US Open: New Dad Rory McIlroy Hopes & # 039; diaper factor & # 039; will help end six-year drought
McIlroy has yet to win another tournament since golf restart after lockdown Date: September 17-20 Location: Winged Foot, New York Coverage: Live text commentary on BBC Sport website from 1pm BST from opening two rounds and from 7pm on Saturdays and Sundays
Rory McIlroy hopes the & # 39; diaper factor & # 39; of golf will work in his favor during this week's US Open at Winged Foot.
New dads have experienced an unusually high success rate, and the 120th US Open will be McIlroy's first major since becoming a father.
The Northern Irishman's wife Erica gave birth to daughter Poppy two weeks ago and said it helped "put things in perspective a little bit".
"My career is important to me and I care a lot about it," he said.
"But at the same time, it makes the difficult days a little easier to get over, right? ]
" If I say it's not most importantly, it's a big championship and I've grown up all my life dreaming of winning these tournaments.
"That's not going to change, but if it doesn't quite happen I can live with it and go home and be very happy, and leave what happened on the golf course, on the golf course.
"I think that might be something I haven't done very well in the past. I didn't actually leave my office job, I took it home, and I let it affect my mood and how I am. "
McIlroy went into lockdown as the number one in the world
World Number Four McIlroy Aims To End a six-year wait for a fifth major win this week, and a win would also be his first since the return of golf from the Covid-19 lockdown.
Tied for seventh place in the This month's Tour Championship at East Lake – based on scores of 72 holes rather than the tournament's handicap system – was the 31-year-old's first top 10 since the restart.
He achieved first major victory in the US Open of 2011 and the former world number one believes he will get to a strong start on Thursday to have a chance to repeat that success.
"If you looked at my most important championship performance ties during the In the first few years, I got off to a slow start, "said the four-time winner.
"I probably just put too much pressure on myself to go to tournaments.
" And from there, get a bad score on the first day and from there put even more pressure on yourself to just make it to the weekend, and then try catch-up, I think that's been the big thing.
"If I start tournaments right, I stay above that. I started Pebble (Beach) last year with a nice score and stayed there for the most part, although I didn't quite finish the week as I wanted.
"But that's been the most important thing for me. If I can start and make a good lap on Thursday, I'll be there most of the time.
McIlroy is teamed up with 2013 champions Justin Rose and Adam Scott, with the trio starting Thursday at 1:07 p.m. BST.
