Paul McGinley on Rory McIlroy: "He's taking more bullets than other players"

Paul McGinley believes Rory McIlroy is suffering from "fatigue" as the lead voice of the PGA Tour following his "clumsy" 4-over start at The Players Championship. 

McIlroy has been a leading voice for change on the PGA Tour, especially in recent weeks following the circuit's new Designated Events that are set to feature limited fields and no cuts in 2024.

The World No.3 was in a seven-hour board meeting at Bay Hill last week and has been hosting a number of Zoom calls with his fellow players to explain all the latest changes on the PGA Tour as they look to combat the threat of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf League.

McIlroy, to the surprise of many, gave credit to the opposition this week for having "benefitted the professional game".

McGinley, speaking on 'LIVE from The Players' alongside Brandel Chamblee and Rich Lerner following the conclusion of play in round one at TPC Sawgrass, believes McIlroy has now "lost his normal focus" as a result of his "battery being down."

McGinley also thinks McIlroy has taken more "bullets" than other player on Tour, and that others need to help him out. 

McGinley said: 

McIlroy, despite board meetings and Zoom calls, went on to finish a very respectable tie for second behind Kurt Kitayama at the Arnold Palmer Invitational last week.

McGinley thinks he's now running on empty. 

With just three more weeks until The Masters, McGinley wants him feeling fresh for that as he believes he has the best possible opportunity to slip on the Green Jacket this April and complete the career grand slam. 

This shot from Rory @McIlroyRory escapes from the pine straw and somehow finds the green on the par-5 16th @THEPLAYERSChamp. pic.twitter.com/2rEQ1OR5Mz

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 9, 2023

McIlroy, who won the 2019 Players, began his round in terrible fashion with a double-bogey six after chipping his ball off the other side of the green.

He also three-putted for par on the 16th despite standing over a 28-foot putt for eagle. 

McGinley added: "Those things just don't happen when he's focused."

It all added up to a 76, leaving him 12 shots behind early pacesetter Chad Ramey and well outside the top 100.

That has now given him a mountain to climb just to make the cut let alone get back in the tournament.

No winner of The Players Championship has ever started with a round worse than 73. 

While McGinley considers McIlroy needs a good sleep to get back on track, the four-time major champion admitted after his round that he had been having major issues with getting the settings right in his new driver. 

Curiously, he only switched to the TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus Driver a few weeks ago.

This new driver easily found its way into our Best Golf Drivers buyer guide for 2023. 

It was after the first round of the Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club hosted by Tiger Woods that McIlroy made the switch. 

McIlroy stressed that there was "a lot of user error in there as well" but added "it doesn't look good on me, doesn't look good on TaylorMade." 

See McIlroy's comments in full here. 

Rory McIlroy is not happy with his driver.



He explained why after a dismal start at #THEPLAYERS .



Read more: https://t.co/McDSKr4HDc

— GolfMagic (@GolfMagic) March 9, 2023

McIlroy was on the range bashing balls away with his new driver for up to 60 minutes after his first round at The Players Championship. 

After finding just six fairways on day one at TPC Sawgrass, McIlroy will be hoping things click for him on day two. 

If not, then he will be heading home. 

But that might be just what he needs. 

Will McIlroy make the cut at The Players? 

Get involved with our latest poll: 

An opening 4-over 76 for Rory McIlroy at TPC Sawgrass .



Will he make the cut? #ThePlayersChampionship

— GolfMagic (@GolfMagic) March 9, 2023