Rory McIlroy now reminds me of Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia, says tour pro

English tour pro Eddie Pepperell claimed watching Rory McIlroy now reminds him of the struggles of Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia in major championships.

Ben Smith

31 Jul 2023

Rory McIlroy now reminds me of Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia, says tour pro — Rory McIlroy now reminds me of Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia, says tour…

English tour pro Eddie Pepperell says watching Rory McIlroy now reminds him of the struggles of Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia in major championships.

McIlroy, 34, ensured his wait to add to his tally of four majors continued into a tenth year after his latest disappointment at the 2023 Open.

The Northern Irishman last claimed a major championship nine years ago at the 2014 PGA Championship at Valhalla.

McIlroy had to rush to beat the darkness to lift the Wanamaker and his victory appeared to be the beginning of a dominant era.

Related:

PGA Tour boss risks wrath of Rory McIlroy

Afterall, he was 25 years old and was already being compared to Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus such was his meteoric rise and career arc.

A return to Royal Liverpool this summer presented the perfect opportunity for McIlroy pick off another major he so desperately craves.

Hoylake was the scene of McIlroy's one and only triumph at golf's oldest major.

But once again it was a story we are so familiar with. McIlroy left himself with too much to do and struggled to hole crucial putts when needed.

Will Rory McIlroy win a major in 2024?
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"I might be ready to join you guys on the frustration train," said Pepperell on The Chipping Forecast, discussing McIlroy.

Pepperell, who also ranted about the coverage of Brian Harman's win, said watching McIlroy reminded him of the struggles of former World No.1 Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia.

Garcia scissor-kicked his way to superstardom in 1999 but was made to wait until 2017 to claim his first major at the Masters.

Westwood, for all of his consistency and victories across the globe, has never been able to pick off a major either.

Phil Mickelson claimed the PGA Championship when he was 50 years old so there could be hope for Westwood yet.

Pepperell said:

"I hate saying this as a fellow player and as somebody that is nowhere near as good as Rory and Tommy, and I would add Tommy into this. Those watching those two this week [at The Open] reminded me of Sergio and Lee Westwood, before Sergio got his major.

"[They are] both absolutely brilliant ball strikers. Rory's obviously got four majors but I just worry for them both probably, McIlroy and Fleetwood that unless they can find a way of holing crucial putts at the right times in major championships they just aren't going to win a major championship."

Pepperell continued:

"Ball striking is the thing that underpins winning major championships, there is no doubt about that and Brian Harman showed that but on top of that you do need to be able to hole the right putts at the right times and it was just very, very frustrating watching those guys.

"I actually think Tommy will be more disappointed player leaving Hoylake of anyone personally. Moving forward Rory [I think] definitely needs to be more clinical. I think David Howell said that. He's got to be more clinical with his short irons and with his putting. Listen, I haven't won any so he knows a lot more than me but that would be my view."

It's not just Pepperell who appears to be somewhat sceptical about McIlroy's future.

Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee called out McIlroy after his 20th top-10 finish in a major, claiming the Ulsterman is now past his physical prime.

Chamblee said: "I realise he's ripping it and he looks like a Greek god, but I'm talking about, at 34 he doesn't have as much runway in front of him as he did when he won his last major."