Rory McIlroy admits he never stood a chance of winning the majors this year because he was too proud over putting
Golfing ace found it hard to concede he was facing difficult period after failing to make cuts for the Masters and the Open
RORY McILROY says this year’s Majors were a write-off because he was “too proud” to seek help over his putting problems.
McIlroy missed the cut at both the US Open and the USPGA Championship and was never in contention at the Masters or the Open. He said that sobering experience taught him a valuable lesson.
The world No 2 explained: “If there is one thing I learned this year it was sometimes not to be too proud. "I felt like I went long enough without asking advice on putting because that was the thing that was letting me down. I wanted to figure it out on my own, but really I needed a second opinion.
Keep up to date with ALL the latest Golf news, gossip and rumours
“I was too stubborn – I always feel if you figure on own take ownership of it and it’s yours. But sometimes you need a second set of eyes, someone who can tell you things you may not want to hear.
“I got that in August, and it really turned the season round for me. So that is something I need to take note of going forward.”
McIlroy eventually turned to respected putting coach Phil Kenyon after unsuccessfully experimenting with a cack-handed left below right hand grip.
The results were dramatic. McIlroy won two of the last three FedEx Cup events in the States and walked off with the near-£8million bonus as overall champion.
He also performed impressively in the Ryder Cup, and even though he has only a slim chance of retaining his Race to Dubai title this week – he is a distant fourth in the rankings – he is determined to end the season on a high note.
That means winning this week’s DP World Tour Championship for the third time – he triumphed here in 2012 and last year.
Related Stories
McIlroy added: “If I’m honest this hasn’t been a great year because of how I played in the Majors – but it’s still been good, and if I can win here to make it four victories for the year, that would raise it to very good.
“I've won a couple of things that I hadn't won before. I won The Irish Open, which a huge thing personally for me. It mightn't be the biggest tournament in the world, but in my mind it is one of the biggest I play all year.
“It was nice to be able to knock that off and to win the FedEx Cup, as well, was big. That was also something that I hadn't won before.
“To win that, in the fashion that I did - winning two of the last three play-off events over there - that was very satisfying.
“But my play in majors was disappointing - missing the cut at the U.S. Open and the USPGA. I had a top five at The Open but that was soon forgotten because of what Henrik Stenson and Phil Mickelson did.
“I feel like it's been a pretty consistent season asided from the Majors,and going into next year, I'd like to think that my performances in those events are going to be better.”
McIlroy’s chances of adding to his four Majors could also depend on making the right decisions about which clubs to use in future, now that Nike have pulled out of the market.
He is not short of big money offers, and knows he has to do what is right for his game rather than his bank balance.
“I'm a bit of a free agent at the minute,” he said. “There have been approaches made left, right and centre, and it's been nice.
“I'm pretty set with what I'm playing right now, and after this tournament I've got a little bit of travel to do.
"But I'm coming back to Dubai in the middle of December for ten days and I'm going to spend a few days with a few different equipment companies and test what they have, and really just see what works best for me.
"It's really all up in the air. I mean, I might find a ball that works. I might find a set of irons that work. It could be a real mix-match of golf clubs in my bag come early 2017. But it's nice to have the option.”
McIlroy gave a big thumbs-up to the European Tour’s new £40million Rolex Series, and vowed to support it by adding at least one extra tournament to his schedule.
He is the host at the Irish Open, which is one of the seven events that will carry a minimum of £5.6million pounds in prize money next year.
The Scottish and Italian Opens will also enjoy a huge hike, along with the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, and the three events that currently make up the Final Series – the Turkish Airlines Open, Nedbank Challenge, and the DP World Tour Championship.
It represents a massive cash injection, and McIlroy commented: “It's a fantastic development.
“Bringing some of the bigger and best tournaments on The European Tour schedule and putting them into this Rolex Series where obviously you're playing for an increased prize fund is a huge step.
“I'm happy to be a part of it, and I think you’ll see me back at Wentworth next year to show my support. And I'm obviously excited that the Irish Open is a part of it.”