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.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. "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."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
BBC News
43 minutes ago
- BBC News
Manassero and Fox hold slender lead at Canadian Open
Canadian Open third round leaderboard-14 R Fox (NZ), M Manassero (Ita); -13 L Hodges (US), M McCarty (US), K Yu (Tai); -12 J Knapp (US), M Hughes (Can), A PutnamSelected others: -11 C Champ (US), V Perez (Fra), D Skinns (Eng); -10 S Lowry (Ire), D Willett (Eng); -9 L Aberg (Swe); -7 H Hall (Eng), P Waring (Eng); -4 R MacIntyre Full leaderboard Italian Matteo Manassero and New Zealand's Ryan Fox were tied for the lead after the third round at a closely contested Canadian and Fox both carded rounds of 64, each including seven birdies and one bogey as they moved to 14 under."It was a really good round," said Manassero, whose bogey came at the 17th hole before he recovered the stroke with a birdie at the last."I missed the short one on 17, and I did miss a couple more short ones. I try to think of them just like a shot really, like a driver, like a six-iron, whatever. It's just a shot."It wasn't that hard for me to stay focused into what I was doing and not ruining [it] at the end."Manassero will be chasing his first PGA Tour title, while Fox is seeking a second just a month after his first triumph on the tour at the Myrtle Beach Classic."Obviously there's a lot of good players behind me," said Fox. "I feel like it's going to take a pretty low [score] to get the job done." Lee Hodges and Kevin Yu both shot seven under par rounds of 63 and sit one back along with Matt McCarty. A 65 from England's David Skinns moved him on to 11 under along with seven other players, including overnight leader Cameron could only manage a one over-par 71 at TPC Toronto at Osprey Danny Willett (67) and Ireland's Shane Lowry (68) are a shot further back on 10 under.
South Wales Guardian
2 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
Michael O'Neill takes positives from Northern Ireland's narrow defeat to Denmark
Christian Eriksen's second-half strike completed a come-from-behind win for the Danes as Northern Ireland suffered a second straight defeat after March's 5-1 loss to Sweden. But Saturday's match was not about the result for O'Neill, who wanted to give his young squad another tough test away to top-level opposition with a trip to Germany looming after they open their qualifying campaign in Luxembourg. From that point of view there was plenty for Northern Ireland to be happy with. After taking the lead through Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg's early own goal, O'Neill's men did not allow Denmark a shot on target until Gustav Isaksen's fine strike in first-half stoppage time. Thank you for your support here in Denmark and back at home 👏🏻💚🤍 #GAWA — Northern Ireland (@NorthernIreland) June 7, 2025 However, Northern Ireland did not do enough going the other way, and ended the match not registering a shot on target themselves. 'I thought it was a game that wasn't really played like a friendly game,' O'Neill said. 'I thought it had a little bit of an edge to it, which was good. 'We couldn't have got off to a better start. I thought we started the game very well and obviously we get ahead. I thought we thought we defended really well in the first half, we knew we'd have to defend our box well. 'It was a bit of individual brilliance from Isaksen that gives them the equaliser before half-time so half-time has a little bit of a different feel… What a start for Northern Ireland! ⚽ Shea Charles arrives at the back post to head into the net 🎯#BBCFootball — BBC SPORT NI (@BBCSPORTNI) June 7, 2025 'We lost the second goal but then I thought we really dug in.' Denmark, ranked 50 places above Northern Ireland, had a huge edge in quality and experience and that was what eventually told. But O'Neill recognises there is still more they can do to make themselves competitive. 'We were never going to be a dominant possession-based team against any of these teams,' O'Neill added. 'We're asking players who play their football at League One or Championship level to go out against players from the top five leagues in Europe. 'The way we have to try to close that gap is to be what we are, a team that's well-organised, well-structured, difficult to beat, that comes to frustrate the opposition, but obviously to carry a threat as well. The best no matter the result 👏🏻🟢⚪️ #GAWA — Northern Ireland (@NorthernIreland) June 7, 2025 'There's no shame in coming here and losing the game 2-1, not at all. But in terms of where we need to get to as a team, we need to be able to retain the ball a little bit better, maybe find a little bit more in terms of level of possession and that will help us carry a bigger threat.' The scoreline would have finished more strongly in Denmark's favour were it not for a number of saves made by 19-year-old goalkeeper Pierce Charles, who came on at half-time in place of Conor Hazard who was hurt in a first-half collision with Rasmus Hojlund. 'It's not an easy situation for young Pierce coming in and playing but I thought he dealt with it well,' O'Neill said. 'He's a very good young goalkeeper. You're defending your box at that point in time but the game gets a bit stretched, we're physically tired in the game. But it's important you keep the game at 2-1 because that's how you may get an opportunity.'
Belfast Telegraph
2 hours ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Justin Devenny excited to try and nail down new position with Northern Ireland
The 21-year-old was on the bench that day but, having played a significant part in the earlier rounds for the Eagles, he deserved to celebrate like the rest of his jubilant team-mates. Fast forward to Saturday night in Copenhagen and the midfielder was putting in a serious shift in a left-wing-back type role for Northern Ireland in their 2-1 friendly defeat to Denmark. The position may have been relatively new to him but Devenny was one of Michael O'Neill's most impressive performers, creating an early goal when Pierre-Emile Højbjerg scored into his own net in the sixth minute. The lead would last until first half injury time when Gustav Isaksen finished superbly, with Danish skipper Christian Eriksen netting the winner after the break as the home side piled on the pressure. Devenny admitted it was tough going at times but he revelled in the experience of the atmospheric Parken. 'It was a new position for me but I enjoyed it, and wherever I play for the team I'm willing to do a shift,' he said. 'The first 45 was probably better than the second 45. There is a lot to learn, especially in a new position, but we'll be ready to take on information, watch the game back and see where we can improve.' Huddersfield's Brodie Spencer has occupied the left side in recent games. In Devenny's three previous internationals he was in the middle of the park but revealed he had been working on a potential new role in the build-up to the Denmark game. 'It was maybe the second day in camp that Michael told me he was thinking of playing me there and we did a few bits and bobs in training,' said Devenny. 'I thought I did well and then when he told me I'd be starting out I tried to understand the position a bit more. To be fair, I'm familiar with it from Palace as well. I know the roles and responsibilities of it and it's just putting that into place. 'I enjoy it. It is a different experience for me. There's probably a bit more high speed running. 'I was able to get on the ball against Denmark and try to understand the runs from my team-mates and try to pick them out. I thought first half I did well and in the second half there was a lot of work off the ball, but you have to be prepared to do that in international football.' Influential people at Palace like Devenny's mentality. He has brought it with him to international level. 'When they scored (to make it 2-1) we should maybe have shown a bit more belief to try and get the upper hand again rather than soaking up pressure, though there were positives to take as well.' One was the goal, which was very much down to him reading a pass from a Danish player and intercepting it. Then he drove into the box, with his cross causing havoc. 'That's a big part of being a full-back in this team. You have to be aggressive when there is a chance to win the ball,' he said. 'I saw what was happening with their pass and took off and intercepted it. I then saw the goal and was going to shoot but squared it across and thankfully it went in.' Ultimately, Denmark would come back and secure a deserved victory on a night when Northern Ireland worked extremely hard off the ball but weren't good enough on it. To a man, every player post match admitted that was an area that they needed to improve on. Devenny made the point, though, that games like the one in Denmark can benefit O'Neill's young guns when the World Cup qualifiers begin with a double-header in September away to Luxembourg and Germany. 'Absolutely. It is getting that team togetherness knowing the way we play,' said Devenny. 'This is my third camp and it's about understanding the players I'm playing with, especially against tough opposition like Denmark. It's a great learning experience. I think that builds momentum into the big games. 'When you are a kid, one of the main things you think of is playing in the World Cup. We have got that chance to try and do that. Me and all the boys are ready for that and buzzing about it.' A quality player, Devenny is a good talker too. Born in Scotland, it is their loss and Northern Ireland's gain that he has thrown his lot in with O'Neill's youthful squad, with the former Airdrie ace eligible through his mum. 'Northern Ireland showed trust in me and since I've come in, that's my fourth game. The lads are brilliant and the coaching staff are brilliant. I want to learn and improve and I'm loving it," he points out. Next should come a first Windsor Park start against Iceland on Tuesday. 'I haven't started at Windsor yet. I came on against Switzerland (in March), so hopefully I'll get a start. It's a special atmosphere and the fans are great, so I can't wait for that,' says Devenny. Mention the FA Cup Final triumph over City and his face lights up. 'Now it has probably sunk in but at the time I was in shock,' he states. 'It was such a big achievement at such a young age. I'll probably look back on my career in times to come and think of that day. It was special, and to do it with a special group of boys was great.'
