McIlroy 'concerned' for US Open after driver issues
Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy says he is "concerned" by his form heading into the US Open next week after struggling with driver issues at the Canadian Open.
The 36-year-old missed the cut at the Canadian Open on Friday, finishing nine over par and 149th in a 153-man field.
Advertisement
The Masters champion shot an eight-over-par 78 during his second round as he struggled to get to grips with a new driver.
McIlroy's previous driver was ruled non-conforming on the eve of last month's US PGA Championship, with the Northern Irishman going on to finish 47th in North Carolina.
With a new 44-inch driver in hand, McIlroy found just 13 of 28 fairways in Toronto and he made a quadruple-bogey eight on the par-four fifth hole after a disastrous tee-off.
"Of course it concerns me," said McIlroy.
"You don't want to shoot high scores like the one I did today. I felt like I came here, obviously with a new driver, thinking that sort of was going to be good and solve some of the problems off the tee, but it didn't.
Advertisement
"Obviously going to Oakmont next week, what you need to do more than anything else there is hit fairways. I'm still sort of searching for the missing piece off the tee. Obviously for me, when I get that part of the game clicking, then everything falls into place for me. Right now that isn't. Yeah, that's a concern going into next week."
With play starting on 12 June, McIlroy has little time to iron out his issues from the tee.
But the five-time Major winner says he will test several drivers in the coming days to find the right one.
"I'm going to have to do a lot of practice and a lot of work over the weekend at home and try to at least have a better idea of where my game is going into next week," said McIlroy.
Advertisement
"I went back to a 44-inch driver this week to try to get something that was a little more in control and could try to get something a bit more in play. But if I'm going to miss fairways, I'd rather have the ball speed and miss the fairway than not.
"I'd say I'll be testing quite a few drivers over the weekend."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Lee seizes solo lead at LPGA Shoprite Classic
South Korean Lee Il-hee hits a tee shot on the way to the lead at the LPGA Shoprite Classic in New Jersey (Isaiah Vazquez) South Korea's Lee Il-hee bounced back from a late double bogey with her fifth birdie of the day at her final hole to seize a one-shot lead going into the final round of the LPGA Shoprite Classic in New Jersey on Saturday. Lee, who shared the overnight lead with Elizabeth Szokol, teed off on 10 at the Seaview Hotel & Country Club and grabbed four birdies in her first nine holes. Advertisement After her double bogey at the eighth she finished with a final birdie for an 11-under par total of 131 and a one-stroke edge over Japan's Mao Saigo and Ayaka Furue and Americans Jennifer Kupcho and Szokol. Lee, a 36-year-old whose career has been hampered by multiple injuries, had opened the 54-hole event with an impressive 63. "Today was totally different day, and I knew it's going to be complete different day so I didn't have any expectations," she said. "I was just playing golf, having fun out there. Made some birdies on the first nine -- it was fun." Saigo, who won her first major title at the Chevron Championship in April, carded a 67 highlighted by an albatross at the par-five third hole, where she holed out from 214 yards out with a seven-wood. Advertisement "First time," said Saigo, who couldn't see the ball go in but said she knew it had by the reaction of the crowd around the green. Furue claimed her share of second with a bogey-free 66 while Kupcho posted the low round of the day with seven birdies in her seven-under 64, capped by a birdie-birdie finish at eight and nine. Szokol also overcame a double bogey, carding four birdies in a 69 that she classed as "pretty good" in the wake of Friday's 63. "Definitely hard to beat yesterday's," Szokol said. "Still, really solid day, hit some great golf shots and made some really good putts early on to save par. Finished on a birdie so going off on a good note for tomorrow." bb/sev
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Aussie remains in hunt for first LPGA Tour title
Australia's Robyn Choi is just three shots off the lead heading into the final round of the rain-affected LPGA Classic in New Jersey. Starting her Saturday in a tie for 20th, the 27-year-old from the Gold Coast enjoyed birdies on holes three through six, plus on the ninth, 17th and 18th. Bogeys on 15 and 16 saw her card a five-under 66 to sit in a tie for sixth at eight under, while compatriot Karis Davidson (68) is a further three shots back. They're both chasing Ilhee Lee, who shot a three-under 68 to take a one-stroke lead over four players into the third round. Tied for the first-round lead with Elizabeth Szokol after a 63, Lee rebounded from a double bogey on the par-4 eighth with a closing birdie on the par-5 ninth. The 36-year-old South Korean had an 11-under 131 total on Seaview's Bay Course. "Today was totally different day, completely different day, and I knew it was going to be completely different day, so I didn't have any expectations," Lee, who won the 2013 Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic for her lone tour title, said. "Just like I did yesterday, I was just playing golf. Have fun out there. Made some birdies on first nine." Szokol (69) dropped into a tie for second in the 54-hole event with fellow American Jennifer Kupcho (64) and Japanese players Ayaka Furue (66) and Mao Saigo (65), who had an albatross on the par-5 third. 214 yards. 7 wood. Ridiculous. 🙌 — LPGA (@LPGA) June 7, 2025 "Just trying to stay patient all day," Szokol said. "Didn't quite have things go as great as yesterday but still playing really good golf." Kupcho birdied the final two holes in her late afternoon round. "Wasn't hitting the ball super great off the tee, but at least out here it's manageable out of the rough or fairway bunkers," Kupcho said. "Was just really giving myself opportunities." Second-ranked Jeeno Thitikul shot her second 68 to get to six under, while world No.1 Nelly Korda (66) was five under. Maja Stark, the US Women's Open winner last week at Erin Hills, missed the cut with rounds of 70 and 75. Defending champion Linnea Strom also dropped out, shooting 72-75. With AP.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
B.C. Lions vs. Edmonton Elks Live Blog: Snoop Dogg gets the party started
It's our Snoop Dogg Live Blog. We'll be providing updates on the rapper's pre-game concert ahead of the B.C. Lions opener against the Edmonton Elks tonight at B.C. Place. We'll be doing the same with the game, of course. How much we will keep up with the rhyming is to be determined. Mr. Dogg is slated to take to the stage at 5:45 p.m. The Lions and Elks are set to going at 7 p.m. This is the fourth straight year that Lions owner Amar Doman has brought in a marquee musical artist for the opener. OneRepublic, LL Cool J and 50 Cent have performed in the past years. The match-up between B.C. and Edmonton features a duel of Canadian quarterbacks, with Nathan Rourke (born in Victoria, raised in Oakville, Ont.) under centre for the home side and Tre Ford (Niagara Falls) at the controls for the Elks. This is the first time in league history that a Week 1 game has had two starting quarterbacks from Canada. It will be the 12th time since 1950 with a game featuring two Canadian starting quarterbacks. The game also features two rookie head coaches in B.C.'s Buck Pierce and Edmonton's Mark Kilam. The last time two first-year coaches squared off against one another was in 2019, when the Hamillton Tiger-Cats' Orlando Steinauer and Saskatchewan Roughriders' Craig Dickenson were on the opposites sides. The Lions will draw 50,000 fans for their home opener for the second straight year. The last team to do that was Montreal Alouettes in 1978 and 1979 at Olympic Stadium. Check back here for updates. 4:54 p.m. CFL commissioner Stewart Johnston is in the house. 'What Amar is reliving to the fans of Vancouver is spectacular,' Johnston says. 'The investments he's making, the marketing he's putting behind it, the focus on youth and engaging them … I think what's he's done is spark something that had been simmering here for a long time.' We'll have more with Johnston in the coming days. Less stress, more swagger: B.C. Lions' QB Nathan Rourke aiming to have fun this season Snoop Dogg at the B.C. Lions: What to know about security, set times, and more
