Rory McIlroy’s decision-making ahead of the new PGA Tour season has been praised by former tour player Brendon de Jonge.
Rory McIlroy hasn’t quite reached top gear yet this year, but there have been plenty of positives. He tied for 14th at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and pushed Jacob Bridgeman all the way to the final hole at the Genesis Invitational.
McIlroy also returned to his old bladed irons after briefly switching to cavity backs last year, a move that didn’t pay off during a tough week at the Dubai Desert Classic on the DP World Tour back in January.
And de Jonge believes that going back to his trusted blades has played a key role in McIlroy’s strong start on American soil.
Assessing Rory McIlroy’s early PGA Tour campaign
Rory McIlroy’s start to the new PGA Tour season hasn’t set the world alight, but there are already signs of promise. He began with a T14 finish at Pebble Beach, and then narrowly missed out on catching Jacob Bridgeman at Riviera.
His best moment came during his singles match against Billy Horschel in the Ryder Cup, where he pulled off an impressive win that stood out amid an otherwise poor European performance.
The switch back to bladed irons appears to have made a difference. His first event with them came at Riviera, where he looked more comfortable despite still searching for top form.
How Rory McIlroy’s early-season form syacks up on approach
The season is still young, so it’s hard to make any strong judgements about where McIlroy stands right now.
With upcoming tests at Bay Hill and TPC Sawgrass, we’ll get a clearer picture soon. But the early signs are positive.
He’s never finished a PGA Tour season leading strokes gained approach. His best result was back in 2012 when he finished second.
This year, though, he currently sits at the top of that category. That’s unexpected, given his game has always been built around his power off the tee.
It’s a promising sign with the majors coming up soon and McIlroy will be hoping to maintain this momentum as the season progresses.
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