'No One Wants Me To Win Another Major More Than I Do'
McIlroy looks to have a fantastic opportunity to win his fifth Major title this weekend at Los Angeles Country Club
Rory McIlroy hasn't won a Major since August 2014 but he assured reporters on Friday at Los Angeles Country Club of just how much he wants to win another.
McIlroy has had 18 top-10s including two runners-up finishes in Majors since his PGA Championship win at Valhalla in 2014, with the Northern Irishman coming up just short seemingly time after time in men's golf's four biggest events.
In that period, he has won essentially everything there is to win in golf. FedEx Cups, Race to Dubais, WGCs, big PGA Tour events and everything in between, along with weeks and weeks atop the Official World Golf Ranking.
This weekend at the US Open looks to be a fantastic opportunity for the 34-year-old to finally pick up Major number five as he heads into the final 36-holes at LACC at eight-under-par after a 65-67 start.
McIlroy has looked close to his very best over the first two days in LA, and his answer was fascinating after being asked: "At what point do you start thinking about winning this thing?"
"I mean, I started thinking about winning this thing when I came here on Monday," he said. "I've already done that. No one wants me to win another Major more than I do. The desire is obviously there.
"I've been trying and I've come close over the past nine years or whatever it is, and I keep coming back. I feel like I've showed a lot of resilience in my career, a lot of ups and downs, and I keep coming back.
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
"And whether that means that I get rewarded or I get punched in the gut or whatever it is, I'll always keep coming back."
A post shared by Golf Monthly (@golfmonthly)
A photo posted by on
For him to get over the line, he says he'll need to continue driving it well off the tee over the final two days where he expects the low scoring LACC to "bite back" with firmer surfaces.
"I think every Major championship and every venue is different," he said.
"You just have to play what the course gives you. I feel like I'm hitting the ball well. I've hit it well off the tee.
"I felt like coming into this week that was going to be a key for me if I could put the ball in play. You can play from there and create some scoring opportunities. That's really my game plan over the next couple days. Put the ball in play off the tee, and I think I'll be just fine from there.
"It's got the potential to get a little firmer and faster over the next couple days, which will make the scores go up a little bit. We'll see what it's like at the end of the week. It's still early in the week.
"And yes, the course has played maybe a little easier than everyone thought it would, but wouldn't be surprised on Saturday/Sunday to see it bite back, which going back to your question I feel is what a U.S. Open is all about.
"It should be tough. It should be just as much of a mental grind out there as a physical one."
If he does get the job done this weekend, he'll win his second US Open title after capturing his maiden Major title at Congressional in 2011.
The Northern Irishman set the US Open scoring record that week when, at the age of 21, he shot a 16-under-par 268 total to win by eight strokes.
His second Major title came just over a year later at the 2012 PGA Championship at Kiawah Island, with numbers three and four coming at Royal Liverpool in the 2014 Open and Valhalla in the PGA Championship just a few weeks' later.
Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!
Elliott is currently playing:
Driver: Titleist TSR4
3 wood: Titleist TSi2
Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1
Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW
Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58
Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5
Ball: Srixon Z Star XV
-
Who Will Be PGA Tour Champions King? The 10 Players In Contention For The Charles Schwab Cup
The season-long race for the Charles Schwab Cup comes to a head in Arizona this week – here are the 10 players still in contention to win it
By Mike Hall Published
-
World Wide Technology Championship Picks, Predictions And Odds
Ahead of the PGA Tour's World Wide Technology Championship in Los Cabos, Mexico, some of the Golf Monthly team has picked out a few likely contenders
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship Tee Times: Rounds One And Two
Rory McIlroy is closing in on his sixth Race to Dubai title and he's grouped with his two closest challengers in the first two rounds of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship
By Mike Hall Published
-
Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship Prize Money Payout 2024
The DP World Tour Play-Offs section of the season begins with the first of two elevated events to decide the Race to Dubai champion
By Mike Hall Published
-
How Much Money Rory McIlroy Has Made Every Year On The PGA And DP World Tours
Rory McIlroy is one of the highest paid golfers in the history of the sport - but how much has he won each year on the PGA and DP World Tours?
By Joel Kulasingham Published
-
Did Rory McIlroy Forecast ‘Cutthroat’ PGA Tour Changes?
The PGA Tour is set to vote on several key changes to the circuit - including the reduction of field sizes, which McIlroy called for earlier this year...
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
Jon Rahm And Ludvig Aberg Among Big Names Missing Abu Dhabi Championship As Rory McIlroy Headlines Field
The entry list for the first DP World Tour Play-Offs event is in, with the top 70 teeing it up at Yas Links next week
By Elliott Heath Published
-
PGA Tour Pair Clear Favorites As Early Odds Released For 'The Showdown'
Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler have been strongly tipped to triumph in their exhibition match against LIV golfers Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
The Showdown: Date And Course Set For Las Vegas TV Match Featuring McIlroy, Scheffler, DeChambeau And Koepka
More details on the venue and date for the made-for-TV contest featuring Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka have been released
By Mike Hall Last updated
-
Rory McIlroy Sees Tours 'Doing Their Own Thing For The Foreseeable Future' As Talks Over Future Of Men's Pro Game Continue
The four-time Major winner thinks there could be progress in the talks by the end of the year, but that it could be some time until the main circuits come back together
By Mike Hall Published