Rory McIlroy's "wedge game isn't good" says former US PGA champion

Former US PGA champion and present Sky Sports Golf commentator Rich Beem believes Rory McIlroy needs to spend more time with his wedges ahead of The Masters. 

Andy Roberts's picture
Mon, 21 Feb 2022
Former US PGA champion critical of Rory McIlroy's wedge game ahead of Masters

Rory McIlroy's wedge game is nowhere near good enough to contend on the PGA Tour right now, according to former US PGA champion and present Sky Sports Golf commentator Rich Beem.

It was a steady yet unspectacular week for McIlroy last week at Riviera as the former World No.1 finished tied 10th on 10-under par and nine shots behind Genesis Invitational champion Joaquin Niemann. 

In the eyes of 2002 US PGA champion Beem, it is the short game that is far too often costing McIlroy from winning tournaments.

McIlroy now has the week off before heading over to Bay Hill to compete in the famous Arnold Palmer Invitational and Beem believes the 20-time PGA Tour winner will know exactly what he needs to focus on over the coming days. 

"He is going to take a lot away from this week because he knows his wedge game isn't good," said Beem during Sky Sports Golf's final round coverage of the Genesis Invitational.

"He knows it's not good enough so it's going to give him something to work on back home."

McIlroy ranked 49th at Riviera when it came to strokes-gained approach to the green (0.101) and 38th in strokes-gained around the green (0.202).

The World No.5 was also a little wayward from the tee, ranking tied 85th in driving accuracy, finding just 24 of 56 fairways for the week. 

Pleasingly for McIlroy, his putting was vastly improved at Riviera, ranking sixth for the week in strokes-gained putting (5.175).

McIlroy last won on the PGA Tour at The CJ Cup in October 2021 and he has achieved five straight top-20 finishes since that win.

Those results would therefore suggest McIlroy's game is close ahead of The Masters in April, a tournament that he so desperately wants to win in order to join an elusive list of players to complete golf's career grand slam. 

McIlroy next tees it up at the Arnold Palmer Invitational from March 3-6, an event he won back in 2018. 

After that, McIlroy will then head over to compete in The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass from March 10-13 and then he will next play in The Masters from April 7-10. 

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