Bridgestone Invitational 2012: Rory McIlroy Needs Tourney to Get Back on Track
Rory McIlroy hardly looks like the promising young star that was set to take over the world of golf, but he can get back on track this weekend.
When the youngster from Northern Ireland won the Honda Classic in March, he took over the top spot in the world rankings. After winning the 2011 U.S. Open in dominating fashion, he seemed poised for a Tiger Woods-like run.
Unfortunately, things started to unravel. He finished five strokes over par at the Masters, good enough for a tie for 40th. He then proceeded to miss the cut at The Players Championship and the U.S. Open before finishing in 60th place at the Open Championship.
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McIlory has now dropped to third in the world rankings behind Luke Donald and Woods and it seems like he has not stopped the slide.
Fortunately, the Bridgestone Invitational presents a chance for a comeback. The tournament provides a competitive field without the pressure of a major tournament. After shooting par on Day 1, McIlroy has come back strong with a 67 on the second day.
He was able to overcome a double bogey on the first hole to hit six birdies and get to three-under for the tournament.
Although this only puts him eight strokes back of current leader Jim Furyk, he is not out of contention. He was very accurate with his drives and if he maintains consistency, he can be among the top scorers by Sunday.
He also showed great focus in Round 2, which is a good sign for his future. In the major tournaments, the golfer seems to fall apart once he hits a rough patch. He needs to learn to shake off mistakes and move onto the next hole.
At only 23 years old, McIlroy has a lot of growing ahead of him. He has the tools to succeed on the course, but the mental aspect is something that has held him back.
Therefore, he needs all the confidence he can get at this point. If he can mount a solid comeback in the Bridgestone Invitational, it could set him up for success at the upcoming PGA Championship.
As long as he stays focus, he can once again find himself on top of the sport.
