RORY MCILROY accused his coach of “revealing all our secrets” on live TV yesterday.
McIlroy was reflecting on his third round at the US Open when he had to end a question about a change in his swing that had been revealed by coach Brad Faxon’s putting.
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McIlroy shot 69 at Pinehurst yesterday, leaving him just three shots off the lead on the final day of the US Open.
And the 35-year-old looks closer to himself as he competes to take home a fifth career title – his first since 2014.
The secret to his competitiveness may lie in an impromptu workout on his flight home from the Memorial Tournament in Ohio last weekend.
When speaking to Sky Sports, he was asked if it was a “eureka moment” that had been explained to them by his placement coach, Brad Faxon.
Sky reporter Kira K Dixon said: “Our NBC colleague Brad Faxon was saying on the broadcast that you had a eureka moment on the plane from the Memorial Tournament back home.”
Probe: “You discovered something, got up and apparently were practicing some moves. Is this true and what is the eureka moment?”
McIlroy had a shocked expression on his face and avoided giving a proper answer to the question, while joking with his open-mouthed coach as well.
He said, “Okay. Erm, it might be true. I don’t know if I want to put it out there right now.
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“It’s good to know that Fax is revealing all our secrets.”
He added: “We spend a lot of time on planes and I spend a lot of time thinking about my game in the air. Sometimes things come to me.”
Whatever he discovered, it’s certainly working.
McIlroy has a real shot at his first major title in nearly 10 years and his second US Open title since his 2011 success in Maryland.
Although he will have to hope he can catch LIV Golf star Bryson DeChambeau, who currently leads the field at -7 after scoring an excellent 67 yesterday.
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Rory McIlroy’s Professional Achievements
By Ian Tuckey
Rory McIlroy has spent more than 100 weeks as world No. 1 – and has won four Majors and won 40 tournaments so far.
Only all-time greats Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods have matched the feat of winning one of the Big Four at age 25.
And after winning the 2011 US Open, the Northern Irish ace added the PGA Championship the following year – adding the Open and PGA crowns in 2014.
Here’s a summary of the glittering career of the 35-year-old five-time Ryder Cup winner, who was also a strong critic of the Saudi-backed rival LIV tour:
- 2007 – topped the world amateur rankings at age 17.
I turned pro in September.
Became the youngest affiliate member in the history of The European Tour to earn a tour card.
- 2009 – reached the top 50 worldwide.
- 2010 – Won his first PGA Tour title through the Quail Hollow Championship.
He made a successful Ryder Cup debut.
Became the youngest player to reach earnings of $10 million on the PGA Tour.
- 2011 – Famously lost a four-stroke lead on the final day of the Masters in May.
But he won his first major the following month – the US Open.
Voted Sports Personality of the year by RTE – Ireland’s main broadcaster.
- 2012 – won the PGA Championship.
Named PGA Tour Player of the Year and went on to further Ryder Cup glory.
- 2013 – Signed a major sponsorship deal with Nike.
- 2014 – his best year yet, in terms of specialization.
Won the Open at Royal Liverpool.
He then won back-to-back PGA titles, defeating Phil Mickelson by one stroke.
Named RTE Sports Personality of the Year for the second time.
Once again he helped Europe win the Ryder Cup.
- 2016 – Finished the season by winning the Tour championship, placing him atop the FedEx Cup and earning a $10 million bonus.
Suffered defeat in the Ryder Cup.
- 2017 – failed to win all year.
But he took top 10 places in the Masters, The Open and 3 WGC events.
And with Nike largely withdrawing from the golf market, he landed an £80 million sponsorship deal with TaylorMade.
- 2018 – More joy at the Ryder Cup.
- 2020 Surpassed Brooks Koepka to Become World No. 1
- 2021 – A Ryder Cup loser.
- 2022 – runner-up in the Masters and third in the Open.
- 2023 – Helped Europe defeat the USA 16.5-11.5 in the Ryder Cup.
- 2024 – struggled at the start of the season, finishing only 22nd at the Masters.
But then he won two tournaments – the Zurich Classic for his 25th PGA title and the Wells Fargo Championship.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
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