Flash: Rory Attributes Great Play To Burying Himself In Game

/

Hard to believe being single and not jetting around the world to watch Caroline Wozniacki lose again in the first round of a tennis tournament was not a positive, but that's what Rory McIlroy says.

Derek Lawrenson reports:

‘I think what happened has been for the better in terms of my golf,’ he revealed.

‘I’ve put a bit more time into it and it has refocused me. I mean, what else do I have to do now?

'I go to the golf course, I go to the gym and it’s just my life at the minute.

'I worked pretty hard before but the past couple of months I’ve really just buried myself in my game. It obviously works pretty well, so I am going to keep doing it.’

Lucky Him! Tom Watson's Ryder Cup Dilemma(s)

/

Poor Paul McGinley, with nearly everyone on his team playing well and the next eight or so on the likely Captain's picks list peaking as the European Ryder Cup squad's August 31st points cut off approaches. You really feel for the man!

And then there is the mess Tom Watson faces as Dave Shedloski outlines in this Loop post. Note that no one making the U.S.A. team on points has won a PGA Tour event since Patrick Reed at the WGC Cadillac in March Matt Kuchar at Hilton Head in April. And Captain Watson, 64, beat possible picks Woods, Bradley and Snedeker in round one at Valhalla.

From Shedloski:

Here's a snapshot of the rest of the current U.S. team:
    •    Bubba Watson: Two wins, including the Masters, but missed the cut in last two majors.
    •    Jimmy Walker: FedExCup leader with three wins, but none since Pebble Beach and this will be his first Ryder Cup.
    •    Jim Furyk: Enjoying solid season, but still winless in 2014.
    •    Rickie Fowler: Only player with three top-5s in majors, but also no victories.
    •    Jordan Spieth: No sophomore slump, but also no trophies for 2013 Rookie of the Year.
    •    Patrick Reed: Cooled off considerably since his WGC-Cadillac triumph.
    •    Jason Dufner: PGA champion slipping because of neck injury that required cortisone shots last week at WGC-Bridgestone. His withdrawal after 10 holes at Valhalla is another unfortunate development.
    •    Zach Johnson: Except for runner-up at John Deere, has been quiet since he won year's first event, the

Captain Watson and assistant captain Steve Stricker were asked about the team after the Kuchar and Dufner WD's at Valhalla. Flies were big, metaphorically.

From an unbylined Sky report:

"We're falling like flies," Watson said. "We really are.

"There's time. What's going to happen between now and then is anybody's guess. I have to take the information I have, process it and see what comes out."

Watson named Steve Stricker as one of his assistant captains earlier this week, but that might have to change as he could yet be needed as a wildcard pick, with Watson so short of experience.

And Stricker is just as concerned about the injuries to have struck potential United States picks.
He added: "All these guys are dropping like flies on our team and it is a bit scary."

Jack: Rory Can Win 15 Or 20 Majors

/

Appearing on ESPN Radio's "Mike & Mike" Wednesday, Jack Nicklaus said he thinks Rory McIlroy can win 15 or 20 majors. He's raised the bar on his Rory praise in light of a win at The Open, and why not?

Bob Harig reports:

"I think Rory is an unbelievable talent," Nicklaus said. "I love his swing, I love his rhythm, I love his moxie. He's got a little swagger there, it's a little bit cocky but not offensive. I like that. I like the self-confidence in a young man. He's got an unbelievable amount of speed in his golf swing, he obviously hits the ball a heck of a long way. And he hits in there consistently and how he controls it.

"It depends on what he feels his priorities are, and that's his call. I think Rory has an opportunity to win 15 or 20 majors or whatever he wants to do if he wants to keep playing. But you just don't know what the guy's priorities are going to be in life 10 years from now."

The clip.