Rory McIlroy's third change of putter in as many days finally brought some positive results on the greens, as the Northern Irishman – who'd barely survived the midway cut after a horrid time with the putter in hand – shot a finishing round 64 for 274, six-under-par, which gave him a top-20 finish at The Travelers championship in Connecticut.
More importantly, though, it was McIlroy's decision to switch to a more traditional blade putter, rather than a mallet, which brought some satisfaction as he heads into a busy summer schedule that kickstarts Thursday week with the defence of his Dubai Duty Free Irish Open title at Portstewart.
“It has been very stop-start (season), and to now be heading into a good round of events back in Europe is something that I am really looking forward to.
“As for my putting, we will see and I am not so sure but then my putting could not have been any worse than what it was the first three days. So, I went back to a putter that looked a little bit more familiar, and that style of head shape that I have had the most success with and just to see if I could conjure up any good feelings,” said McIlroy.
“So, it felt pretty good and the good thing also is that I struck the ball really well . . . looking back over this week, the strong point is that I am driving the ball the best I ever had including hitting my irons pretty good and it just a matter of sharpening up the short game. If I can take advantages of the opportunities I have been giving myself, I know I can do that then I can shoot scores like (the closing 64)”.
After failing to make the cut at the US Open where he had used a Taylormade Spider Red putter for the first time in competition, McIlroy’s desperation to find a putter which he was comfortable using in competition saw him test no fewer than five different putters prior to Saturday’s third round when he took 33 putts. It meant another change for the final round, with some satisfaction at last as he faces into a run of events that includes the Irish Open, the Scottish Open and the British Open.
McIlroy’s tee-to-green display in the final round was impressive, as he hit 17 of 18 greens in regulation. His only miss came at the 18th, which resulted in a bogey. “I gave myself a lot of looks. If I can strike the ball like this and putt average, this is sort of what I can do,” said McIlroy.
Pádraig Harrington’s return to competition after his freakish elbow injury, sustained when hit by an amateur during a corporate day three weeks ago, indicated no lasting ill effects. The Dubliner shot a closing round 68 to join McIlroy on 274, making a good up and down on the 18th from a greenside bunker to finish with a par.
Harrington suffered two bogeys in his opening four holes but recorded back-to-back birdies on the seventh and eighth to turn in level par and then had three birdies and just one bogey on his homeward run.
