Golf Channel’s Brandel Chamblee has been a critic of Rory McIlroy when it comes to the Northern Irishman’s decade-long major championship drought.

After McIlroy came up short at the U.S. Open last month, Chamblee criticized his iron play.

“Don’t get me wrong, I love Rory’s golf swing, it’s beautiful. It’s beautiful. But he’s now finished in the top-ten in the last six U.S. Opens and he’s averaging in those six U.S. Opens – because I just looked here in strokes gained approach – about 30th. Guess what they do not do? Win U.S. Opens.

“The guys who win U.S. Opens finish first, second, third, fourth. Brooks Koepka in U.S. Opens – first, second, most greens and best iron shots, strokes gained approach.

“Rory consistently underperforms in his iron play – and that is the most important statistic.”

In the lead up to this week’s Open Championship at Royal Troon, Brandel is questioning McIlroy’s major championship preparation, after posing the question “Why does Rory’s game deteriorate in the biggest moments?”

Speaking at Royal Troon, Chamblee said

“When you look at what the best athletes do when they play to a higher level, they are being themselves.

“They are extraordinary athletes; they don’t have their minds cluttered up and, of course, their focus narrows the closer they get to the lead because of the confidence they get from that.

“So, it seems to me that Rory over time has enquired a lot from swing instructors or putting instructors or sports psychologists or deep dives from YouTube.

“With this generation, there is an epidemic of people doing deep dives on YouTube and getting cluttered up with curiosity.

“When I see Rory, it looks to me like he has either too many swing thoughts in his mind or he has too many voices in his head, it’s the only logical conclusion that I can draw.

“Why can one person be so obviously different getting into the lead or close to the lead and so obviously different when he has the lead.”

McIlroy will look to finally get over the line this week at Royal Troon, where he finished T5 back in 2016.

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It’s been a tough few seasons for Tiger Woods. The 15-time major champion has teed it up four times in 2024 with results of WD, 60th, MC, MC. The 60th was his best start and came at Augusta National for The Masters.

The results have certainly not been a reason for optimism, but Tiger’s former coach, Hank Haney, believes Woods still has a chance to compete for an Open Championship.

A lot of people thought Augusta was Tiger’s best chance to ever win again, it’s wasn’t, it was always the Open Championship for multiple reasons, he can hit shots like this, slower greens mean fewer 3 putts and no one has more knowledge about playing links golf. Based on what… https://t.co/1ImmrZWVFs

— Hank Haney (@HankHaney) July 15, 2024

“A lot of people thought Augusta was Tiger’s best chance to ever win again, it’s wasn’t, it was always the Open Championship for multiple reasons, he can hit shots like this, slower greens mean fewer 3 putts and no one has more knowledge about playing links golf. Based on what he’s done so far this year it’s kind of looking like now or never. His swing looks really good in practice.”

???????Tiger Woods’ swing is ________. @TWlegion | @TaylorMadeGolf

pic.twitter.com/PMpX0POARY

— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) July 15, 2024

Woods’ swing looks good ahead of this week’s Open Championship at Royal Troon, however, his swing has not been the problem of late.

Time will tell if Tiger is able to remain healthy and if his body can work through the wear and tear of a 72-hole tournament against the best players in the world.

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Last week, European legend Colin Montgomerie spoke with The Times and questioned why Tiger Woods was still playing.

“There is a time for all sportsmen to say goodbye, but it’s very difficult to tell Tiger it’s time to go. Obviously, he still feels he can win. We are more realistic.”

“At Pinehurst, he did not seem to enjoy a single shot and you think, ‘What the hell is he doing?’” Montgomerie said. “He’s coming to Troon and he won’t enjoy it there, either.”

Woods spoke ahead of the 152nd Open Championship at Royal Troon and responded to Montgomerie’s comments.

“Well, as a past champion, I’m exempt until I’m 60. Colin’s not. He’s not a past champion, so he’s not exempt. So he doesn’t get the opportunity to make that decision. I do,” 

“So when I get to his age, I get to still make that decision, where he doesn’t.”

This morning, Montgomerie took to his X account to defend his comments on Tiger.

If Golf Writers want my thoughts on Tiger please ask me direct, rather than taking a quote from an interview out of context. Wishing Tiger an enjoyable and successful week.

— Colin Montgomerie (@montgomeriefdn) July 16, 2024

“If Golf Writers want my thoughts on Tiger please ask me direct, rather than taking a quote from an interview out of context. Wishing Tiger an enjoyable and successful week.”

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