If Rory McIlroy were to retire today, heâd be considered one of the greatest players of his generation. With four major championships, 28 wins worldwide and more than $50 million in career earnings, there are few golfers in history whose body of work surpasses McIlroyâs.
But even with this world-class resume, questions linger about unfulfilled potential, especially in the majors. McIlroy’s 22 top 10s in golf’s four biggest events is a huge achievement, but when coupled with context, that number loses some luster. The Masters might be the best example of McIlroy’s top-10 Houdini act, as heâs finished worse than 10th only once in the last seven years in pursuit of the career Grand Slam â while never being in serious Sunday-afternoon contention in any of them.
McIlroy’s Sunday struggles, in particular, have been puzzling. In the 2019-20 season, McIlroy’s overall scoring average of 69.219 was fourth-best on Tour. But his final-round scoring average of 71 ranked 150th. Hard to figure.
There’s probably no easy answer as to why McIlroy has been struggling in recent years to drop the hammer on his competition when it matters most, but that won’t stop pundits from speculating. Count 16-time PGA Tour winner Tom Weiskopf among those trying to unriddle the McIlroy conundrum. In an interview with Golfweek‘s Adam Schupak, the always-candid Weiskopf reflected on McIlroy’s career.
Rory McIlroy gives the most sincere take on his entire life
âI look at Rory McIlroy and I think golf is something just for (him) to do,” Weiskopf told Schupak. “Iâve said it for a while now that I donât think heâll win much more than the four (majors) heâs got or maybe five because I donât see that determination and will to be the best.”
Weiskopf, who won the 1973 Open Championship, went on to speculate that World No. 1 Dustin Johnson has exhibited more determination on the course than has McIlroy. With two majors to his name and 27 wins worldwide, Johnson is in the same echelon of talent as McIlroy, but in Weiskopf’s mind Johnson has confidence and drive that McIlroy lacks.
“I donât see any frustration,” Weiskopf told Golfweek. “Life is good, and it should be â heâs a multi-millionaire and has a kid now â but I donât see the Tiger attitude. Itâs like heâs satisfied all the time.”
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Weiskopf conceded that McIlroy is more physically gifted than Johnson, but the intangibles just arenât there. “I know Rory works out,” Weiskopf said, “but I bet if you watched them both work out, Rory would be a lot of laughs and giggles and Dustin would be b-lls to the wall and forcing a little bit more on himself and thatâs what heâs done.”
But thatâs also the beauty of McIlroyâs character. He freely admits he doesnât feel defined by wins and losses. He cares about more than just the game. Filling trophy cases might be the goal for some, but for McIlroy itâs not the only priority in his life.
“Sometimes, I’ve had that in the past where I see myself as the golfer, and basically the only thing that matters is what I shoot that day,” McIlroy said after winning the Players Championship last year. “That’s not me. That’s where perspective is huge. If I go out one day and shoot 74, who cares. I’ll go back the next day and try again. Perspective has been a big thing for me.”
That self-awareness is a gift and a curse for McIlroy, but itâs also what makes him so intriguing. So don’t expect Weiskopfâs observations to irk McIlroy. In his eyes, there is more to life than golf â and thatâs ok.