Here’s a question about Hoylake 2006, with the answer provided by Rory McIlroy.
What was the most important factor in Tiger Woods winning eight years ago?
Was it a) hitting only one driver all week, b) staying out the fairway bunkers, c) holing the most putts within 12 feet, or d) none of the above?
Well, all of them are right answers, but Rory thinks it was d), and the answer to Tiger’s victory was that he was 14-under for Hoylake’s four par fives.
A total of 10 birdies, two eagles, four pars and no bogeys and Woods’ winning score? Fourteen-under.
“The majority of his scoring was done on the par fives and they are a big key this week,” said McIlroy.
“They’re going to be crucial because there are four really good opportunities for birdies on those holes.”
That’s even though the conditions this week are going to be very different to 2006.
“It’s still pretty lush,” said Rory. “It might firm up a little bit, although I know we’ve got rain coming in over the weekend, but it’s a different test to 06.
“It’s not an option to hit an iron off every tee box like it was then. You’re going to have to be slightly aggressive off the tee and take things on.
“The par fives are all reachable if you take driver maybe 10 is reachable without, but it’s not as firm and the ball’s not going to run a lot on the fairways.”
Wet and holding were the conditions that Rory capitalised on for his BMW PGA Championship win at Wentworth, but even after his sojourn at Royal Aberdeen for the Scottish Open, those Flat Fridays are a real problem for him this season.
“If I have no problem going low on Thursday, there should be no problem shooting a low one on Friday. Maybe if I pretend it’s Thursday, just look to get a solid start and just play, I can turn that around.”
This would be a good place to do it, and Rory feels the links malaise he got into when he first turned pro is now behind him, due to going back to old habits rather than evolution of his game.
“I played so much links golf in my amateur days that I was used to playing the shots you needed,” he said.
“Then when I came out on Tour, especially playing the majority of the time in the US, you tend to neglect those sort of shots.
“So rather than evolving into a links player I’ve just gone out and practised really hard those shots I might need this week. My Open record isn’t as good as I would have liked. I’d love to improve upon it.”