Rory McIlroy got his act together to prevent a really disastrous first round at the Scottish Open but there’s no getting away from the fact that, for the last couple of years, he hasn’t been the player many had predicted he would become.
His last major was in 2014 and, after missing the cut at the US Open, Irish Open and maybe now the Scottish Open as well, his form going into the next one isn’t where he would want it to be.
I played Dundonald earlier in the year and I’ve come back through for the first day of the tournament. It’s pretty much as I thought it would be – a decent test but not a really tough one for the pros.
McIlroy’s two over is well off the pace.
When he won his fourth major he was only 25 and the question was being asked – can he reach Tiger Woods’ total of 14?
I think we can say now that the answer to that will be ‘no’.
It is more likely that he is a streaky player who is untouchable when he’s at his best – possibly even as good as Tiger – but he’ll suffer from long dry spells.
Because he can be so up and down, you can’t rule out his game clicking at The Open next week but it’s unlikely given the confidence he will be lacking.
The fact that McIlroy, and the other top players of the moment, aren’t able to establish themselves as a runaway number one just goes to show that Woods was setting standards that may never be matched again for generations.
There is always a limit to how good players can get in any sport and McIlroy and the rest aren’t getting near to that standard.
* It seems that the lengths the ‘big four’ in tennis have gone to beat each other are starting to take their toll.
The last man standing at Wimbledon, Roger Federer, is faring the best – and he’s the oldest.
Even then, though, he’s had spells on the sidelines through injury over the last couple of years.
As for the other three, you have to fear how long they will have left at the top.
Nadal, Djokovic and Murray all have styles of game which are very physically demanding.
Knees, shoulders and hips are breaking down and the last thing they’ll want at their age are serious operations.
Federer is a good bet to win this weekend but the players just behind them have to look upon this – and the next few grand slams – as their chance to strike.
* There are plenty of times I’d rather give a promotional event a miss but you soon realise when you become a professional athlete that PR and media gigs are part of the job.
It’s never a good look when people perceive you to be above your sport.
If 19 of the 20 F1 drivers were able to turn up at Trafalgar Square to help with the build-up to the British Grand Prix, there’s no real excuse for Lewis Hamilton to be the odd man out.
