We hold Rory McIlroy to the highest standards because we know what he's capable of.
He's arguably our favorite player in the game and the best since Tiger Woods came along. He's extremely talented, but he's also one of the most frustrating players because we see him make our mistakes.
Although he has already won four championships around the world in 2024, he should win more. It's been a great career year for an average golfer, but Rory McIlroy is far from average.
He won the Hero Dubai Desert Classic and Wells Fargo Championship for the fourth time each, and then the DP World Tour for the third time – all at venues where he had previously had success. He also had some great plays down the field, but fumbled near the finish line.
I can't imagine what it's like to go back to a golf course where you've won at least twice before, let alone three times. It must have filled you with tremendous confidence. Without trying to belittle the other players, McIlroy was so far ahead that he was often in contention for the title in third gear.
It's difficult to win a golf tournament anywhere in the world, such is the quality of the field every week, but we've seen him make the mistake many times this season that I feel a lot of his peers have made – — just in the top games — there won’t be.
He seems to be going down this path, citing his golf swing as the reason he doesn't win another major, but to me, this looks like a decision made when the pressure was at its peak. I think part of his weakness is not taking advantage of one of his most impressive strengths.
He's one of the best drivers by far, and he should turn most par 5s into four birdies in this situation. Unfortunately for a player of his size, he made too many unforced errors in an attempt to score that eagle and only ended up with five or six points.
He needs to take full advantage of the incredible length and accuracy he possesses. I just feel like he doesn't know when to hold them and when to fold them, and unfortunately, this down-to-earth mentality can lead to his undoing in some situations.
Intense pressure continues on McIlroy
We can all look back at the U.S. Open and see some opportunities in the final few holes where he could have made better decisions and possibly become a five-time major champion at this stage.
That being said, no one knows how much tension and pressure these players are under in situations like McIlroy, who missed the putt at Pinewood Two. This has happened to other players of similar size in the past.
McIlroy has publicly stated that he hasn't won a major in a long time, and now that he's in contention it feels like he's trying to win for the first time. This is a very difficult situation.
He's aware of the pain and scars from past losses, as well as the distractions and noise that surround him at every major. This only adds to the stress further. Then facing the media, having to hold your head high, when you are completely broken inside, and the pressure of competition in the final stages.
When I saw what Rory McIlroy was doing a decade ago, I would have thought Rory McIlroy would be in double digits now with his number of major championships.
I still hope he can be number one. I expect Rory McIlroy to win five times a year or more. I don't think McIlroy will go into 11 years without a major.
I do think if he can make more guaranteed birdies on the par 5s and have better success with the wedge game like he did at the DP World Tour Championship where he hit six or seven wedges a week As we emphasized at the time of the pole, we are already looking forward to him being able to achieve our goals.
A bright future for McIlroy in 2025?
I'd love to see him win the Masters, but I just wonder, becoming a major champion and joining the greats of Gene Saracen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Woods list, will the inner thoughts of becoming a living legend come true? Applying too much pressure.
I think coming to a course like Augusta and being the favorite because of his past record and success on those courses just adds to the pressure. Our level of expectations will also be through the roof again.
I don’t believe McIlroy — for one second — would be happy or content with having one less major than Brooks Koepka at this moment. He hopes to re-establish himself as the best golfer in the world after Tiger.
I'd like to see McIlroy come close to dethroning Scotty Scheffler, regaining the No. 1 spot in the world, and then trying to hold on to that spot for quite some time. I can see him breaking his barren primary spell, but I haven't seen enough evidence to definitively say that will happen at Augusta. Here's hoping…
Watch Rory McIlroy: Expectations, a special new documentary reflecting on his 2024 season, on Sky Sports from 8 December. McIlroy will return to action in January and will broadcast live exclusively on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour on Sky Sports Golf Channel.