McIlroy aiming to ‘flip the script’ at FedEx Cup
Rory McIlroy believes the FedEx Cup is an opportunity to “change the narrative” around his season.
Rory McIlroy believes the FedEx Cup is an opportunity to “change the narrative” around his season.
The 35-year-old from Northern Ireland has won the PGA Tour’s season-ending title on three previous occasions, most recently in 2022.
However when teeing off on Thursday at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, the first of this year’s three playoff events, the world number three will sit almost 3,500 points behind leader and recent Olympic champion Scottie Scheffler.
The American world number one also won his second Masters this season, while golf’s biggest prizes continue to elude McIlroy.
“I think when the bulk of the season has come and gone and you’ve got this opportunity of three weeks to really flip the script a little bit or change the narrative and what that season means, I think that’s a motivating factor, and part of the reason that I’ve probably played well in the playoffs for the last three years,” McIlroy said.
‘It’s really good but not quite good enough’
McIlroy has won three times in 2024 but, with his major drought now having stretched beyond a decade, his year will be best remembered for losing out to Bryson DeChambeau over the final holes of the US Open at Pinehurst in June.
“I certainly don’t want to sit up here and belittle my achievements at all this year and what I’ve done, but at the same time, I expect a certain standard from myself,” said McIlroy.
“I’ve won a couple of times, but I’ve had an opportunity to win a few more times than that and haven’t been able to get over the line.
“I would have liked to have added a couple more to that win column. But there’s still three tournaments left in this PGA Tour season.”
After his tie for fifth place at the Olympics in Paris two weeks ago, McIlroy said he felt like the “nearly man” of the sport and, despite describing himself as “reasonably happy” with the way he has played across the year, the four-time major winner admitted he is still searching for a solution when it comes winning again on the biggest stage.
“I feel like this year and maybe the last couple years, I’ve just found a way to hit the wrong shot at the wrong time,” he added.
“That might go into preparation and trying to practice a little more under pressure at home. I mean, you go through these things in golf, and you go through these little challenges, and you just have to try to figure out a way to get through it, and my challenge right now is that.
“It’s really good but not quite good enough to sort of take home the silverware. It’s just something I’m having to work through.”
The top 70 players in the FedEx Cup standings after the regular season qualified to be in Memphis this week with McIlroy teeing off alongside Collin Morikawa at 15:45 BST.
The top 50 after this week’s tournament advance to the BMW Championship before the top 30 progress to the concluding Tour Championship at East Lake GC.
