Rory McIlroy faded late in his home outing in Ireland but insisted his game is “pretty good”, shrugging off a disappointing finish as he refocuses on further PGA Tour and DP World Tour success in 2025 after adding the Masters to complete the career Grand Slam.
Rickie Fowler withdrew from the WM Phoenix Open Saturday due to illness, citing persistent symptoms that forced him to leave the tournament. Tournament officials confirmed his withdrawal
Rickie Fowler exited the WM Phoenix Open on Saturday after battling a bout of illness that left him unable to continue, tournament officials confirmed. The decision came after he experienced persistent symptoms that prevented him from finishing his round.
Immediate notes:
- Official status recorded as a withdrawal (WD).
- On-site medical staff evaluated the player prior to his departure.
- Tournament organizers issued the confirmation to media outlets.
Impact and outlook: Fowler’s withdrawal removes a high-profile name from the weekend field and alters the competitive landscape as contenders jostle for position. The player and his team are expected to prioritize recovery and will determine next steps for upcoming events based on medical advice.
Speedy facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tournament | WM Phoenix Open |
| Day | Saturday |
| Status | Withdrawn |
| Reason | Illness – persistent symptoms |
| Confirmed by | Tournament officials |
McIlroy stalls late in Ireland as missed putts dictate outcome
Rory McIlroy faded over the closing holes in Ireland as a string of missed putts erased momentum and left him short of the title. The late-slide, largely dictated by short-range misses, turned a promising day into a finishing position below expectations.
Despite the outcome,McIlroy played well for much of the week and stressed there were positives to take away,calling his ball-striking and course management “pretty good.” Still, he conceded that the final stretch exposed vulnerabilities on the greens that cost strokes when it mattered most.
Key factors:
- Short-range putting lapses at the homeward holes
- Approach shots left him with tricky downhill tests
- Course firmness and pin positions that punished small errors
McIlroy said he will regroup and focus on sharpening his short game ahead of upcoming events, keeping an eye on bigger targets later in the season. His team highlighted that while the result was disappointing, the overall form suggests he remains a strong contender when the putts begin to fall.
Solid ball striking belies scoring slide, short game identified as weak link
Rory McIlroy’s driver and irons delivered measurable quality across the opening rounds, yet the scoreboard told a different story as birdies failed to stick. Strong ball-striking masked a persistent weakness around the greens,where scrambling and short-game execution cost him strokes and tournament momentum. Coaches noted the contrast between distance control off the tee and a lack of finesse inside 30 yards.
Key performance snapshot:
| Category | Strokes Gained |
|---|---|
| Off-the-Tee | +0.8 |
| Approach | +1.2 |
| Around-the-Green | -1.5 |
| putting | -1.3 |
These figures underline a clear split: ball-striking up, short-game metrics down.
The weak link showed up in simple, recurring moments:
- Missed up-and-downs from 10-30 yards
- Bunker escapes that left long par putts
- Late-round lag putting and a spike in three-putts
Addressing these routine shots will be pivotal if he wants to convert good approach play into under-par rounds.
McIlroy described his overall condition as “pretty good” but admitted to targeted work on his short game during practice sessions. Team sources say the plan is pragmatic – more chipping repetitions, select practice on reduced-target drills, and a renewed emphasis on touch – with the aim of turning strong ball-striking into lower scores quickly.
Bunker and chip performance under scrutiny; coaches advise focused practice on greenside escapes
Rory McIlroy’s closing holes in Ireland underlined a recurring weakness this season: trouble escaping trouble around the green. Analysts flagged a string of missed recovery opportunities in bunkers and tight chipping lies that turned birdie chances into bogeys, tempering an otherwise solid week.
Coaches advised a targeted plan ahead of the next fortnight, urging repetition on specific greenside scenarios. Recommended work includes:
- Open-face bunker swings with varying sand depths
- low-runner chips for tight pin positions
- Short-game pressure drills simulating tournament conditions
Coaches mapped the short-game shortfalls against tour norms in a brief practice brief:
| Metric | Recent | Tour Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Bunker save % | 45% | 55% |
| Up-and-down rate | 56% | 61% |
| greenside proximity (ft) | 12.3 | 9.8 |
Team coaches stressed manageable adjustments rather than wholesale swing changes, recommending daily short-game windows and guided bunker sessions to rebuild confidence. With the broader game described as ”pretty good,” the emphasis will be on converting those recovery opportunities that proved costly in Ireland.
Club selection errors on approach holes suggest adjustments in yardage strategy
Rory McIlroy’s ball-striking remained largely solid in Ireland, but a string of misjudged approach clubs left him short of several greens and cost scoring opportunities. Observers noted the pattern across multiple par-4s: **incorrect club choice into prevailing wind** and conservative yardage calls that did not match the lies or firmness of the turf.
Coaches and caddies suggested a handful of immediate tweaks to his yardage plan, focused on minimizing small margins that become costly under tournament conditions. Recommended adjustments included:
- Add 5-10 yards to numbers into headwinds rather than relying on feel alone.
- Favor stronger lofts (one club up) when fairways are firm and spin is lower.
- Trust trackman data on carry rather than relying solely on past rounds.
A quick reference table circulated on-site highlighted the most common mismatches and simple fixes:
| Situation | Typical Call | Suggested Change |
|---|---|---|
| Into wind, firm fairway | 7-iron | 6-iron |
| Short approach, plugged lie | Gap wedge | Sand/9-iron |
Team sources stressed the changes are incremental and situational: McIlroy’s overall game is “pretty good,” but tighter yardage discipline and sharper club selection on approach holes could convert pars into birdies and prevent costly short misses. The caddie-player conversations ahead of the next round will likely center on those small,data-driven shifts.
Physical conditioning credited for resilience, but pacing plans recommended for four-day events
Physical preparation emerged as the main reason McIlroy remained competitive through the opening rounds, with his off-course conditioning credited for preserving sharpness when others faded. Coaches pointed to targeted strength work and endurance sessions that kept his swing repeatable deep into the week.
Despite slipping across the weekend, team sources said the decline was more a matter of pacing than fitness failure. Measured training loads and improved recovery protocols meant McIlroy arrived in Ireland in peak shape, but the accumulation of four intense days exposed the need for strategic energy management during tournament play.
Practical adjustments recommended by performance staff include:
- Structured warm-ups that scale intensity by round
- midday fueling with carbohydrate-protein blends to sustain focus
- Active recovery sessions each evening to reduce soreness
- Intensity periodisation across four days to avoid late-week drop-offs
These measures aim to preserve late-round scoring punch while protecting long-term durability.
Below is a simple pacing template teams are testing in the weeks ahead:
| Day | Morning load | Midday Focus | Evening Recovery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Moderate | Technique | Mobility |
| Day 2 | High | stamina | Hydration |
| Day 3 | Low | Precision | Massage |
| Day 4 | Taper | Focus | Sleep |
Coaches say tailoring this blueprint to individual responses will be key to converting fitness into consistent four-day results.
Data shows decline in strokes gained putting; implement intensive putting drills and routine changes
tour analytics flagged a clear drop in on-green performance for the player this week,with the metric for strokes-gained on the greens falling into negative territory. Officials say the decline aligned with a rise in three-putts and missed short conversions during the weekend rounds.
Coaches and performance staff moved quickly to prescribe a focused correction plan, advocating intensive short-game work and small routine adjustments. Emphasis is on repeatable setup, consistent alignment and a simplified pre-putt sequence to restore confidence on mid-range attempts.
Planned interventions include targeted practice blocks and coach-led sessions designed to rebuild feel. Key drills slated for the practice green are:
- Gate drill – promotes consistent path and face control
- Three-to-six foot ladder – sharpens short-range conversions
- Speed control ladder - addresses distance management across the green
- Routine rehearsal – locks in a simplified pre-putt process under pressure
A short,measurable timeline has been set.
| Metric | Recent | Target |
|---|---|---|
| SG on greens | -0.42 | +0.10 |
| Putts per GIR | 1.92 | ≤1.75 |
| 3-10ft conversion | 36% | ≥48% |
Coaches expect to see measurable betterment within a two-week intensive block, with adjustments to be evaluated by analytics after the next start. Strong short-game form is cited as essential to reversing the slide.
McIlroy remains positive about form and plans targeted short game sessions before next start
Rory McIlroy acknowledged a late slide in Ireland but insisted the week did little to dent his broader momentum, saying his overall game is “pretty good” and that minor adjustments – not overhaul – are required ahead of his next start.
Team sources confirmed McIlroy will spend the coming days on targeted short‑game work, prioritising consistency around the greens.Key focus areas include:
- Putting speed control from 10-30 feet
- Chipping to tight pins and trajectory control
- Bunker play and repeatable explosion shots
Coaches emphasised the sessions are surgical rather than sweeping: measurable drills, limited reps with clear benchmarks and on‑course simulations.Despite a few uncharacteristic misses that cost him in Ireland, confidence remains high and the program is designed to convert proximity into lower scores quickly.
| Area | drill | Short Target |
|---|---|---|
| Putting | Gate drills + speed ladder | 75% inside 10ft |
| Chipping | Landing zone reps | 3/5 up‑and‑downs |
| Bunkers | Explosive distance control | 80% fairway recovery |
Though he faded down the stretch in Ireland, McIlroy struck an upbeat tone, calling his game “pretty good” and taking positives from the week. He now shifts focus to fine-tuning the few loose ends and will be watching the calendar closely as he aims to convert promise into points and wins in the weeks ahead.
