Rory McIlroy fell simply in need of a second Open Championship win at St Andrews. The Northern Irishman needed to accept third place in Scotland, nonetheless, it will likely be every week which can give the previous world primary numerous confidence.
The 33-year-old completed on -18, which was two pictures away from the winner Cameron Smith. He produced rounds of 66, 68, 66 and 70, which means he was on the prime finish of the leaderboard within the Main Championship all through the 4 days.
The four-time main winner can have the possibility so as to add to his tally within the large 4 occasions when he options at Augusta for US Masters in April. McIlroy is 12/1 within the golf betting to prevail within the event in Georgia in 2023.
Given how properly McIlroy has performed at Augusta all through his profession, he’s more likely to be one of many well-liked golf tips for the trophy. In his 14 appearances within the event, he has completed inside the highest 10 on seven events, and he has missed the minimize simply twice. His greatest efficiency got here earlier this 12 months when he was second.
McIlroy – one of many in-form gamers in 2022
It has been eight years now since McIlroy final received a Main Championship. His type took a dip in 2017 and 2020, as he did not win in these two years. The 21-time PGA Tour winner is now in rivalry at nearly each event he enters.
For the primary time in his profession, McIlroy has completed within the prime 10 of all 4 Main Championships in 2022. He adopted up his runner-up end within the US Masters to be eighth within the US PGA Championship. Within the US Open, he ended the weekend in a tie for fifth place, whereas he was third at St Andrews.
McIlroy received his second event of the season again in June on the Canadian Open. He prevailed within the occasion in Ontario by two pictures. That success helped the golfer from Holywood, County Down, transfer up the world rankings. He’s now as excessive as third, behind Scottie Scheffler and Cameron Smith respectively.
Ryder Cup winner stays dedicated to PGA Tour
As a four-time winner with group Europe, McIlroy is a Ryder Cup legend. He might be hoping to guide his continent to extra success within the group competitors in 2023. In contrast to among the greatest names within the sport, McIlroy has dedicated his future to the PGA Tour, which suggests he might be eligible to play in opposition to Workforce USA in Rome subsequent 12 months.
McIlroy, who started his profession on the European Tour, may additionally characteristic extra in Europe over the following 12 months. He has already declared to play the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth in September. The house star received the occasion in 2014 and he additionally completed second in 2018.
The favored PGA Tour participant is taken into account by many pundits to be top-of-the-line of his era. If this 12 months is something to go by, a few of his greatest golf should still be forward of him.