‘Fared Ridiculously’: Days After His Miserable Performance, Rory McIlroy Receives a Humbling Lesson From a Veteran LIV Golf Defector

Rory McIlroy is the Player Director on the PGA Tour Board, a role he earned in no small part by being one of the best golfers on the American circuit. However, his long drought of missing titles at Major Tournaments since his Open Championship win in 2014 has become a topic of debate in the golfing community.

The Irishman came up short once again at the Open Championship in Hoylake last week. Although the golfing cosmos is abuzz with him being past his prime, one experienced golfer has a different opinion.

Lee Westwood shares his opinion about Rory McIlroy’s gameplay

After the final round at Hoylake, golf commentator and former pro golfer Brandel Chamblee said about McIlroy, “I know you think he’s ripped and he is ripped, but you reach your physical prime at 26, 27 years old.” There was a considerable backlash from the Irish golfer’s fans about the comment; admirers believe that the Former World No. 1 is still very much in form.

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If the Northern Irishman had any doubts about his abilities to earn a major title since his long-standing drought, LIV Golfer Lee Westwood has a different opinion much like McIlroy’s fans. He said to the Telegraph, “I honestly have a feeling that he will win the Masters in April and I’m not sure I’ve felt that way before.” GolfMagic shared his wise words on their Twitter handle. This should be a humbling experience for McIlroy since Westwood comes from a rival faction. Despite the merger, there is still some bad blood left.

The English golfer has his reason for believing in Rory McIlroy’s talents. “Rory will now go into a 10th season without having won a major, but to my mind he has not peaked yet and fared ridiculously well to win four majors before he was 25. I did not play my best golf until I was in my late 30s.”

Drawing on his own experience, Westwood justified that even though he got to be world no. 1, he was dejected because people said he didn’t deserve it, but he proved himself in his late 30s and is still going strong, even if he is away from the American Tour. The LIV Golfer has faith in the two-time Open winner, for it is a feat that wasn’t easy and McIlroy did it with grace.

Rory McIlroy’s performance in majors this season

Although the 23-time PGA Tour winner missed the cut at the Augusta Masters Tournament this season, his stint at other Majors has been noteworthy. He finished in the top 10 of three out of four Major Tournaments in the 2022-23 season.

At the PGA Championship, he finished T7 and took home $ 560,000. At the US Open, he came very close to the title but lost it to maiden winner Wyndham Clark by one shot. He finished as runner-up and earned a massive $2.2 million.

At the Open Championship at Royal Liverpool, Rory McIlroy was faring well in the final round. He had 4 consecutive birdies on the front 9. But at the back 9, he hit two bogeys on the 10th and 16th. Even though he made two birdies on the 14th and 17th, he finished T6, several shots behind winner Brian Harman. McIlroy still has fight left in him and next season who knows he may break the long drought. He has plenty of support. Lee Westwood believes in him and so do his fans.

Do you agree with Westwood? Do you think the Irishman can claim the Masters title in the 2023-24 season? Share your thoughts and opinions with us below.

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