Scottish Open: Rory McIlroy’s putter disappoints, but prepared The Open

Rory McIlroy struggled on the greens all through the whole thing of the Genesis Scottish Open, however nonetheless managed to tie for fourth. He completed 4 again of Robert MacIntyre, the Scotsman he bested on this occasion final 12 months, though his putter let him down for many of the week.

Like McIlroy a 12 months in the past, MacIntyre birdied the 18th gap to win by one.

But the Northern Irishman couldn’t muster a Sunday cost this time round, primarily as a result of he couldn’t garner any momentum together with his flat stick. He ranked 63rd among the many 74 gamers who made the minimize in strokes gained placing, shedding 1.493 strokes to the sector. He gave himself loads of alternatives, enjoying masterfully from tee to inexperienced once more, however he couldn’t get putts to drop when wanted.

“I had a whole lot of possibilities that I wasn’t capable of convert, and that was form of the story of the week. It felt just like the ball-striking was there just about each day,” McIlroy mentioned after his 2-under 68 on Sunday.

Photo by Ross Parker/SNS Group through Getty Images

“Overall, it was a very good week to see the place my sport is heading into subsequent week, particularly after three weeks off. Pleased with the week with one eye on making an attempt to defend right here however clearly with an eye fixed on making an attempt to arrange for Troon as nicely.”

Royal Troon will welcome the world’s finest gamers for The Open Championship subsequent week, which can mark the ultimate main of the 12 months. Of course, McIlroy has not received a significant title since 2014, when he received the PGA Championship at Valhalla. He has come agonizingly shut a number of instances since then, with no defeat extra demoralizing than final month’s shut name at Pinehurst No. 2.

But McIlroy has mentioned that he has put that have behind him. His focus now could be on The Open after what he known as a “stable” week at The Renaissance Club.

“I felt like I left a whole lot of photographs on the market over the course of 4 days, however on the again of three weeks off, I assume to be anticipated. I prefer to play the week earlier than the majors to knock a little bit of rust off and attempt to get sharp, and I really feel like I’ve executed that this week,” McIlroy mentioned.

“Felt like I used to be on the fringes of rivalry many of the week however nonetheless had a stable week the place I really feel like my ball-striking is in a great place and getting adjusted to photographs I would like across the greens, after which clearly the inexperienced speeds I’ve struggled with the final couple days. I attempted to get a deal with on that as nicely.”

Perhaps he can get a greater deal with of the greens at Royal Troon, the seaside course that final held The Open in 2016, when Henrik Stenson captured his first main title after an epic Sunday duel with Phil Mickelson.

McIlroy tied for fifth that week.

Photo by David Cannon/R&A/R&A through Getty Images

“I keep in mind it fairly nicely. I feel simply getting a very good technique on what I’m going to do off the tees, after which it’s in and across the greens. It’s the photographs that you just want across the greens. You know, the bunkers at Troon are very penal—I must attempt to make use of a method the place you’ll be able to navigate your means round them,” McIlroy mentioned of Royal Troon.

“If I can get the putter to cooperate and get the pace of the greens down, extra so than hitting my traces, I really feel like I’m hitting my traces however extra so getting the pace of the greens, I really feel like I’ll be in a extremely great spot.”

Indeed, his putter cooperating is an enormous if. It has proven up in massive moments, prefer it did over the primary 14 holes throughout this 12 months’s U.S. Open, but it surely has additionally folded beneath stress.

At any price, links-style greens and Open Championship layouts are sometimes extra manageable than the speedy greens usually seen at U.S. Opens. But all of it comes right down to how McIlroy feels on them. If he’s rolling it with confidence, he can win anyplace, on any course, towards anybody. But if the alternative rears its ugly head once more, McIlroy will once more be left to ask the dreaded query, “What if?”

Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be certain to take a look at @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You can observe him on Twitter @jack_milko as nicely.