Paul McGinley Says 'Element Of Doubt' Is Hindering Rory McIlroy Major Dream
The former European Ryder Cup captain thinks Rory McIlroy has "scar tissue" after a decade without a fifth Major victory
![Paul McGinley during the pro-am of the Horizon Irish Open](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/sUUyHxFYhNtLACsewbUYn6-415-80.jpg)
Paul McGinley has backed Rory McIlroy to win more Major titles, but admits he has allowed an “element of doubt” to creep in following a decade without a title in one of the showpiece events.
The newly appointed strategic adviser to the European Ryder Cup team spoke to the Irish Independent about what’s holding the four-time Major winner back when it comes to the big four tournaments and began by explaining such a long gap without a title has taken a toll.
He said: “Look, I don’t want to give the impression that Rory is mentally weak, he’s far from it. You look at his career in the last 10 years and what he’s won since he last won a Major championship, and it’s phenomenal, it’s unmatched. Nobody comes close.
“He is by far, in my opinion, the best player in the modern era and by no means is he mentally weak. But there is an element of doubt that’s crept in, that’s been validated by 10 years of not succeeding in Major championships. He knows that. We all know it.”
McGinley likened McIlroy’s situation to the one that had been experienced by the most recent winner of a men’s Major, Xander Schauffele, who won his first title at the 28th time of asking at last month’s PGA Championship.
He explained: “We saw it with Xander Schauffele. We saw the weight of expectation on his shoulders, we saw the pressure.
“The element of doubt has risen every year and it’s been validated by not getting over the line, and it’s only a natural human emotion. And that’s what Xander was saying. He said, ‘Nobody was harder on me than myself’. He said, ‘I had a lot of dark moments’."
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
McGinley also believes McIlroy’s acute understanding of the significance of Major titles is holding him back. He said: “When you have a brain and when you think and you have emotions, that’s when it’s toughest.”
Paul McGinley believes knowing the importance of Major titles is holding Rory McIlroy back
“If you have a John Daly approach, let’s just say, where you couldn’t care less, well it’s a lot easier to get over the line from that state of mind than it is if you’re somebody who deeply understands the importance of winning Major championships like Rory does. So he’s in a difficult place but it’s not a place that he can’t get out of.”
McIlroy came close, but not close enough, in three of last year’s four Majors, but none more so than his runner-up behind Wyndham Clark at the US Open, and McGinley revealed McIlroy knew he tightened up as he edged closer to the finish line.
“There’s no doubt he got tight last year. He admitted it himself, he got tight. I’ve been there, I know what it’s like. The number of times I didn’t get over the line and the next time I got in, I didn’t feel less pressure, I felt more pressure. And then I didn’t win again, I felt more pressure, and it’s that element that seizes you.
McIlroy finished runner-up to Wyndham Clark at the 2023 US Open
“You know, golf is a game of doubt. You have to live and deal with doubt, and there’s no doubt Rory McIlroy has got that scar tissue in Major championships; he doesn’t have it when he gets to Wells Fargo and the boys are around him; it’s different. That doubt doesn’t scream the way it screams in Majors."
Despite McIlroy’s mental struggles in Majors over the last decade, McGinley is convinced that if he finds a way to win one, more will soon follow. He added: “I think if he wins one... it’s like a goalscorer who hasn’t scored for a number of matches, and then it goes in off his a*** or off his leg or when he’s not looking, and all of a sudden then the floodgates open again.”
McIlroy’s next attempt to win a fifth Major is just days away, with the US Open getting underway at Pinehurst No.2 on 13 June.
Mike has over 25 years of experience in journalism, including writing on a range of sports throughout that time, such as golf, football and cricket. Now a freelance staff writer for Golf Monthly, he is dedicated to covering the game's most newsworthy stories.
He has written hundreds of articles on the game, from features offering insights into how members of the public can play some of the world's most revered courses, to breaking news stories affecting everything from the PGA Tour and LIV Golf to developmental Tours and the amateur game.
Mike grew up in East Yorkshire and began his career in journalism in 1997. He then moved to London in 2003 as his career flourished, and nowadays resides in New Brunswick, Canada, where he and his wife raise their young family less than a mile from his local course.
Kevin Cook’s acclaimed 2007 biography, Tommy’s Honour, about golf’s founding father and son, remains one of his all-time favourite sports books.
-
Which LIV Golfers Played In The Tokyo 2020 Olympics
The men’s field of 60 featured 14 players who would later sign for LIV Golf – here are the details on who they are and how they performed
By Mike Hall Published
-
The 5 LIV Golfers In Contention For The $18m Individual Title
With tournaments running out, there are still a handful of players in contention for the $18m individual title - here are the details
By Mike Hall Published
-
Rory McIlroy Reacts To First Open Missed Cut In Five Years
The four-time Major winner struggled yet again on Friday, as McIlroy stuttered to a four-over-par round of 75 to miss the cut comfortably at Royal Troon
By Matt Cradock Published
-
9 Big Names To Miss The Cut At The 2024 Open
A number of box office names are heading home early after missing the cut at Royal Troon
By Elliott Heath Published
-
Rory McIlroy Gets Putting Tips From Luke Donald Ahead Of Open Championship
The world No.2 said he picked the brain of Europe Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald to help with getting a feel of the greens at Royal Troon
By Joel Kulasingham Published
-
‘I Blanked Tiger Woods’ - Rory McIlroy Admits Never Receiving Woods' Message After Changing His Number
Tiger Woods reached out to console McIlroy after his US Open collapse but the Northern Irishman admits missing the message
By James Nursey Published
-
Everything Rory McIlroy Said Ahead Of The 152nd Open
From his game being in "really good shape" to accidentally blanking Tiger Woods, here's everything McIlroy said ahead of Troon
By Elliott Heath Last updated
-
'I Have Felt So Sorry For Rory' – Gary Player 'Pulling' For McIlroy To Win Open After Pinehurst Agony
Gary Player spoke to Golf Monthly about Rory’s struggles, Bryson’s bravado, Jon Rahm’s millions and Troon’s “easy” front nine.
By Fergus Bisset Published
-
'Erratic Band Of Rain' Set To Cause Havoc At Royal Troon? Open Championship Set For Wet Moving Day
The weather at Royal Troon is set to turn very wet on Saturday as those who make the cut battle towards the title in heavy rain
By Jonny Leighfield Last updated
-
Rory McIlroy Reveals He ‘Contemplated’ Player-Captain Role At Ryder Cup
Rory McIlroy rejected an approach to be Ryder Cup player-captain in Ireland in 2027 - and says Keegan Bradley won't be able to do both if the USA skipper qualifies for his own team
By Paul Higham Published