Rory McIlroy’s Quail Hollow week ended unevenly, but a late range session helped him rediscover a key swing feel before the PGA Championship.
Rory McIlroy didn’t leave the Truist Championship with the finish he wanted, but he may have found something more valuable before the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club.
After a frustrating third-round 75 at Quail Hollow, McIlroy returned to the practice range Saturday night searching for answers.
READ MORE: Rory McIlroy Challenges LIV Stars to Return
The issue? A familiar left miss caused by the club moving too far from the inside through impact — the same flaw he worked through during his Masters run at Augusta National.
“I was trying to figure it out a little bit on the range last night,” McIlroy said Sunday, “which I felt like I did, and I hit the ball much better today.”
The numbers told a mixed story for McIlroy, who finished the week at 5-under 279 after rounds of 70, 67, 75 and 67.
He opened with 17 straight pars, surged into contention with a second-round 67, then fell back badly Saturday before closing with another 67.
McIlroy still showed plenty of firepower. He gained more than four strokes off the tee, led the field in driving distance and ranked inside the top five in greens in regulation.
But his approach numbers and putting lagged behind, keeping him from making a serious Sunday push.
McIlroy said the left-to-right wind on Quail Hollow’s range may have encouraged the bad move.
“That’s sort of my bad habit at the minute,” he said, adding that awareness helped him manage it better in the final round.
Now the focus shifts to Aronimink, where McIlroy has good memories. He shot a course-record 62 there during the 2018 BMW Championship and finished fifth that week.
McIlroy planned to head home for a night, practice Monday, then carry the improved feel into Philadelphia.
Join our ROUNDTABLE community for FREE! Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members.
Download the free Roundtable App to stay even more connected!