Liguori: Lucky For Us, Rory McIlroy's Top Priority Is Golf

By Ann Liguori
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He may not move the needle, as they say, quite like Tiger, but Rory McIlroy's fan base should be right up there.

He's a pleasure to watch. He has amazing game. He drives the ball a ton, one of the longest-hitters on the Tour. He is creative with his shot-making. He's been following up the occasional bogie with birdies. He's more focused on golf and winning tournaments than ever before. And he's a nice person.
Rory is already a star but he's only begun to impress. He's won three Majors already and could earn his second straight Major title come Sunday evening, a second PGA Championship.

McIlroy shot a 4 under 67 in soggy, rainy conditions on Friday. He started on the back nine and rebounded after a bogey on 12, birding holes 13 and 15 and then draining a 30 footer for eagle on the 18th hole, his 9th. After he bogied his 11th hole, the par five, 2nd, Rory finished strong with birdies on holes 7 and 9. He just missed sinking another eagle putt on the 9th. And he scrambled to save par on a few holes on the front.

McIlroy says the key to his success of late has been immersing himself in his golf game the last several months. "Just seems like over the past couple of months, I've really just buried myself in my golf game and it seems to be working," he said.

It seems as if the week he broke off his engagement to tennis professional, former #1, Caroline Wozniacki, Rory's game took off. He won the BMW PGA the week after breaking off the engagement after the wedding invitations were sent out. He won the British Open in July and the WGC-Bridgestone last weekend.
As much as I like his former fiancée and I liked them together, Rory focusing on his game has made a huge difference.

He knows it.

"Golf is the No 1 priority to me," McIlroy added " and while I'm on this run of form, I want to try and keep it going as long as possible and I'm going to keep working hard and keep practicing and try and get even better."

Sounds like a guy on a mission. And it's fun to watch.

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