Rory McIlroy writes off his Carnoustie chances after missing US Open cut for third year running
Ex-world No 1 admits he can't handle windy conditions as he warms up for the Open in Scotland with more Major woe
RORY McILROY has already written off his chances of recapturing his Major championship mojo in next month’s Open.
The former world No 1, who has not won a Major since the 2014 USPGA championship, admitted his opening 80 at Shinnecock Hills showed he still cannot play in windy conditions.
If Carnoustie, the venue for the 147th Open, has ever seen four days without the wind picking up, someone should tell the locals!
It is rightly regarded as the toughest course on the Open rota, and the way McIlroy reacted to his third missed cut in a row at the US Open did not exactly fill you with confidence about his stomach for a fight.
After missing by two shots at ten over par – a score distorted by four late birdies when the pressure was off – McIlroy admitted “I guess I was literally blown off course in the first round.
“The conditions took me by surprise on day one and that is what really got me.
The conditions were a lot better for the second round and I played well to shoot 70 - the way I have been playing in decent conditions recently.
“It feels like the last three years I have only had three Majors to target and this one has been a write-off!
“It’s tough – but every time you come in to a US Open you know it’s going to be tough. I showed glimpses of good form on Friday, but I just wish I had handled the conditions better on Thursday.
“If I had parred the last three holes in the first round, the difference between 78 and 80 would have felt huge.
"There were a couple of holes on both days that I wish I could get back but that’s the way it is.
“I felt my game was in good shape - I just wasn’t prepared for those conditions.”
Mclroy, 29, has now missed the cut in five of his ten US Opens. It is no wonder he admitted he was pleased to have won at rain-soaked Congressional in 2011, when constant rain made it a totally different test to the one players usually face.
Even one of his biggest fans, former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley, admitted he was worried about the former world No 1’s efforts when the going gets tough.
McGinley told Sky viewers: “There are definitely issues that need to be addressed. He’s not the new kid on the block anymore. This is a new phase of his career and its going to take a new attitude and a new drive to go with it.
“That’s what lacking, and he second thing that is missing is his ability to play tough courses.
"His CV is littered with success, but it’s not littered with success on brutally tough, war of attrition type courses, like the one he’s been presented with this week.
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“We have a saying in Ireland that someone has ‘pointy elbows’. That was Rory in the first phase of his career - get out of my way, here I come, just watch me, I’m going to dominate.
“That doesn’t seem to be the case anymore. I know the competition has got better but that attitude of Rory’ bouncing down the fairways and just steamrolling the field, we haven’t seen that for quite a while.
“That’s what we want to see back. That is when Rory is at his best."
McIlroy had plenty of company as he packed his bags in Long Island – Tiger Woods, Jordan Spieth, Jason Day, Sergio Garcia and Jon Rahm were also among the big names who missed the cut at Shinnecock.