TRAVELERS CHAMPIONSHIP

June 24, 2022

Rory McIlroy

TPC River Highlands

Quick Quotes

Q. Quite the interesting round today. 13-under before couple tough holes coming in. How would you overall characterize your round?

RORY McILROY: Yeah, I mean, seven birdies is a good thing. But, yeah, I mean, I had a four-hole stretch there on the back nine where I lost obviously two fairway -- well, three fairway wood shots are what cost me.

For whatever reason I haven't been comfortable with my fairway woods the last couple weeks. You know, I just hit three loose ones there, two on 12 and then the one on 15. That was really it. I played well the rest of the way. Obviously got off to that great start.

I thought I came back well. I made a good putt for 6 on 15 and then birdied 16. Yeah, I should be closer to the lead. Feel like I let a lot of guys into the golf tournament because of it.

But, you know, it's still only two rounds. There are two rounds left and a lot of golf left.

Q. What do you take away from the seven birdies, the two bad holes, or is it all encompassing, it's golf sometimes?

RORY McILROY: Yeah, it's golf sometimes I think. Yeah, I mean, it sort of came out of the blue. I haven't made a big number like that or couple big numbers like that in a long time.

You know, when you hit a tee shot like on 12, the first one, the second one is pretty difficult, you know, and you're sort guarding against the left one and I missed it right.

Yeah, I mean, again, it was just one of those. I put myself in a great position in this the tournament and then just three bad swings have sort of cost me six shots.

You know, I've got all that work to sort of try it makeup over the weekend. At least I have the time to do it.

Q. How do you work through the difficulties with your fairway woods?

RORY McILROY: I don't know. Just avoid hitting them or go do some work on the range. I'm pretty tired right now so I don't think I'll do that tonight. Maybe spend a little bit of time in the warmup tomorrow hitting them and sort of getting committed to the shots I'm going to need out there off the tees.

Yeah, that's really it. I think it's just more trying to committed as much as possible to the tee shots.

Q. You talked about you won in Canada. Game was good in Brookline last week. Obviously still good here. What's the mentality as you head into the weekend?

RORY McILROY: Yeah, you know, I just need to get off to the start I got off to today again. And, yeah, I mean, I don't know, I think I'm six behind Xander, but I think second place is either 9- or 10-under.

There is not -- there is a lot of time left and I know that there is so many birdies on the golf course for me. It's just a matter of not trying to force the issue, stay patient, and if I keep playing the golf I know I can play, I'll hopefully get a little closer to that lead.