It has been quite a tumultuous week for U.S. Open champion Rory McIlroy. He started strong, then ended with a thud on Thursday, leading to an altercation on Twitter with analyst Jay Townsend. He got his game back on Friday, lost it on Saturday at Killarney and shot even par 71 on Sunday to finish at 3-under in the Irish Open.
The score will put McIlroy somewhere in the region of 35th place – certainly disappointing for the home game he had this week. McIlroy said on Saturday, though, he feels perhaps he tried too hard to do well.
“It’s tough because you’re trying to do as well for them and you’re trying to push so hard. It’s a difficult situation to be in because you want to do so well for them and they want you to do so well. You know, you’re trying so hard and I felt at times out there today, I was almost trying a little too hard,” he said.
“I think I feel it here more so than anywhere else,” he added. “[Y]ou’re trying so hard to play well for not just yourself but for everyone else.”
Then again, with a big deficit to start the day on Saturday (and Sunday, for that matter), aggression was a must – usually up McIlroy’s alley, but can sometimes lead to mistakes.
“If you’re a few off the lead you want to try to make as many birdies as possible. Just wasn’t the best day for me out there today.”
