Masters champion recalls ‘good memories’ of potential future venue County Sligo
Rory McIlroy was making up the numbers in the end, but he believes he saw enough good stuff in his game at the Irish Open to be positive heading to the BMW PGA at Wentworth.
The world No 2 mixed an eagle and 15 birdies with eight bogeys and four double bogeys over his four rounds at Doonbeg, closing with a three-under 67 to finish 40th on one-under.
He hasn’t won since he retained his Masters title in April but remains hopeful for the rest of the season as he eyes a fifth Race to Dubai triumph in a row that would see him tie Colin Montgomerie’s record of eight season-long crowns.
“I’ve seen enough good stuff this week to give me encouragement,” McIlroy said before jetting home to London to see his family. “I don’t feel too far away.
“I’ve got next week, and India. Hopefully, we play two events in the Middle East, so four opportunities to play well and get myself in contention, get myself a little cushion at the top of the Race to Dubai.
“There were a couple of destructive shots, a couple of bad decisions off the tees yesterday, but overall, iron play was a lot better.”
Blaming his third-round 74 for taking him out of the tournament, he added: “I felt like I was within touching distance going into yesterday, and then just that bad start didn’t give me any chance of contending after that.
“I was just trying to salvage something today. Yesterday wasn’t a great day, but today was better.
“I hit some good shots, saw a couple of putts drop in, which was nice, and at least it gives me encouragement going into next week.
“It was just a struggle on the greens, and that was the big reason why I wasn’t able to get myself into contention.”
He praised the Irish Open and Doonbeg as a venue, but he was coy on how strong the field will be at The K Club next year as the championship moves away from its September slot to a late June date, just before the Scottish Open and The Open, due to September’s Ryder Cup at Adare Manor.
As for future venues post-2027, he recalled fond memories of County Sligo Golf Club, where he won back-to-back West of Ireland titles in 2005 and 2006.
“I think so,” he said when asked if he’d be supportive of Rosses Point hosting Connacht’s first Irish Open.
“Geez, I haven’t been there since 2007. I guess Sligo could hold it in terms of it’s a big enough town to have infrastructure around it and the roads in and out.
“They’ve done some work to the golf course as well in the last 20 years, so I’m probably not the best person to judge whether it is good or not, but I’ve certainly good memories from it.”
Paul Gillmon, head of championships at the DP World Tour, said Connacht remains an option.
“We’re looking,” he said. “We always look at the entire island in terms of venues, and it’s quite a multi-stakeholder sort of approach in terms of the strategy and the reason why we end up going to different venues.
“Connacht is always on the radar and in the conversation. I’ve spoken with County Sligo over the last few years.”
As for a return to Doonbeg, McIlroy simply said it had worked as a venue.
“I think it’s been a really good week,” he said. “From a player perspective, most players can stay on site. There’s accommodation. Even with the US president visiting, it’s been pretty seamless.
“It hasn’t been that hard to get in and out. It’s a good venue. I mean, it was a shame it was so soft, just with all the rain.
“I think if it had played like a true links course, it would have been a truer links test, I guess.
“Again, from a player’s perspective, everything’s worked really well this week.”