Rory McIlroy has been told by his former agent, Andrew 'Chubby' Chandler, that his 'spark' has gone and that he risks becoming a 'one-course pony'. Chandler, who managed McIlroy from his professional debut in 2007 until 2011, made the comments ahead of The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, which begins on July 16.
McIlroy's Recent Form Under Scrutiny
McIlroy, from Holywood, Northern Ireland, won the Masters for a second consecutive year in April. However, his form has dipped since, with a tied-seventh finish at the PGA Championship and a tied-32nd at the US Open. Chandler believes this pattern mirrors last year, when McIlroy dropped off after winning the Masters.
'I think the spark has gone out of Rory McIlroy heading into The Open,' Chandler told BetVictor. 'At The Open, if it was a damp week with not too much wind, he would be a big favourite but if the course runs fast then it will be a leveller for him. There always seems to be a drop off for Rory now that he's won the career slam.'
Critique of McIlroy's Game
Chandler noted that McIlroy's wedge play and chipping have deteriorated. 'At the US Open, his wedge play was hopeless in places. Yet he's quite a good wedge player. It didn't tally with what was going on,' he said. Chandler also questioned McIlroy's ability to handle windy conditions and firm greens, despite success at Augusta National.
Chandler added: 'One thing I don't understand is that he struggles when there's a bit of wind and the greens are firm. I don't understand that because you get that at Augusta.'
Potential to Win More Majors
Despite his criticisms, Chandler believes McIlroy can still win majors, particularly on soft greens. However, he warned that McIlroy might become fixated on winning a third consecutive Masters, an unprecedented feat. 'To win three Masters on the trot which no one has ever done, that's a massive thing,' Chandler said. 'That would be up there with one of his goals.'
Chandler concluded: 'It begs the question. Is he a one course pony? I think he got up for trying to win all four in a year. His legacy is more important than anything to him. Will he prove that he's had a better career than Tiger Woods? Probably not.'
Looking Ahead to The Open
Chandler, who has played Royal Birkdale, predicted that scoring will be low if there is no wind. 'I've played Birkdale and if there's no wind, the scoring will be very low. I would have thought it's pretty much straight other than that it will be breezy and firm,' he said.
