McIlroy endured a miserable week in Augusta, arriving with such confidence. Credit: Reuters/Mike Segar
Rory McIlroy revealed that he pulled out immediately after missing The Masters last month to focus on his "mental and emotional well-being".
The third racket of the world was supposed to appear on RBC Heritage, but three days after the accident from Augusta Major, he left Hilton Head without explanation. McIlroy's mysterious absence predictably drew worldwide attention, especially as it was a «marked event» on the PGA tour.
Players are only allowed to miss out on one of the $20 million tournaments this year, but this was McIlroy's second tournament and it has since been rumored that his late scratch would cause the 33-year-old to lose $3 million of his $12 million. , which he earned by finishing. second place in the Player Impact Program last year.
It still remains unconfirmed, but at the Wells Fargo Championships — his first start since Augusta — McIlroy explained the factors behind his decision to stay with his family in South Florida.
"I needed a break" McIlroy told the Golf channel about this. “After the disappointment with Augusta and the way I played there, it was just, I guess, just more for my mental and emotional well-being. I just needed to be at home these few weeks.
“It's been a pretty tough 12 months psychologically, so it was nice to just try to switch off and get away from it. But it's nice to come back and feel refreshed. I think I am in a better condition than before.
“Yeah, you know, this Augusta prep is always a pretty stressful couple of weeks trying to make sure everything is in order and making sure your game is in good shape. I think it was a nice reboot for me because I still had to be aware that there are three more Majors this year and there are still a ton of games to play.” McIlroy was so sure that he would finally put an end to his career. Masters of the drought and therefore became only the sixth golfer — after Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen — to complete a career Grand Slam. But he finished with five overs courtesy of a 77 in the second round, which sent him a five-hit miss.
McIlroy sometimes looked downcast during the first major year. Photo: Getty Images/Christian Petersen
He refused to speak to the media because of this handicap, and interest in his state of mind inevitably only intensified when he missed Legacy. McIlroy was involved in shaping a new set of elite events designed to help stem the influx of top talent into LIV Golf, and many in Harbor Town saw the incongruity of the situation. Among them was Xander Schaufele, No. 5 in the world
“Rules are rules,” said Schaufele. “So, I mean, for the most part, a lot of what he wanted is what happens. And the irony is that he's not here.»
Another American professional, Joel Damen, was also surprised. “I feel like Rory led the changes that were made and he helped develop the rules,” he said. “He knew the rules. So he knew he was coming. He also has so much money he doesn't care about $3 million.»
It will be intriguing to find out if PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan really intends to punish McIlroy. The mental health of sports stars is a big topic of conversation, and there's an «injury» clause that could pave the way for McIlroy's acquittal.
The Northern Irishman has become Saudi Arabia's breakaway league's most vocal opponent and, together with his ongoing suffering in Georgia, it's all clearly taking its toll.
Regardless, McIlroy will be full of confidence in himself that he can make up for any financial loss he may have suffered by claiming the $3.6 million first prize at Quail Hollow on Sunday. He has won the event three times and is the warm-up favorite for the USPGA Championship in two weeks. after recent ankle surgery, starting this week he is taking on a full-time job with Patrick Cantley.
Свежие комментарии