Four-time Major champion Rory McIlroy has revealed that a victory at this week’s Amgen Irish Open would rank among “one of the biggest wins” of his professional career.
McIlroy, who claimed the title in 2016 with a three-shot lead, is aiming to close out the season with another strong performance on the DP World Tour.
The Northern Irishman has already secured wins on both the PGA Tour and DP World Tour in 2024 and is eyeing a strong finish to end the year, with the DP World Tour play-offs in the UAE looming on the horizon.
“To be home, home and stay in my own house and see my friends and all that, it’s been great,” McIlroy told UTV, as reported by the Irish Independent.
“Obviously, really looking forward to the week. I love coming back and playing, even if it’s just with my mates, coming playing at RCD or playing Portrush, so to be able to play a tournament, I didn’t do so well last time. So I’m trying to improve on that.
“From an outsider, it probably wouldn’t be as meaningful as some of the other wins that I’ve had (if McIlroy was to win this week). But for me, it would be up there with one of the biggest wins that I’ve had.”
The trip back to Ireland this week has also represented an opportunity to catch up again with long-time coach Michael Bannon, and a chance to assess where his swing is at.
“I think there’s a few things I need to clean up in my game,” McIlroy added. “It’s been such a busy year, I haven’t been able to work on my swing or my technique a little bit, and I feel like that’s deteriorated as I’ve gone throughout the year.
“So it’s been nice to reconnect with Michael, try to get some work in this week, and obviously going into the last few months of the year, feel like there were a couple of wins that I let get away but, but overall, it’s been a decent year, and I feel like I’m in pretty good form coming in here.”
