Rory McIlroy Talks Adjustments to Make Swing More Efficient 'Under Pressure'

Ten years after his last victory in a major tournament, Rory McIlroy is resetting things as he prepares for the start for the 2025 PGA Tour season.

Speaking to reporters prior to the Abu Dhabi Championship, McIlroy explained he recently tinkered with his swing to make it more efficient so that it doesn't break down when he is "under pressure" in key moments during tournaments:

"The only way I was going to make a change, or at least move in the right direction, with my swing was to lock myself in a studio and not see the ball flight for a bit and just focus entirely on the movement. It's something just to make my golf swing more efficient, and then if it is more efficient, then it means it's not going to break down as much under pressure. If I look at my year, the one thing that I would criticize myself on is the fact that I've had these chances to win."

Despite having six top-two finishes on the PGA Tour this season, including two victories, his defining moment was at the U.S. Open in June.

McIlroy had a two shot lead over Bryson DeChambeau with four holes remaining. His first shot on the par-three 15th hole landed in the wasteland behind the green, leading him to settle for bogey.

The next hole saw McIlroy three putt, even though his second one was less than three feet from the hole.

After making par on 17, McIlroy tee shot landed left of the fairway in the straw and he got on the green in three shots. He had another short putt for par that could have forced a playoff, but the ball hit the edge of the cup and kept rolling.

McIlroy's decision to sequester himself for three weeks to fix his swing isn't unfounded. He is ranked 122nd in greens in regulation this season.

If McIlroy gives himself better looks off the tee, then he won't be under as much pressure when he gets on the green. The 35-year-old still needs to be more efficient with his putter, but it doesn't matter if you can't get on the green with a chance to make birdie or better.

There is always a lot of pressure on McIlroy because he looked like a potentially dominant star with four major titles in three years from 2011 to '14. His career hasn't been disappointing with 26 career victories on the PGA Tour, but his major drought since winning the 2014 PGA Championship is a dark cloud hovering over everything he does.