Rory McIlroy given food for thought as Tommy Fleetwood speaks out after harsh comments

Fleetwood Defends McIlroy After Self-Criticism Over Recent Form

Tommy Fleetwood has come to the defense of Rory McIlroy following McIlroy’s critical self-assessment of his recent performance. McIlroy, widely regarded as one of the standout golfers of his generation, hasn’t won a major title in the last ten years, despite his consistent contention in major tournaments. The 35-year-old narrowly missed out on the top spot at this year’s US Open, finishing in second place behind Bryson DeChambeau after missing some crucial short putts in the final rounds.

Ahead of the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, McIlroy spoke openly about his struggles. He admitted that technical inconsistencies, particularly with his swing and putting, have prevented him from breaking his decade-long major drought. “If I look at my year, the one thing that I would criticize myself on is that I’ve had chances to win,” McIlroy said. “But then when I’ve had these chances, okay, some may have been because of the putter, but others have been because my ball-striking let me down at a crucial point. I think just trying to clean all that up so that whenever I do get under pressure, I can have 100% trust in my swing and know what’s going to happen.”

Reacting to McIlroy’s comments, Fleetwood, his 33-year-old Ryder Cup teammate, suggested McIlroy was being too hard on himself, emphasizing McIlroy’s overall success throughout the season. “I think Rory has had a great year,” Fleetwood said. “Of course, it’s easy for everyone to focus on what could have happened if a few things had gone differently. But you only get to ask those questions because he’s consistently putting himself in a position to win every week.”

Fleetwood continued, “He’s shown incredible consistency—he’s come so close to winning a major, so close to winning multiple events, and yet he’s still winning along the way. It’s obvious the season isn’t over, and he’s in a strong position to win another Race to Dubai title. Rory is held to a higher standard than nearly anyone else in golf, but he’s proven again this year why he’s one of the best ever.”

While McIlroy’s form may not be as strong as during his peak years in the early 2010s, when he won all four of his majors, he has steadily inched closer to another major title. He finished runner-up at the Masters in 2022 and took second place at both the 2023 and 2024 U.S. Open tournaments. This is a notable improvement over his performances between 2015 and 2021, when he only achieved one top-three finish in a major.

McIlroy, currently ranked World No. 3, holds a commanding lead in the DP World Tour Rankings as he approaches his third consecutive Race to Dubai title, which would be his sixth overall. The record is held by Colin Montgomerie with eight titles, but McIlroy has his sights set on surpassing that. He expressed his ambition to become Europe’s most successful golfer by securing nine Race to Dubai titles.

“I pride myself on being a European player,” McIlroy said in a recent press conference. “I’d like to go down as the most successful European of all time. Race to Dubai wins contribute to that, but also major championships—and hopefully, I still have a few more Ryder Cups ahead of me.”

McIlroy added, “That goal is something I think is achievable over the next ten years. I’m proud to represent Europe, and it’s been an honor to play on this tour consistently. I think about the European greats I grew up watching, like [Nick Faldo], [Ian Woosnam], and [Bernhard Langer], especially during the golden era of European golf in the ’90s. I remember the pride I felt when I got my first money clip as a European Tour member. That was a big moment for me, and that pride has stayed with me. It’s something I want to continue and build upon.”

As McIlroy approaches the season finale in Dubai, it’s clear his ambitions extend beyond immediate victories. His aspirations are focused on leaving a legacy, aiming to make his mark as one of Europe’s most accomplished golfers in both the Race to Dubai and the history of major championships.