Rory McIlroy puts LIV Golf rivals on notice with vintage display at Canadian Open
Rory McIlroy delivered an impressive performance at the RBC Canadian Open, sending a strong message to his LIV Golf rivals. The golf star is demonstrating top form as he prepares for the US Open in mid-June. After the third round in Ontario, McIlroy is tied for ninth place alongside Tom Kim, Trace Crowe, and Joel…
Rory McIlroy delivered an impressive performance at the RBC Canadian Open, sending a strong message to his LIV Golf rivals. The golf star is demonstrating top form as he prepares for the US Open in mid-June.
After the third round in Ontario, McIlroy is tied for ninth place alongside Tom Kim, Trace Crowe, and Joel Dahmen. This strong showing could be a precursor to how the 35-year-old will perform at the upcoming U.S. Open.
“I got off to a pretty fast start,” McIlroy commented. “Three-under through 5 and 5-under through 9. I wish I had made a couple more coming in, but overall it was a good day’s work, and hopefully, it puts me within touching distance going into tomorrow.”
McIlroy acknowledged the supportive crowd, crediting them for helping him recover from a tough second round. “I feel like an honorary Canadian at this point and the support I get here is amazing,” he added. “Playing in an atmosphere like that is just a pleasure. The crowds are so good, so supportive, so enthusiastic. I’m looking forward to one more day of it.”
The RBC Canadian Open is McIlroy’s first event since finishing 12th at the PGA Championship at Valhalla in early May. His performance in Ontario has exceeded expectations, especially given his inauspicious start.
After the opening round, McIlroy was in sixth place, four shots off the lead. He admitted entering the competition in less than ideal form, having celebrated his caddie Harry Diamond’s birthday with a bit too much wine the night before.
“I played the back nine blind,” McIlroy revealed. “I hadn’t seen the back nine, only played the front nine in the pro-am, so I was happy enough to get out of there in even par and not make a bogey. Once I got those nine holes out of the way, I knew there were some chances on the front side and played much better. Four birdies and no bogeys was a good day’s work.”
Despite a challenging start to the tournament, McIlroy has shown resilience and determination. “I’ve started to play my way into form, and I’ve played well the past few weeks. Hopefully, I can keep that going.”
Should McIlroy finish the Canadian Open on a high note, he can carry that momentum into future tournaments. Most notably, he will be aiming to end his 10-year major drought at the US Open at Pinehurst No. 2, where he will face off against LIV Golf stars.
