Rory McIlroy is not letting a disappointing Irish Open performance drag him down. The Masters champion is taking plenty of positives into this week’s BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, insisting he has seen enough good golf recently to stay upbeat heading into one of the biggest events on the European Tour calendar.
McIlroy had a tough time at County Sligo last week, struggling to find the form that has defined what has been a remarkable year for the 35-year-old. But true to his nature, the world number two is refusing to dwell on it.
“I’ve seen enough good stuff,” McIlroy said, keeping things simple and to the point. For a man who finally completed the career Grand Slam at Augusta earlier this year, a rough week on home soil is hardly going to shake his confidence at this stage.
Wentworth has been a happy hunting ground for McIlroy in the past, and he arrives at the Surrey venue carrying the kind of momentum that only a Masters title can bring. The BMW PGA Championship is one of the most prestigious events outside of the majors on the DP World Tour, and McIlroy has always treated it with the respect it deserves.
Interestingly, McIlroy also spoke warmly about County Sligo as a venue, recalling good memories of the course despite his struggles there last week. There has been ongoing conversation about the potential of the northwest Ireland links hosting bigger events in the future, and McIlroy’s comments will do no harm to those ambitions. His praise for the course was genuine, even if his scorecard did not reflect his best golf.
The Irish Open itself had been a celebration of golf on home soil, with crowds turning out in strong numbers to support their hero. McIlroy has always had a complicated relationship with the event, carrying the weight of expectation every time he tees it up in Ireland. Winning on home turf remains one of the few things that has eluded him throughout his glittering career, and that narrative is not going away any time soon.
But Wentworth is a different story. McIlroy has fond memories of the West Course and has contended there multiple times over the years. Coming in as Masters champion, he will be one of the most watched players in the field this week, and the expectation levels will be high once again.
What is clear is that McIlroy is in a good headspace. Winning the Masters the way he did, finally putting to bed years of near misses and heartbreak at Augusta, has given him a sense of freedom that is visible in how he talks about his game. He is not panicking after a bad week. He is not overthinking things. He saw some good stuff, he knows his game is in shape, and he is ready to go again.
For Irish golf fans, the hope is that this relaxed and confident version of McIlroy eventually translates into that long-awaited home victory. Whether that happens at County Sligo down the line or somewhere else on Irish soil, the dream is still very much alive. But for now, all eyes turn to Wentworth, where McIlroy will be hoping to remind everyone exactly why 2025 has been the year he truly cemented his legacy as one of the greatest golfers of all time.