Rory McIlroy’s former agent claims PGA Tour star has ‘misplaced love for golf’

Rory McIlroy’s former agent Andrew ‘Chubby’ Chandler has instructed he is misplaced his ardour for golf after a tough Players Championship. McIlroy, 34, produced loads of birdies at TPC Sawgrass and was even the event’s co-leader after the primary spherical – however fixed bogies ended his dream of a second Players title.

The four-time main winner, who hasn’t gained one among golf’s massive tournaments for 10 years, completed in T19 at TPC Sawgrass on nine-under-par. Scottie Scheffler, the World No.1, gained the occasion after hitting eight-under-par on the ultimate day to complete on 20-under-par total.

McIlroy additionally had a blended efficiency on the current Arnold Palmer Invitational, ending removed from the lead in twenty first place. This was seen as a warm-up for the Players, the PGA Tour’s greatest occasion and the so-called ‘fifth main’. McIlroy’s golf sport in Florida did not present followers that he is prepared for the massive Masters subsequent month, the one main he is but to win. He’s additionally coping with powerful phrases from his previous supervisor Chandler.

Chandler instructed the Irish Post: “McIlroy looks disinterested. Tiger and Nicklaus would never have sacrificed a year of their careers like he did. Rory looks disinterested to me. He doesn’t look sharp. It looks to me at the moment that last year took an awful lot out of him, and suddenly he got let down, and he’s finding it hard to get back up again.

“That’s what it appears to be like prefer to me. There is not any spark in his eyes, no twinkle. He had about an hour and a half on Saturday afternoon the place he was just like the previous Rory, however you understand that bouncy step he has when he’s enjoying properly, it’s not there, and I’m positive that 12 months out of his life, or 18 months, took its toll.”

Chandler also suggested that McIlroy may have lost his sparkle after becoming a top money maker. He added: “And don’t overlook about Rory; he’s acquired a number of money. He and Tiger have billions and the remaining haven’t. I can’t think about having a billion {dollars} and enjoying as onerous as he does. He appears to be like like he’s discovering the sport a grind. Last week, he wasn’t there for it at PGA National; he wasn’t there for it at Arnold Palmer; these are two good occasions for him. It’s worrying.”

Yet McIlroy believes his game is “headed in the proper path”. He said after the Players: “After the primary spherical, my expectations kind of went sky excessive as a result of I used to be like, ‘Oh, I believe I’ve figured it out’. Then the final three days had been just a little bit extra of a battle. I made sufficient birdies – it is only a matter of eliminating the unhealthy stuff.”