Rory McIlroy has enjoyed a stellar career in the game, but The Memorial Tournament has managed to elude him throughout his career to date.
McIlroy is in the field at The Memorial Tournament this week, and he’s desperate to change that.
The 37-year-old Northern Irishman is a huge admirer of tournament host, Jack Nicklaus, and the feeling is mutual.
Rory McIlroy will be playing The Memorial Tournament for the 14th time in his career this week, as he goes in search of his first win at Jack Nicklaus‘ golf course.
On paper, Muirfield Village should be ideally suited to McIlroy’s game.
So the fact that McIlroy has never won The Memorial simply doesn’t make sense. Or does it?
The 30-time PGA Tour winner has provided a potential explanation as to why he has been starved of success at Muirfield Village throughout his career.
Rory McIlroy says why he hasn’t been able to win The Memorial yet
The six-time major champion sat down to speak with reporters in Dublin, Ohio, on Wednesday morning, ahead of the start of the Memorial.
McIlroy responded when asked by reporters if there is any particular reason why he is still waiting for his first win at Muirfield Village.
“Yeah, for being such a long golf course I feel like it takes driver out of my hand a lot, which, you know, I pride myself on that being one of my biggest weapons,“ he said.
“The fairways pinch in right around the spots where I would be finishing driver. So it’s frustrated me in a way that I feel like my biggest weapon is in some way neutralized here.
“And then I have to play the golf course like most of the other guys in the field, which I think I can — everyone plays from the same spots.
It’s more that there’s bunkers that I think I can carry that I could get an advantage, but there’s really no advantage to it because, obviously, the rough here is so penal, and then angles into greens.
And so it’s just about me being a little more disciplined and not being so aggressive with my strategy.“
Two tournaments Rory McIlroy is desperate to win
McIlroy is very keen to add The Memorial to his list of wins, as well as one more prestigious title.
“Yeah, I would say here and Tiger’s event at Riviera, they’re the two that I would love to win,“ the Northern Irishman admitted.
“I’ve been lucky enough to win at Bay Hill, but not while Arnold was alive. So I always thought it would be cool to win here and take that little walk up the hill off the 18th green and shake Jack’s hand.
“Also, Jack and I share a nice history. We’ve known each other now for nearly 20 years — or I’ve known him for nearly 20 years.
“He’s been nothing but great to me and my family. So, yeah, this is certainly one I would love to get done.“
Rory McIlroy will be hoping that his dream of winning The Memorial finally comes true this week at Muirfield Village.
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