Rory McIlroy Interview

For you, what’s the best time of day to be out on the golf course?

On most occasions, a golf course is at its best in the early part of the day, so I’d most often choose the morning if I could. It’s really just a case of less traffic and less damage to the greens. A bit of early moisture can also help with a little more ball control. But I would also say that I’d certainly prefer to go out in the afternoon if there was poor weather in the morning.

One of the best moments for spectators is watching a long putt that makes it into the hole. What goes through your mind in those few seconds after hitting the ball? Is it pure hope? Or do you usually know as soon as you take it?

I think it’s also one of the best moments for a golfer! A lot goes into the read of the putt and getting the pace right, so I generally have a fair idea once I’ve struck the ball if it’s going to be close. But there are no guarantees of course. Good puts sometimes slip by and bad ones sometimes fall …

Earlier this year you broke a tournament record in the Wells Fargo Championship and also posted your lowest PGA career round of 61. In that sort of form, how confident are you that you can go on to score the elusive 59?

A 59 is a very difficult score to achieve, and it’s no surprise only a few have managed it. I would certainly hope to shoot that low sometime but I think a 59 is more likely if I am not in competition. While playing competitively, I am always conscious not to take on every risk shot – which is something I might have to do if I’m hoping to go so low.