

WGHOF

Elsewhere, Lowry made emotional gesture to Padraig Harrington ahead of World Golf Hall of Fame induction at US Open.

Three-time major winner will be inducted into the 2024 class ahead of next Thursday US Open at the iconic course.

And ahead of that significant moment in Harrington’s career, Lowry spoke about the Dubliner in glowing terms.

Speaking to the World Golf Hall of Fame social media team, Lowry stated: “He was one of my golfing idols growing up he has got the career that deserves it.

“There is probably not many better golf ambassadors out there than Padraig Harrington.

“For the game alone he has been great and he has been great in Ireland and we are very grateful to have him.”

Elsewhere, Lowry made emotional gesture to Padraig Harrington ahead of World Golf Hall of Fame induction at US Open.

Three-time major winner will be inducted into the 2024 class ahead of next Thursday US Open at the iconic course.

And ahead of that significant moment in Harrington’s career, Lowry spoke about the Dubliner in glowing terms.

Speaking to the World Golf Hall of Fame social media team, Lowry stated: “He was one of my golfing idols growing up he has got the career that deserves it.

“There is probably not many better golf ambassadors out there than Padraig Harrington.

“For the game alone he has been great and he has been great in Ireland and we are very grateful to have him.”

All the action gets underway from Thursday on SKY SPORTS GOLF.