Rory McIlroy is working hard on his backswing. The unorthodox drill featuring a bottle (yes, a water bottle) has left some curious. Some surprised. But most unimpressed. Before coming to the drill, let’s talk about the necessity of a new exercise first. 

Early March, the Ulsterman paid a visit to swing maestro Butch Harmon for pearls of wisdom. Issues prevailed still, and some new ones cropped up. It was noticeable for many, including Tiger Woods’s former coach, Hank Haney. 

Now Haney and McIlroy’s opinions differed. After McIlroy missed two late putts to squander his back-nine lead at the US Open,  Haney opined a more experienced caddie like Steve Williams would’ve stepped up.

He felt McIlroy made the wrong club choice, and as a caddie, Harry Diamond should’ve given better advice. McIlroy disagreed. “Hank Haney has never been in that position,” the Ulsterman shot straight in a press conference later.

Haney, though, is impressed with McIlroy’s current drill. The four-time major winner placed a water bottle right by his golf bag. He attempted to swing through the short gap between the bottle and the bag. 

Haney tweeted, “Much better, now just fix your head position at impact and you will win 7 times next year.” Regardless of what he says though, fans are not super impressed. They would rather have McIlroy work on what cost him multiple titles this season: putting. 

Rory McIlroy isn’t doing what’s needed; fans cry out

Some fans want Rory McIlroy to take a leaf out of Tiger Woods’s book. The 15-time major champion had an intense putting routine. Woods was the best in putting in 2004, 5th best in 2005, 21st in 2006, 2nd in 2007 and 2009. Countless times, a clutch putt made all the difference between him and the rest of the field. The case hasn’t been the same for McIlroy.

After the US Open, the Ulsterman’s putting has come to sharp focus. At Pinehurst, Rory McIlroy missed two putts inside three feet. It’s little wonder that many fans felt the 35-year-old should work on his putting instead. 

“He should just spend 8 hours a day putting from 4-10 feet like tiger used too [sic!],” one user noted. Another commented, “I don’t think he needs drill I think more putting.” Similarly, some netizens feel McIlroy is doubling down on what’s actually costing him titles. “No help as far as I can see. Rehearsing the exact move that’s killing him.”

Some also suggested Rory McIlroy should work with Butch Harmon more closely. Not just that they also wondered if the 35-year-old should change his team as well. One user insisted, ‘I love you Rory but go see butch bro, you need to build a better team.” McIlroy has already done the first part.

“I always joke that if you spend four hours with Butch, and you go away with two swing tips and 30 stories,” the Northern Irishman joked during the Masters. From the recent clip though it seems he is working on the same point that Harmon wanted to hammer home. His long follow-through was causing his wedge shots to miss the green by a long margin. McIlroy was seen controlling his follow-through as well as the backswing in the recent drill. 

Nevertheless, using a bottle caused some sarcastic digs as well. The Ulsterman has been a close second four times this season across the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour. In two of them, the US Open and the Amgen Irish Open, McIlroy slipped on his lead. One user quipped, “Practicing bottling it ?”

Rory McIlroy will tee off in the $9M-purse Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship. It’s the first of the three DP World Tour playoffs and one that the Ulsterman hasn’t won. He is, however, very close to netting his sixth Harry Vardon Trophy.