“In Heathrow about to go to the US. Excited about the next 3 weeks! Memorial, Memphis and then defend the US Open in San Fran,” McIlroy tweeted before departing for the U.S. on Monday.
McIlroy, who will also play in this week’s Memorial tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance, is coming off missed cuts in his last two starts and admitted to “taking his eye off the ball” with his recent preparation.
“Maybe just not practicing as hard as I might have been,” McIlroy said after a second-round 79 to miss the cut at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth last week. McIlroy also missed the cut at THE PLAYERS Championship two weeks earlier. “I’ll just have to go and really work hard and try and get it back to the level that it was at earlier in the year.”
Asked after missing the cut Friday at Wentworth if he would consider changing his schedule, McIlroy said he didn’t think the concern had gotten to that stage yet. Between then and Monday, however, McIlroy changed his mind.
“I just feel like I’ve lacked competitive rounds a little bit,” McIlroy said last week. “I’m still confident in my abilities. It’s just a matter of working hard and trying to bring it up a level from where it has been the last couple of weeks.”
McIlroy last played in the FedEx St. Jude Classic two years ago, tying for 29th before missing the cut at the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach a week later.
“The news of Rory’s commitment made this a memorable day for sure,” tournament director Phil Cannon told the Commercial Appeal. “Lots of hard work by a few individuals paid huge dividends.”
In six starts on the PGA TOUR this season, McIlroy has a win, two runner-up finishes and a third. He also has a pair of top-5 finishes on the European Tour and has traded places with Luke Donald atop the Official World Golf Ranking before losing his No. 1 spot following Donald’s victory last week at Wentworth.