Rory McIlroy: & # 039; Playing golf without fans sometimes felt so casual & # 039;

World Number Six McIlroy says competing without fans felt like "playing a practice round"

Rory McIlroy says he enjoys the chance to play in front of spectators. play after admitting to fighting behind closed doors & # 39; casual & # 39; felt.

McIlroy is in action this week. Phoenix Open with 5,000 people allowed every day at TPC Scottsdale.

"It's like playing a practice round," said the number six in the world who took part in the global pandemic.

"I play much better on Tour than at home because I have something to focus on.

" I think that's sometimes the hardest is for me without having fans, sometimes just feels so casual. "

The quadruple m A big winner added," The pro-ams I played on Wednesday, my pro-am partners are probably like, "how has this man been the best player in the world? & # 39; because you don't have the competitive edge that will get the best out of yourself.

"As it progressed we got used to it and it's kind of the norm now, but I'm definitely one in the camp of welcoming fans and is excited about it. "

After successive disappointments on Sunday, McIlroy joins the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship, where he surrendered the lead overnight to be third. and the Farmers Insurance Open in California, where he was cleared of any wrongdoing by the PGA Tour after taking a free drop for a boxed in ball during his third round.

Farmers Insurance Open winner Patrick Reed was in a similar situation where the American moved his ball before calling a control officer.

While Reed achieved an impressive final of four under par – round 68 to win with five strokes, McIlroy's challenge faded as he st umbled to a close of 73 and a tie for the 16th.

McIlroy has failed to pay one last day for his last two forays in Abu Dhabi and California

The PGA Tour Player of the year 2019 believes he can feed the energy of the Arizona crowd this week at a tournament known for its raucous vibe.

"will go gradually, I don't think anything will be at capacity or 100% for a while, but the fact that Phoenix will have 5,000 I think it's a good thing, added McIlroy, who is making his Phoenix Open debut in the midst of a busy series of seven tournaments in an eight-week period.

"Sometimes you have a pin behind a bunker or something, you can't see the bottom of it and you think you got a good shot, but you have no idea where the ball is.

"It's nice to just have a reaction, get hit or not hit or whatever, so that will be fun.

McIlroy joins world number four Xander Schauffele – one of five joint runners-up to Reed at Torrey Pines – and Daniel Berger in the first two rounds at Phoenix.

Jon Rahm, Justin Thomas, Brooks Koepka and defending champion Webb Simpson also belong to a strong field.