Maybe Rory McIlroy is figuring it out.
Maybe, just maybe, he’s going to get all-out serious about his golf game for 2018.
Good New Year’s resolution for the former world’s No. 1 who has fallen all the way to No. 10.
No victories in 2017 certainly got his attention, so did a rib injury that plagued him too often this past year.
Rory just released his early season schedule and it certainly looks like he’s intent on getting primed for The Masters, the only major championship missing from his resume.
Here’s what Rory’s itinerary looks like:
Jan. 18-21: Abu Dhabi
Jan. 25-28: Dubai
Feb. 8-11: Pebble Beach (AT&T)
Feb. 15-18: Riviera (Genesis)
Feb. 22-25: PGA National (Honda)
Mar. 8-11: Innisbrook (Valspar)
Mar. 15-18: Bay Hill (Arnold Palmer Invitational)
Then it’s time, time to get primed for April 5th and Augusta National.
This is a good year for Rory to fly under the radar at the Masters? Why? Tiger Woods will be there sucking the attention out of the rest of the field. It will be all about Tiger, Rory and the rest of the field can go quietly about their business.
The interesting note on McIlroy’s early schedule is that he will apparently skip the WGC-Mexico on March 1-4. Not often that you see the world-class players skip this event because it’s free money. No cut, huge dollars, heck, you get 50-grand if you simply show up and finish last. Nice work if you can get it. Rory finished T4 there last year.
Rory’s final 2017 appearance came at the Dunhill Links on the European Tour. He finished an undignified 63rd. The week before he nearly got his victory, but finished second at the British Masters.
With nearly three months of rest, he should be good physically come mid-January.
So what will it really take for McIlroy to move back up in the rankings?
Wins, lots of them.
In order for that to happen, he’s got to improve his wedge and short-iron play. Let’s face it, this kid drives the living daylights out of the golf ball. He has more wedges into greens than most of us have bogeys on the scorecard. It has to be frustrating for him to drive it 360 then park a wedge 25 feet from the hole, two-putt and move on.
Needs to get on the Dustin Johnson program. You’ll recall D.J. used technology to get better, becoming best friends with the TrackMan to work on his distance control with all of his wedges. That paid off huge for the man who now sits at No.1.
Also looks like Rory won’t be looking for a caddy either, he’s electing to keep his pal Harry Diamond on the bag for now.
Rory’s also a married man now and maybe a quick kick in the rear from wife Angela Stoll might help.
During our trip in October to Scotland, we asked an older gentleman who had played in the Dunhill Links what the problem is with Rory, he responded without hestitation:
“Motivation — the lad’s not motivated. Too comfortable, too much money.”
Good point. It’s been a while since Rory’s looked hungry for victory.
Maybe all that will change in 2018.
