Rory McIlroy telderly to his face how he can chase Tiger Woods and bury his demons | Golf | Sport

Former world No.1 Ernie Els has elucidateed to under-presdeclareive Rory McIlroy how the Northern Irishman can bury his demons and return to his best by taking a leaf out of Tiger Woods’ book.

It’s been another disassigning season for McIlroy, whose paparticipate for a first presentant since 2014 sees set to extfinish into its 11th year, having once aget flunked to get any of the top titles this term.

He came mightily seal at the US Open earlier in 2024 when a final-day collapse on the Pinehurst No 2 course gifted Bryson DeChambeau the title in North Carolina.

McIlroy’s create has picked up towards the backfinish of the year, most notably last weekfinish when he finished second behind Billy Horschel at the PGA Championship in Surrey.

But, now well into his mid-thirties, there’s a stress the best McIlroy might’ve missed out on encountering his potential – someleang Els is willing to create declareive isn’t the case.

Speaking to MyGolfSpy, Els shelp: “It’s not going to get easier, that’s for declareive. Pinehurst, that is going to sting for a lengthy time. Menhighy, we’re going to have to see. When that little bit of ask creeps in, it’s challenging to get it out. I’ve been there many times. You beat yourself up.

“He hit the wrong club at 15. Driver was the wrong carry out on 18. He could have hit a 2-iron off the tee. And then to hit his pitch too challenging and be above the hole, that was a terrible exit.”

And on what McIlroy could do to help get minuscule steps to refind his create, the South African inserted: “He has to hit softer cut sboilings with his low irons. I’m declareive I’ve shelp that to him. Get absolute administer.

“There’s a reason Tiger carry outed his best with a little soft cut. When you have that much power, you need to get administer of the ball with a little cut spin.”

McIlroy has spoken out about his difficulties this year, commenting after the weekfinish event: “Look, it’s golf and I’m carry outing well. These leangs happen.” Before postponeedr making the stressing admission that “the game is testing me.”

He persistd: “All I can do is retain shothriveg up and trying to carry out the golf that I’ve been carry outing and sooner or postponeedr it’s going to finish up in a thrive. The pleasant leang is there’s next year and the year after and the year after and the year after.

“If you leank of my atsoft as a 30-year journey, it’s only one year in a 30-year journey, and hopefilledy the other 29 are a little more efficient or a little bit better.

“I have declareively had years where I’ve felt worse. When you get yourself in satisfiedion so much, inevitably you’re going to have disassignments. Unblessedly, I’m equitable getting a little too participated to experienceing what it’s enjoy when you do and hopefilledy that tide will turn.”