McIlroy aims to attack Royal Birkdale with driver to challenge for Open title
McIlroy’s aggressive approach at Royal Birkdale
Rory McIlroy is prepared to utilise his driver aggressively at Royal Birkdale as he seeks to improve his position at The 154th Open. McIlroy aims for a strong start to re-enter contention after the halfway stage of the tournament. He currently trails clubhouse leader Lucas Herbert by seven strokes.
McIlroy recovered from an opening round of 72 by carding a three-under 67 on Friday, benefiting from favourable conditions. His second round included four birdies and one bogey. He noted an improvement in his putting compared to the first day, where he ranked 148th among 156 players on the greens.
Despite his efforts, McIlroy expressed some frustration about not being closer to the lead, especially after seeing other players achieve low scores. He acknowledged that his main objective for the day was to ensure he would continue playing through the weekend, which he accomplished.
McIlroy has demonstrated his powerful driving by reaching the par-four ninth green in both the first two rounds. He plans to maintain this aggressive strategy, particularly with his driver, which he believes provides a significant advantage by allowing him to bypass certain fairway bunkers.
He noted that his driving has been exceptional over the first two days. McIlroy intends to continue using his driver whenever possible, feeling confident in his ability to position the ball effectively down the course.
Challenges on the greens
Despite his strong driving, McIlroy admitted he is still trying to adapt to the greens at Royal Birkdale. He described his putting as having been a struggle over the initial days, though he felt it improved slightly on Friday. He hopes to gain more comfort with the greens as the tournament progresses.
McIlroy mentioned instances where he felt he could have been more aggressive but opted for an iron off the tee, which he considered the safer play. He is selectively choosing moments to be aggressive.
The golfer also reflected on putts that did not behave as he anticipated, which he found unsettling. He emphasised the importance of trusting his reads and committing to his putts, particularly with the challenging pin positions.
Golf analyst Paul McGinley observed that McIlroy has made some errors and has not been consistently at his best. McGinley highlighted McIlroy’s phenomenal driving, which creates numerous opportunities, but noted that his iron play has been inconsistent and his putting has been moderate.
McGinley believes that despite these issues, McIlroy, being under par, remains a contender. He suggested that leaders like Herbert might experience pressure, creating an opportunity for McIlroy to advance.
Looking ahead to the weekend
McIlroy is optimistic about his chances, especially given that some players at the top of the leaderboard may be experiencing the pressure of leading a major championship for the first time on a weekend. He cited Cam Young and Sam Burns as experienced players among the leaders.
He believes that if he can achieve a strong start on Saturday, reaching four or five under par for the tournament, he will be firmly in contention. McIlroy’s playing partner, Matt Fitzpatrick, expressed frustration after missing the cut, attributing some of his difficulties to the unpredictable nature of links golf on firm ground.
Coverage of The Open will continue throughout the weekend. Saturday’s third-round coverage is scheduled to begin at 9 am on Sky Sports Golf, with early play available on Sky Sports+ and the Sky Sports App before full coverage starts at 11 am. Featured Groups will also be accessible via Sky Sports+ or the Sky Sports App, and Sunday’s final round coverage will commence at 8 am on Sky Sports Golf.
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Source: skysports.com