McIlroy's Open Driving & Reset
Despite Elite Driving at The Open, Rory McIlroy Plans Rest Before FedEx Cup Push
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Rory McIlroy finished the Open Championship at 1-under 279, nine shots behind champion Ryan Fox of New Zealand. He closed with a 1-over-par 71 in the final round — a quiet end to a week where his driver was the best on the course but the rest of his game never caught up, according to San Luis Obispo Tribune.
McIlroy led the entire field in strokes gained off the tee with 7.98 and topped the driving distance charts at 339.3 yards. Despite those numbers, he described his overall game as "stuck in neutral" — and said he is now looking forward to a break before the season's final stretch, Ledger-Enquirer reported.
McIlroy's Driver Dominated but Couldn't Win Alone
McIlroy's tee game was the best at Royal Portrush. His 339.3-yard average off the tee topped all players. His strokes gained off the tee figure of 7.98 was also the highest in the field, according to Myrtle Beach Online. That kind of driving usually sets up easy scoring chances.
The problem was everything else. McIlroy could not turn his tee-to-green advantage into low scores. His final-round 71 summed up the week — long off the tee, but unable to convert. He credited his TaylorMade Qi4D driver for the distance and accuracy gains, calling it a setup he felt comfortable with, per The State.
Fox Wins by Nine as McIlroy Misses Seventh Major
Ryan Fox of New Zealand claimed the Claret Jug by a commanding nine-shot margin. For McIlroy, it was another near-miss at a seventh major title. He has six career majors, with his last coming at the 2014 PGA Championship. The gap between McIlroy and Fox on the leaderboard told the full story, Tri-City Herald reported.
McIlroy finished at 1-under 279, a score that would win many tournaments but was never close to threatening Fox this week. The Northern Irishman was honest after his round. He did not make excuses. He said his game simply was not at the level needed to challenge for the title, according to Mahoning Matters.
Rest and Reload: McIlroy Eyes Irish Open and Season Titles
McIlroy says he plans to take time off before pushing for two major season-ending prizes. He is targeting the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup and the DP World Tour title. Both races head into their final stages over the next two months. A rest now could help him arrive fresher for those key events, Idaho Statesman noted.
He is also looking forward to the Irish Open in mid-September. That event gives him a chance to compete in front of a home crowd. After a draining major season — which included a win at the US Open earlier this year — a short break seems like the right call before one final push, per Macon Telegraph.
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