19th Hole
‘Wish I could use my driver from last year’ – Rory McIlroy admits ‘user error’ after struggles at The Players
Rory McIlroy finished his first round of the 2023 Players Championship by recording his second worst opening round of his 13-year Sawgrass career.
The world number 3 started the event as joint-favourite alongside current rankings leader Jon Rahm but fell behind after a round comprising an opening double-bogey and four further bogeys, including at the 9th, his last hole of the day. Just two birdies offset the mistakes in a round of 76, four-over and 12 shots behind surprise leader Chad Ramey.
Whilst his stats for the round show large negative figures for his short-game, the Irishman spoke about recent issues with his driver, and the reasons he dumped his TaylorMade Stealth Plus in favour of a new Stealth 2 Plus and a new loft setting.
Consistently in the top two for ‘off-the-tee’ stats, the 2023 Dubai Desert Classic winner had found his figures worsening at the Pheonix Open (15th) before being outplayed off the tee-peg by 36 of his peers at Riviera, his worst ranking since the 2021 Irish Open.
McIlroy finished 3rd in the off-the-tee lists for 2021/2022 but currently ranks in 10th for this season so far – small margins, but crucial if you are looking only at the number one slot in the world.
Changing his driver mid-way through the Genesis Invitational, McIlory found some respite when runner-up at Bay Hill last weekend, but admitted today that he still has not got used to the new big stick.
“Look, I wish I could use my driver from last year, but I can’t just because of…you use a driver for so long, and it starts to get a little too….basically it just wouldn’t pass the test,” McIlroy told reporters.
“These driver heads are so finicky, it’s hard to get one exactly the same,” he said, before confirming, “I’m obviously trying my best, trying to get something that’s as close to what I had last year.”
Despite admitting he “just struggled a little bit off the tee the last couple weeks,” McIlory doesn’t put the blame entirely on one club.
“Yeah, there’s obviously a part of it that’s the user, as well. It’s quite a lot of user error in there, as well.”
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- ‘That’s what everybody wants me to do’ – Is Anthony Kim about to make a sensational return to pro golf?
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19th Hole
LET pro gives detailed financial breakdown of first week on tour…and the net result may shock you
On Friday morning, Ladies European Tour player, Hannah Gregg, took to social media to share her weekly expenses playing on the LET.
Expenses of my first week on Ladies European Tour:
Flights: $2600
Work Visa: $350
Food: $377
Caddie: $0 because I have an amazing Fiancé
Hotel: $0 because @GregChalmersPGA sorted me host housing for the week! ?
Rental Car: +0 because the Tour Tee guys GAVE me their car ??…— Hannah Gregg (@hannahbggg) April 26, 2024
“Expenses of my first week on Ladies European Tour: Flights: $2600 Work Visa: $350
- Food: $377
- Caddie: $0 because I have an amazing Fiancé
- Hotel: $0 because @GregChalmersPGA sorted me host housing for the week!
- Rental Car: +0 because the Tour Tee guys GAVE me their car
- Gas: $165
- Entry Fee: $130
- Lounge Pass for caddie: $50
- Gym: $0
- Yardage book: $0
- Total expenses: $3672
Made cut, finished 54th, total earned: $1244 Factor in 35% tax on earnings. To break even, needed to finish 24th. To make money, 21st. Guess we have our goals laid out for next event!”
When factoring in Gregg’s free housing, free caddie and free rental car, it’s evident that most LET players would have to finish well inside of the top-20 to make any money.
With ridiculous amounts of money being thrown around in professional golf these days, it’s important to remember the other side of the coin as well. There are countless professionals out there who struggle to get by on their golf salary.
More from the 19th Hole
- The wild reason why Mark Wahlberg was initially denied entry to an Australian golf club
- 2-time major champ announces shock retirement from the sport at age of 33
- Edoardo Molinari reveals the latest PGA Tour golfer to turn down ‘good offer’ from LIV Golf
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19th Hole
54-hole golf tour deemed eligible for OWGR points…but it’s not LIV
After a seventeen-month application process, a 54-hole golf tour was deemed eligible for OWGR points.
Unfortunately, for LIV Golf and their fans, it was the Clutch Pro Tour.
After the decision, which is effective immediately, OWGR chairman Peter Dawson issued a statement.
“This is a significant milestone for golf, and OWGR is deeply encouraged by the achievement and the continued efforts in developing the sport of golf in the United Kingdom.”
“We look forward to watching the progress of the Clutch Pro Tour as it continues to play a key role in the development of players from the region,” Dawson added.
OWGR Announcement
Read more here – https://t.co/7J4bFpawqv#OWGR#OfficialWorldGolfRanking pic.twitter.com/ZfBJWCFAm8— OWGR (@OWGRltd) April 25, 2024
The Clutch Pro Tour operates in the United Kingdom and features a 36-hole cut. It also has an open qualifying school.
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- 2-time major champ announces shock retirement from the sport at age of 33
- Edoardo Molinari reveals the latest PGA Tour golfer to turn down ‘good offer’ from LIV Golf
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19th Hole
Charlie Woods attempting to qualify for spot at 2024 U.S. Open
As first reported by Bob Harig of Sports Illustrated, Charlie Woods will be attempting to qualify for this year’s U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2.
The first stage of qualifying for this year’s tournament will be an 18-hole local event on Thursday, April 25th, in Port St. Lucie, Florida.
There will be 84 players in the field, five of which will reach the 36-hole qualifier that will take place in June.
Earlier this season, Charlie attempted to qualify for the Cognizant Classic, and struggled, shooting an 86.
If the younger Woods is able to qualify, he will tee it up in the same field as his father in a few months at one of the more historic U.S. Open venues.
More from the 19th Hole
- The wild reason why Mark Wahlberg was initially denied entry to an Australian golf club
- 2-time major champ announces shock retirement from the sport at age of 33
- Edoardo Molinari reveals the latest PGA Tour golfer to turn down ‘good offer’ from LIV Golf
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