RORY McILROY ADMITS that 2016 has not been the year he had hoped for but the Northern Irishman remains confident he can finish the year with a flourish.
Speaking ahead of the opening round of the FedEx Cup play-offs in New York, McIlroy conceded his performances on both the PGA and European Tours had not been up to his normal high standards.
His failure to make the cut at the US Open and USPGA Championship were particularly disappointing for the world number five. McIlroy has only won once in the calendar year — at the Irish Open — but he hopes to add to that as he looks to reach the PGA Tour Championship in late September.
“I try to judge my year on wins and it [his only success] was a very emotional win but on the bigger scheme it wasn’t a big win,” he told a media conference ahead of The Barclays. “There’s been threes, fours, top fives and top 10s in there, and the weeks that I have played well I have been solid.
“Obviously the two missed cuts at the majors were very disappointing. Especially the way I missed the cuts, I should have played the weekend on both of them. I sort of threw it away. So it hasn’t been the year that I wanted but I feel there’s enough golf left to salvage it and call it somewhat of a successful season.”
He added: “A good week this week can get yourself into the top five and that’s what the play-offs are all about. They give everybody in the top 125 a chance to progress and move on. That’s the goal for most of the field.”
