“I think match play is the purest form of the game.”
Rory makes the case for match play on the Tour. Would you like to see it?
Getty
Rory McIlroy on match play on the PGA Tour.
Rory McIlroy used his pre-tournament media availability ahead of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club to call for more match play events on the PGA Tour schedule.
McIlroy, who arrives in Pennsylvania after winning his second Masters title last month, said match play remains one of the purest forms of golf and believes the format deserves a larger place in the modern schedule. The Northern Irishman spoke Tuesday before the start of the PGA Championship, where he is among the favorites alongside world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler.
The PGA Championship was originally played as a match-play tournament before switching to stroke play in 1958. McIlroy said discussions about adding more match-play events have continued, including possible future changes to the Tour Championship.
“I think match play is the purest form of the game.”
Rory makes the case for match play on the Tour. Would you like to see it?
“Match play has been a big talking point, you know, possibly talking about it for the Tour Championship at the end of the year going forward,” McIlroy said.
“I think match play is the purest form of the game. I think it’s a shame that we don’t have any match play really in the schedule apart from the Ryder Cup or the President’s Cup. And it would be nice to get some more match play in the schedule for sure.”
McIlroy’s comments come at a time when the PGA Tour schedule no longer includes a regular individual match play event following the end of the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play in 2023.
The four-time major winner has long been one of golf’s strongest performers in team match play competitions, including the Ryder Cup. He has also previously won the WGC Match Play title.
McIlroy enters this week’s PGA Championship seeking his seventh career major title. A victory at Aronimink would move him past Nick Faldo as the most successful European men’s golfer in major championship history and tie him with Arnold Palmer on seven majors.
The 36-year-old said his mindset entering this year’s PGA Championship feels different from a year ago, following his Masters victory and renewed motivation.
“I think I came into this tournament last year a little bit sort of uncertain of what my future was,” McIlroy said. “I still hadn’t really reset goals or found whatever that motivation was to keep going or go forward and set myself goals for the rest of my career.”
“As I’ve said, like last week, coming into this tournament feels a lot different than what it did last year. I feel like I’ve got some nice clear road ahead to try to get some more of these majors.”
GettyRory McIlroy of Northern Ireland
McIlroy also shared his early impressions of Aronimink Golf Club, which is hosting the PGA Championship for the first time since 1962.
The course previously hosted the 2018 BMW Championship, where McIlroy finished tied for fifth. He said the course conditions this week are expected to differ significantly from that event because of firmer greens and drier conditions.
“The greens seem to be the big defense and the big talking point of the golf course,” McIlroy said.
“I think from 2018 to then playing a couple weeks ago — if you get yourself above the hole or you start to short-side yourself, you can get yourself in some tricky spots.”
McIlroy described Aronimink as a course where players can be aggressive off the tee before relying on precise approach shots and positioning on the greens.
“It’s a course where you can be super aggressive off the tee, and then there’s a little more strategy and a little more thought going into the greens,” he said.
The Northern Irishman added that modern renovations at traditional venues have reduced some of the strategic demands off the tee.
“Strategy off the tee is pretty nonexistent,” McIlroy said. “It’s, basically, bash driver down there and then figure it out from there.”
McIlroy enters the PGA Championship after finishing the Masters as champion and continuing his strong major form. He is widely viewed as one of the leading contenders this week alongside Scheffler as golf continues to search for a major championship showdown between the sport’s top two players.
Debayan Biswas is a sports writer covering the NBA and NFL for Heavy.com. He focuses on breaking news, trades, and player stories. His work has been featured by Athlon Sports and Pro Football and Sports Network, with republication across platforms including Yahoo Sports and Yardbarker. More about Debayan Biswas
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