Rory McIlroy: “Being the most successful European in the game is within my reach”

Rory McIlroy was in a confident mood ahead of the US Open

The Major drought is now a decade long, but Rory McIlroy believes he is closing in on that elusive fifth title and hunting down the European records of Seve and Faldo.

Looking relaxed on the eve of the 124th US Open, Rory McIlroy spoke of the pride for his ‘body of work’ over the last 15 years, and despite a fifth Major championship still evading him, is more confident than ever that he’s right where he needs to be.

“I still like to think I’ve got a good run ahead of me. Whatever those numbers are, whatever the totals add up to, I’ll accept that and feel like I’ve done pretty well for a little boy from Northern Ireland that dreamed of playing golf for a living one day, said McIlroy.

“I mean, I’ve always said I still feel like being the most successful European in the game is within my reach. I’ve got obviously Seve and Nick Faldo to pass there in terms of major wins.”

McIlroy is paired in a marque group for Thursday’s US Open opener, alongside the the two players ahead of him in the world rankings – Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele.

Trying to avoid playing the player rather than the course is something McIlroy is aware of around a track such as Pinehurst No.2 where missing greens in the wrong places can very quickly put a halt to your title aspirations.

As Tiger Woods had said just minutes earlier, figuring out shot selection around the greens is the focus of McIlroy’s attention over the next 36 hours.

“From what I remember in 2014, it’s obviously generous off the tee in terms of the playing corridors that you’re asked to hit it into. If you hit it outside of those, you can get yourself into trouble, this sandy waste area, said McIlroy.

“Like most Donald Ross courses, it’s on and around the greens where I’m going to have to sort of do the most work and sort of figure out what shots to hit around greens.”

Embracing the different styles of golf needed to contend at a US Open is key with patience and ‘boring’ play being the name of the game around Pinehurst according to McIlroy.

“Explosiveness isn’t going to win a U.S. Open. It’s more methodically building your score over the course of four days and being okay with that. Honestly, it’s just more of a reframing of a mindset than anything else.”

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About the author

Ross Tugwood

Senior Digital Writer

Ross Tugwood is a Senior Digital Writer for todays-golfer.com, specializing in data, analytics, science, and innovation.

Ross is passionate about optimizing sports performance and has a decade of experience working with professional athletes and coaches for British Athletics, the UK Sports Institute, and Team GB.

He is an NCTJ-accredited journalist with post-graduate degrees in Performance Analysis and Sports Journalism, enabling him to critically analyze and review the latest golf equipment and technology to help you make better-informed buying decisions.