Sunday 25 June 2017 22:21, UK
Rory McIlroy's decision to use his third different putter in four rounds paid off as he made huge strides up the Travelers Championship leaderboard with a closing 64.
McIlroy was happy with his long game over the week on his debut at TPC River Highlands, but his excellent ball-striking performance was not matched on the greens as rounds of 67, 73 and 70 left him among the also-rans heading into the final round.
But the four-time major champion opted to change to a more traditional style of putter ahead of his early tee time on Sunday in Connecticut, and that led to a vast improvement as he rolled in seven birdie putts to climb over 50 places up the leaderboard.
McIlroy hit 17 greens in regulation before taking a little gloss off his round with a scrappy last hole which resulted in his only blemish of the day, but his all-round form gave him a big lift as he prepares for a busy three weeks of links golf in Ireland, Scotland and culminating at The Open in Liverpool.
"I couldn't have done any worse than what I've done in the first three days, so I just wanted to mix it up and go back to something that looked a little more familiar," said McIlroy, who will now enjoy a week off before heading to Portstewart to host the Irish Open.
"That style of head or that head shape I've had the most success with, so I went back to that today to see if I could conjure up any good feelings and it felt pretty good.
"For the last two rounds I started to use a line on the ball, and with that putter and the little line on the top of it, it just felt like I could match it up a little bit better than what I had the previous few days. And it sort of worked.
"I felt like I putted pretty well. I took advantage of the opportunities I gave myself. I missed a couple coming in that I thought I should have made as well, but overall it was an improvement on the first three days. I must say I felt a little more comfortable on the greens, so this might be one that stays in the bag for a few weeks."
McIlroy's season has been interrupted by two spells out of action with a rib-joint injury in his back, but he now feels back to full health and fitness and he is relishing the challenge ahead as he faces a hectic schedule throughout July and August.
"I'm swinging really good and it's in balance," he added. "I always feel like I'm swinging it well when I can hit it as hard as I want and I know the ball's not going to go left, and that's what it feels like right now. Keep the feelings up with the long game and just try to get a little bit better with the short game and I should be right there.
"From tee to green, I'm right where I need to be. I'm driving the ball as well as I ever have and I'm hitting my irons pretty good. I just need to sharpen up the short game. When I miss greens, getting it up-and-down, and take advantage of the opportunities I'm giving myself. If I do that, I know I can shoot scores like I did today.
"I feel like the season's only started for me with the injury, it's just been so stop-start. So to get into a good round of events, I've got a week off coming up, and then three big ones for me back over in Europe, and then back over here for a lot of big ones.
"Obviously we've got a World Golf Championship, two majors and the FedExCup Play-offs to think about. So a lot of important stuff still coming up, and I feel my game's in good shape to try and contend again.
"I'm excited to just play golf and get on a run of events. It's nice to be injury-free and I don't feel like I have niggles or aches and pains. I can play a very full schedule going forward from here till the rest of the year. So I'm excited for that."
