Rory McIlroy took stock of his game and the shots required at Baltusrol and reached a most logical conclusion Tuesday.
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Among the 17 courses that have hosted at least two U.S. Opens or PGA Championships since 1990, Baltusrol’s growth ranks right in the middle of the pack-and is dwarfed by courses such as Hazeltine, which grew by 525 yards.
He overlooked the obvious. “I think that’s what I did in the first two majors”, added Day.
Top-ranked Jason Day is sick and exhausted after a trip to the hospital with his wife and unfamiliar with the formidable Baltusrol layout where he defends his first major title starting Thursday at the PGA Championship. “They asked if I wanted to make a sandwich”.
The Northern Irishman is probably the best driver in the world when he is on song, but links courses such as Troon that often do not necessitate hitting a driver do not always play to his strength.
Day remains determined to put up a stout defence of his first major crown in the stifling heat of New Jersey, but he is wary that his patience will be tested to the limit if he gets off to a shaky start on Thursday.
Jordan Spieth turned 23 yesterday. Others include U.S. Open champ Dustin Johnson, Masters champ Danny Willett and British Open champ Henrik Stenson.
“I’m kind of running on empty right now”, said Day.
Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth, who were ranked one and two in the world heading into last year’s PGA Championship, return this year nearly as after-thoughts, overshadowed by a wave of hotter rivals who have grabbed the limelight. “I really enjoyed that”.
The combination of his accurate driving and improved wedge game has him in a positive mood about the 7,428-yard, par-70 Baltusrol layout that finishes with back-to-back par-fives. He is among the top power players in the game, and his driving is aesthetically attractive because of his balance. “Looks like a guy you want to go down to the pub and have a beer with, even if you don’t drink”.
That’s another way of saying he has been spinning his wheels. Golf is a very hard game, on top of trying to manage all the mental part of the game, as well.
“Sure I would love to practice 8 to 10 hours a day, but I can’t because that doesn’t pay the bills for me”, Labritz said. If you’re looking for a value play, it’s elementary, dear Watson. The rough’s pretty deep and thick, but I like the shape to the holes, the big greens with a lot of slope on them. It’s a hectic season with the PGA Championship being the last major and then into the Olympics and FedExCup and Ryder Cup, and Race to Dubai finish. He also has finished in the top 10 in all three majors this year, including a win at the U.S. Open.
They spend most of the year teaching golf, not spending hours working on their own games or competing against the best from January to December. Thunderstorms are likely both those days.
McIlroy won the Irish Open before a home crowd this year. That was a big deal.
Johnson, like so many other pros, said he was a little taken-aback by Baltusrol Golf Club ending on two par 5s.
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“I guess I’m just a normal guy who happens to play golf”, he suggested. “I want to give it my all to get in the mix and try to win another one of these things before I have to wait another eight months”.
