Rory 'on the ropes' as he bids to floor PGA rivals

Ex-Ryder skipper McGinley says early Masters exit hit Mcllroy hard

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EVERY time a Major comes around, be it the Masters, the Open or this week at the PGA Championship, Rory McIlroy is perpetually in the conversation.

Since his last Major win, in 2014, no player boasts more top-10 finishes in Majors than the 17 that McIlroy has mustered.

On the surface, all has not looked well for the 34-yearold this past month. Having gone into the Masters in fine form and believing he could win the Green Jacket after shooting five-under on the back nine in his final practice, he ended up missing the cut.

So dejected was he that he made a costly — financially at least — decision to miss the RBC Heritage event to focus on his mental well-being.

And he arrived at Oak Hill Country Club for his pre-tournament press conference far more muted than he has been in recent times. LIV Golf — against which he has been the PGA Tour’s spokesman in chief — was not for discussion.

Instead, he wanted talk to turn back to his golf, which has not been at its best since he teed off for the Masters.