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Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rory McIlroy's post-Masters hangover continues after dismal second round at Canadian Open
Rory McIlroy's US Open plans are in absolute tatters. Watching his torment in Toronto on Friday night, it was hard to equate the player who missed the cut by 10 shots with the golfer who so magnificently won the Masters just eight weeks ago to become the sixth player in history to complete the grand slam. From immortal to backmarker. Golf is cruel. Out of the 156 players competing at the Canada Open in Toronto – an event McIlroy has won twice – the world No 2 only had three beneath him (although three did withdraw). Advertisement This was a low point, his eight-under 78 a golfing atrocity. In tournaments he has finished, McIlroy has never endured such a poor placing. Whatever way one looks at it, it has been a kick in the teeth, so shortly after he was all pearly white smiles. It is his only missed cut of the year and his first in 11 months. Granted, hangovers happen. But McIlroy's headache going into the US Open, which begins on Thursday, now appears to be verging on the insufferable. Especially as the American national championship is being hosted at the major venue that implodes craniums perhaps more than any other – Oakmont. A competitor has to be able to drive it accurately at the notorious Pittsburgh layout, with fairways so narrow and rough so thick. McIlroy hit only four fairways in this second round. He just about managed to break 80, but only because TPC Toronto is a par 70. In truth, it is not a tough track. The leader, Cameron Champ, is on 12 under, 21 strokes ahead of McIlroy. Perhaps his motivation after achieving his lifelong dream is a factor. But technically, it cannot be doubted that his driver woes are to blame. McIlroy's tee-shot game defines him and it was a huge blow for his TaylorMade Qi10 to be deemed non-conforming in the practice days at last month's US PGA. He switched to the Qi35 for this tournament, but he is struggling. Advertisement If only it was just the driver letting him down. He was plagued by a two-way miss and this was marked most emphatically with his quadruple-bogey eight on the fifth. At the start of the week, he acknowledged that motivation is a problem after achieving his lifelong dream. Yet Oakmont is no place to head when the technique is off and the mind is not sharp. In his absence, Champ takes a two-shot lead into the weekend over fellow American Andrew Putman. Irishman Shane Lowry is only two further off the pace on eight-under, after a 68. England's Danny Willett is on seven-under on a congested leaderboard. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
![Danish champions flex their muscles [WATCH]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.nst.com.my%2Fassets%2FNST-Logo%402x.png%3Fid%3Db37a17055cb1ffea01f5&w=48&q=75){kind=small}
New Straits Times
20-05-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Danish champions flex their muscles [WATCH]
KUALA LUMPUR: Defending Malaysia Masters men's doubles champions Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen of Denmark advanced to the second round with a straight-games win over China's world No. 29 Xie Hao Nan-Zeng Wei Han today. The world No. 1 defeated the Chinese duo 21-10, 21-17 in just 35 minutes at Axiata Arena. Last year, Astrup- Rasmussen captured three other crowns — the World Tour Finals, Canada Open, and European Championships. However, the current season has seen them suffer a rocky start, with three early exits. Their best result so far was a quarter-final finish at the European Championships. Rasmussen said: "We played at what I'd call our level against Hao Nan-Wei Han. "Our focus was good, and we stuck to our game plan and tried to control the match on our terms — that's always our goal. Astrup-Rasmussen will face Malaysia's world No. 39 Low Hang Yee-Ng Eng Cheong in the second round. Earlier, Hang Yee-Eng Cheong beat Taiwan's world No. 70 Chiang Chien Wei-Wu Hsuan Yi 21-14, 21-16.
New Straits Times
20-05-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Danish champions flex their muscles
KUALA LUMPUR: Defending Malaysia Masters men's doubles champions Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen of Denmark advanced to the second round with a straight-games win over China's world No. 29 Xie Hao Nan-Zeng Wei Han today. The world No. 1 defeated the Chinese duo 21-10, 21-17 in just 35 minutes at Axiata Arena. Last year, Astrup- Rasmussen captured three other crowns — the World Tour Finals, Canada Open, and European Championships. However, the current season has seen them suffer a rocky start, with three early exits. Their best result so far was a quarter-final finish at the European Championships. Rasmussen said: "We played at what I'd call our level against Hao Nan-Wei Han. "Our focus was good, and we stuck to our game plan and tried to control the match on our terms — that's always our goal. Astrup-Rasmussen will face Malaysia's world No. 39 Low Hang Yee-Ng Eng Cheong in the second round. Earlier, Hang Yee-Eng Cheong beat Taiwan's world No. 70 Chiang Chien Wei-Wu Hsuan Yi 21-14, 21-16.
