Oh what may need been for the 35-year-old from Holywood in a season that has yielded three wins, however – in all honesty – not in the tournaments the place he would most need to triumph.
There are misses and there are misses. Some are worse than others and the incontrovertible fact that McIlroy so persistently places himself in competition is a trademark of his relentless excellence.
This newest disappointment at the fingers of American Billy Horschel must be simpler to take than a few of the others he has suffered this 12 months.
McIlroy shot 67 taking part in in the closing group to end 20 underneath par with out being at his best possible. He was tenacious and tactical to stay in competition and unleashed field workplace brilliance to create the likelihood of victory.
His imperious strategy onto the inexperienced at the par-five seventeenth was matched by a sensational 46-foot putt that yielded solely the second eagle of the closing day on that penultimate gap.
Suddenly McIlroy might win with a birdie at the final and was standing in the center of the closing fairway. It was a protracted strategy, the event was on the line, 1000's upon 1000's have been watching – a real grandstand end.
How a lot simpler may that very troublesome shot have been had he been the reigning US Open champion or winner of the Irish Open or an Olympic medalist?
Who is aware of? Could have, would have, ought to have.
But one suspects the immense strain of that second may need been a tad simpler to deal with in that various universe. In actuality, he appeared nervous, haunted and never relishing the second.
Of course seems might be misleading, however the ensuing four-iron was quick and left, fortunate not to discover the water. He might solely make par.
McIlroy appeared extra composed in the play-off and made two wonderful birdies. But Horschel, who additionally closed with a 67, in the end holed from round 30 toes for a event profitable eagle.
The higher man on the day gained and as soon as once more it took impressed brilliance to deny McIlroy, simply because it had with Hojgaard seven days earlier and from Bryson DeChambeau at Pinehurst in the US Open in June.
“Inevitably you're going to have disappointments,” McIlroy reasoned. “Unfortunately I'm just getting a little too used to feeling what it's like when you do and hopefully that tide will turn.”
Consider his performances on the DP World Tour this 12 months. McIlroy has but to end exterior the high 4 in 5 occasions, amongst them victory at the Dubai Desert Classic in January.
In complete, solely six gamers have scored higher than him in these tournaments. He has crushed a cumulative 604. A tour main stroke common of 68.71 compares very favourably with the common of 70.95.
The present world quantity three is a category above nearly everybody on the European tour. He is destined to win a sixth Race to Dubai title in November.
Colin Montgomerie’s document haul of eight Orders of Merit is underneath extreme risk from this technology's undisputed king of European golf.
“I feel like I've really got a knack of playing golf good enough,” McIlroy mirrored as the Wentworth hoards headed to the exits. “Even when I don't feel I'm playing my best, I'm playing golf good enough to always have a chance.”
He is entitled to assume that means. “When I show up at a golf tournament, I sort of know that the field has to beat me to have a chance to win,” he stated.
“That's how it feels. So that's a pretty good position to be in.”
McIlroy was at his devastating finest when he gained at Quail Hollow on the PGA Tour the week earlier than the US PGA Championship in May. He couldn't maintain that type at Valhalla after which got here the crushing conclusion at Pinehurst the following month.
Two clear and taking part in brilliantly, he appeared destined to finish a decade-long look forward to a fifth main at that US Open. But he dropped three pictures in the final 4 holes together with lacking a tiny putt on the sixteenth.
It was depressing, and was compounded by the ragged DeChambeau making a miraculous escape from a bunker to land the profitable par on the closing gap. Such an consequence may need completed a lesser golfer.
Yes, McIlroy has but to win since and has failed to take possibilities. Some of these misses might have added scar tissue – he dropped pictures down the stretch in Northern Ireland simply over every week in the past – however this Wentworth defeat was totally different.
Indeed, his efficiency there confirmed that he can put bitter disappointments behind him and go once more. He is a {golfing} Chumbawamba, prepared to get knocked down however get again up once more.
It is sweet cause for “tub thumping” as a result of that is one in all his many qualities.
“I’m a better golfer than I was five years ago,” McIlroy concluded. “I know that. It's just a matter of turning these close calls into wins.”
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