Rory McIlroy compares Pete Dye courses to "like drinking beer"
McIlroy admits he has grown to like Dye golf courses ahead of his title defence at The Players...
Rory McIlroy has likened playing Pete Dye golf courses to like drinking beer as a teenager ahead of his title defence at this week's Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass.
McIlroy, who clinched his first Players title 12 months ago, claims he struggled to adapt to playing golf on Dye's courses but that all changed in 2010 at Whistling Straits when he finished tied third at the US PGA Championship.
"An acquired taste," said McIlroy, of playing Dye courses.
"They're like beer when you're younger. You sort of don't like it, but then you think it's cool to drink it, and then you sort of acquire a taste for it."
REVIEW: TPC SAWGRASS
He added: "I would say I turned a corner in 2010 [US PGA at Whistling Straits]. I turned up there and I hated it. I really did not like it.
"I had to tell myself: 'Look, you just need to like it for one week, just get your head around liking this place for one week and embracing the fact it's different and the fact that it's visually a little funky.'
"I never liked how Dye made you feel on the golf course, in terms of hiding things and angles.
"It makes you a little bit uncomfortable, which is obviously his plan. He's a wonderful designer of golf courses, but that was the week where I had to embrace what Pete tried to put into his golf courses."
McIlroy has won three times on Dye courses following victories at the 2012 US PGA (Kiawah Island), 2012 BMW Championship (Crooked Stick) and the 2019 Players (TPC Sawgrass).
Dye sadly passed away in January this year aged 94.
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