Rory McIlroy ‘feels closer’ to returning to top form but will ‘keep working’ to improve his game
Whilst claiming he is not “super happy” with where his game is at present – Rory McIlroy admits it is a positive sign that he remains a contender to win tournaments.
The Northern Irishman made the comments after finishing third at the BMW Championship but things could have been so different had the last three holes gone in his favour.
The back-to-back Masters champion started the final round five shots behind overnight leader Wyndham Clark but was level after 15 holes.
But while McIlroy bogeyed the 17th, Clark maintained his composure to birdie the 16th, 17th and 18th holes to wrest back control and finish the tournament on 17 under par.
"I hit it well on the back nine,” said McIlroy, who ended up finishing third after his final round at Bellerive Country Club.
"I gave myself plenty of chances but I just couldn't get a putt to drop there those final few holes.
“We were tied there for a few holes, and then when he made that putt on 16 for 2 and I couldn't answer, that was obviously a huge moment in the round and in the tournament.
"But overall encouraged with how I played this week compared to what it was last week, and certainly something to build into East Lake.”
The season ends at this week's Tour Championship in Atlanta and McIlroy says he is will continue to keep working hard on his swing a the top 30 in the season-long standings go against each other.
“Yeah, I mean, I'm closer than I was at the start of the week,” McIlroy said of his chances.
“But I'm still, I'm not in a spot where I'm super happy with where my game is or where my swing is, so I just have to keep working on it.
"But it's nice to know even when I'm not super happy with everything I can still, you know, piece it together and get it around and still give myself a chance to win tournaments.”