Battling Personal & Professional Failures, Rory McIlroy’s ‘Psychological’ Struggles Revealed by Longtime Ally

Is Rory McIlroy‘s era coming to an end? Given the current circumstances, it might be possible. Although he maintained a #2 ranking on the OWGR for some time, which has now dropped to #3, that’s not the only noteworthy aspect of the Irishman’s career. His four major titles have significantly contributed to the reputation he enjoys today.

However, the enjoyment is starting to wane due to his recent back-to-back setbacks, which are taking a psychological toll on the 35-year-old. Although McIlroy hasn’t publicly addressed this issue, one of his allies seems to have some insight into what might be happening. Let’s delve deeper into the psychological challenges faced by the four-time major champion!

Rory McIlroy is facing simultaneous professional and personal setbacks

Shortly before the PGA Championship, news of Rory McIlroy’s divorce from his wife, Erica Stoll, shocked the community. Married since 2017 and parents to a 4-year-old daughter, Poppy, Erica decided to end their relationship. This personal turmoil was compounded by McIlroy’s T12 finish at Valhalla. This has added to his psychological challenges.

In light of these events, Paul McGinley, McIlroy’s former Ryder Cup captain, shared some insights. During Golf Channel’s Live From coverage before the final round, discussion about McIlroy’s quest for his fifth major title arose. McGinley, delving into the topic, started by saying, “There are two issues as to why he is not the player he was back then when it comes to major championships.”. As McGinley pointed out, the first one is quite evident: “The fields are stronger now. Back then, he was a young guy forging his way, and his elbows were at their pointiest.” 

However, the former captain further highlighted that “there’s no doubt a psychological build-up from not getting over the line in major championships since [2014] that he hasn’t circumnavigated yet.” As per McGinley, it’s the “psychological” challenges that are consistently presenting hurdles in the life of the Irishman.

The Irishman’s last win was a decade ago, with his best year being in 2014, when he secured two majors: the Open and the PGA Championship. It was the year he got separated from his then-fiance, Wozniacki. Since then, things have been tough for the 35-year-old, especially in 2024. Undoubtedly, it’s solely based on intuition from McIlroy’s former associate, but given the present circumstances, the psychological aspect appears to be the most logical explanation. Adding to his mental struggles, the aforementioned issues probably aren’t the only ones.

McIlroy is unable to join the PGA Tour policy board

Ahead of the Wells Fargo Championship this year, the pro made a revelation, stating, “There’s a subset of people on the board that were maybe uncomfortable with me coming back on for some reason.” This came in light of why he was not able to return to the Tour Policy Board.

A later report disclosed that Patrick Cantlay, Jordan Spieth, and Tiger Woods were among those voting against the Irish golfer. Given McIlroy’s friendship with Woods, this might have caused emotional distress for the Irishman, especially since Woods’s vote was unexpected. Despite the four-time major winner addressing the issue later and stating that there’s “no strain” in their relationship, it remains an unsatisfactory explanation.

McIlroy is now more permissive about LIV Golf and its players returning to the PGA Tour. Conversely, the 15-time major champion feels there should be consequences for golfers attempting to return to the PGA Tour. These differing views further fuel concerns about their relationship potentially deteriorating. Woods’s opposition might have unknowingly added to the Irishman’s mental struggles.

Do you think these challenges could be detrimental enough to significantly affect Rory McIlroy’s career, or does he still have a chance for a roaring comeback? Share your thoughts in the comments below.