Stockton & Rory Have Entered The Awkward Thumbs-Up Phase

It was obvious to anyone watching the Frys.com Open--or for that matter the last year--that Rory McIlroy is more interested in his gym time than fixing the putting that threatens to derail a career for the ages.

From Tim Rosaforte's excellent look at the state of the former World No. 1 and former kickabouterer's week in Napa.

Missing putts (while Jordan Spieth and Jason Day seemed to be making everything) has been McIlroy’s misery since the PGA at Whistling Straits. Even before rupturing an ankle ligament playing soccer in July, his only hot round with the putter since winning the Wells Fargo by seven strokes in May came on Sunday at the U.S. Open, when he shot 66 after a phone lesson from Dave Stockton.

Coincidentally, Stockton was at the Frys.com Open as a tournament honoree. The two said hello after dinner one night, and Stockton followed him during the pro-am. But other than Stockton giving McIlroy a thumbs-up, they did little communicating on the subject of putting.

“I think it’s more mental than anything else,” McIlroy said. “Whenever you don’t see anything go in, it makes it harder and harder each and every hole that goes by.”

Very true. Which makes it all the more bizarre that he is passing up the short game input that has been provent to help his game.