BMW CHAMPIONSHIP

August 18, 2022

Rory McIlroy

Wilmington Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Rory, I know that there's probably a few swings that you would like back from today, but overall how would you describe the round?

RORY McILROY: Yeah, much better than last week. Sort of feel like I shook off the rust a little bit. Started really well, made some good things. Yeah, just that one tee shot on 15. I felt like I had probably half a club too much, so I was trying to hit like a cut in there over the water, and I just double-crossed it and then compounded that by the three-putt.

But overall the rest of it was pretty good. I mean, I knew once I got here last weekend, I knew it was a golf course that was going to suit me better than last week. It sort of would have been nice to flip them, like have my first event back after three weeks be this course and then Memphis next week. You just have to be so sharp around -- East Lake, as well, next week.

But it was much better. Pleased with my game. Disappointed with how I finished, but encouraged with the rest of it.

Q. If you take away the tee shot on 15, what were you most proud of?

RORY McILROY: Sort of how I played, how I scrambled. I hit a lot of quality golf shots, but the times that I didn't hit good golf shots, being able to get the ball up-and-down, putting a little bit better -- I scored better. I was just more efficient with my game, where last week -- like I played okay, but I certainly turned -- I finished okay on Thursday, but I definitely turned like a 5- or 6-under into a 1-under on Friday, and that was just sort of rust and not being as sharp as I wanted to be. Just a little sharper today, and hopefully that continues not just this week but obviously into next week, as well.

Q. Coming here straight from Memphis, is that just, okay, you know what, let's reset, let's get back to work, or is there a little bit of frustration from last week that has been able to feed you over some intense practice over the last four days?

RORY McILROY: Yeah, I mean, I practiced really hard the week before Memphis just to get back into it after taking two full weeks off after the Open, but there's a difference between practicing at home and camping out on the range and actually playing golf.

So I knew I just needed even just a couple of competitive rounds last week in Memphis just to see where my game was, and then yeah, coming here early, working on some stuff, getting out on the golf course really. I've been on the golf course every day since Saturday here, so playing little games with Harry, him trying to set me scores to shoot, like trying to get myself into that sort of competitive mindset again.

Q. How is this course for being a brand new playoff venue?

RORY McILROY: It's really good. Again, as I just said there, I think my game suits a golf course like this. I can hit driver a lot. I can take some of the trouble out of play if I drive it well.

Yeah, it seems like a -- even though today I could have been a few shots better, obviously, I'm still really happy with how I played. I feel like if I play like that the next three days, I should have a good chance.

Q. What was the clubs on 15 that you were between?

RORY McILROY: 5 and 6. I tried to hit like a high, soft, cutty 5 and just double-crossed it.

Q. Does the optimist in you think about the great 17 holes you played, or does the competitor in you think about the swing that you couldn't quite execute?

RORY McILROY: Probably the former. I played much better today than I did last week, so that's -- I have to take the positives.

I still played a decent round of golf. 3-under out there this afternoon was pretty good. I've just got to reset tonight and forget about that swing on 15 and go again tomorrow.