Technical Struggles on the Green
Rory McIlroy’s campaign at The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale has been defined by a stark contrast between his long-game brilliance and significant struggles on the greens. Sky Sports commentator Wayne Riley noted that McIlroy’s opening round performance was particularly jarring, as the World No. 2 ranked 155th out of 156 players in strokes gained putting, losing 2.8 strokes to the field.
According to Riley, the sight of McIlroy missing routine putts from inside four feet was “bewildered.” Riley highlighted that such uncharacteristic errors—specifically on the 7th, 8th, and 10th holes—had not been seen in McIlroy’s game since his 2024 U.S. Open appearance. The difficulty in judging the pace of the greens, which were reportedly running just under 11 on the stimpmeter, left the 37-year-old struggling to find rhythm.
The Road to Recovery
In response to the opening-round deficit, McIlroy turned to his coach, Brad Faxon, for immediate technical intervention. Riley observed that this proactive approach was essential for McIlroy to remain relevant. The strategy appeared to pay dividends on Friday, as McIlroy carded a 67 to move to one under for the tournament.
Despite the improved score, McIlroy admitted post-round that he still does not feel 100% comfortable with his putting. While he produced moments of world-class quality—notably a 403-yard drive on the 9th hole—his reliance on Faxon highlights an ongoing battle to trust his instincts. As the leaderboard shifts with players like Lucas Herbert and Sam Burns posting record-equalling 62s, McIlroy’s ability to stabilize his short game will likely determine whether he can mount a genuine charge for a second Claret Jug or remain in a holding pattern.