Rory McIlroy told to take leaf out of Nick Faldo’s book to turn Major frown upside down

Could Rory McIlroy End His Major Drought by Emulating Sir Nick Faldo’s Strategy?

David Leadbetter, the legendary golf coach, believes Rory McIlroy could benefit from adopting Sir Nick Faldo’s meticulous approach to tournament play in order to end his long-standing Major drought. Leadbetter, who coached Faldo to three Open championships, suggests that McIlroy’s tactical decisions have hindered his recent performances, especially his near-miss at the US Open.

 

Leadbetter pointed to McIlroy’s performance at Pinehurst, where the Northern Irishman lost a two-shot lead with five holes to play, ultimately finishing a shot behind Bryson DeChambeau. Leadbetter criticized McIlroy’s strategic choices, such as hitting too much club on the par-3 15th and a misjudged chip on the 18th, which left him with a treacherous downhill putt that he missed.

 

Despite these setbacks, Leadbetter remains optimistic about McIlroy’s chances at the upcoming Open at Royal Troon. He believes McIlroy, along with his caddie Harry Diamond, must develop a comprehensive plan tailored to the challenging Ayrshire links.

 

“Rory is an enigma,” said Leadbetter, reflecting on McIlroy’s career. “He has had a wonderful career but hasn’t won a Major in 10 years, which is incredible. At the US Open, he was right in position. Some people are calling him a choker, but the 18th was a difficult putt. The issue was the chip shot; he should have left it short for an easier putt. That’s not choking; it’s poor strategy. Ultimately, the player makes the final choice and hits the shot.”

 

Leadbetter drew comparisons to golf legends like Jack Nicklaus, Faldo, and Tiger Woods, noting they would never have made the same strategic errors McIlroy did. “A player like Nicklaus or Faldo would have ensured they didn’t go over the back of the 15th green. That was a bad strategy mistake—there’s no way you should hit it past the hole there.”

 

Highlighting the importance of strategic play at Troon, Leadbetter emphasized that McIlroy needs to adopt a chess-like approach, much like Faldo did. “Troon’s motto, ‘Tam Arte Quam Marte’—as much by skill as by strength—says it all. You can’t overpower a links course. The rough will be lush, so hitting fairways and the right spots is crucial.”

 

Leadbetter also mentioned the potential for other players, such as Tommy Fleetwood, to make a mark at Troon. “It’s crazy that Sir Nick is still the last Englishman to win the Claret Jug, given the quality of players since then. But I think Tommy Fleetwood, a skilled ball-striker and intelligent player, could be a dark horse at Troon.”

 

As McIlroy prepares for Royal Troon, adopting Faldo’s strategic play might be the key to finally breaking his Major drought. Leadbetter’s insights offer a blueprint for McIlroy to follow, blending skill with careful planning to navigate the demanding links course.