Rory McIlroy makes worrying admission as US Open nears

Rory McIlroy has admitted he feels "limited" with his game as the countdown to the US Open gathers pace, despite insisting there are encouraging signs ahead of the year's third major championship.

The reigning Masters champion offered a remarkably candid assessment of his form following the Memorial Tournament, where he finished tied for 12th after a final-round 68.

While McIlroy was pleased with large parts of his game, he made it clear that one crucial area remains below the standards he expects from himself.

And in a revealing exchange with reporters, the Northern Irishman appeared to sum up his frustrations in a single sentence.

TRENDING

Stories

Videos

Your Say

After being asked to explain the technical issues affecting his driving, McIlroy launched into a detailed breakdown of what has been going wrong off the tee.

The world No 2 explained that he has been struggling with his swing path, leading to poor strikes and inconsistent ball flight.

"I get a little bit underneath the plane on the way down and then from there I try to drag the handle to match it up, and then I get toe strikes," he explained.

"If I'm aiming a touch left trying to hit a cut and I get a touch underneath it and then I try to save it by dragging the handle, I hit it off the toe and then it goes left."

Noticing the puzzled expression of one journalist, McIlroy then interrupted himself.

"You look very confused," he said.

When the reporter responded: "I'm limited," McIlroy delivered a telling reply.

"I feel limited at the minute, too," he said.

LATEST SPORTS NEWS:

• World Cup manager could be sacked as 'fight breaks out behind the scenes at team hotel'
• World Cup 2026 day five: All the latest as Ronaldo update provided and manager faces losing job
• BBC accused of 'scraping the barrel' after showing TV licence ad in middle of World Cup match

The exchange quickly became one of the most talked-about moments of the week, particularly given it came just days before the US Open at Shinnecock Hills.

McIlroy's driving has long been considered one of the strongest weapons in world golf, making his concerns all the more significant heading into a major championship.

The 37-year-old admitted that, despite progress elsewhere, he still has work to do before arriving in New York.

"Off the tee still wasn't where I want it to be," McIlroy said.

"Thankfully, the fairways at Shinnecock are a little wider than they are here.

"But, yeah, still need to work on that. I need to work on how I'm hitting it off the tee."

Despite those concerns, McIlroy was keen to stress that there were positives to take from his week at Muirfield Village.

His iron play, putting and short game all showed signs of improvement, leading him to describe his performance as "two steps forward, one step back".

That assessment suggests McIlroy remains optimistic about his chances of contending for a second major title of the season.

There is also recent evidence that he can solve technical problems quickly.

Earlier this year, McIlroy admitted he battled similar issues with his driver during the Masters at Augusta National.

After identifying the problem, he spent less than an hour working on it before the final round and subsequently produced the ball-striking performance needed to secure another Green Jacket.

This time, he has considerably longer to find a solution.

McIlroy plans to spend the coming days practising near the family home he recently moved into with wife Erica Stoll in Surrey before travelling to Shinnecock Hills.

Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter