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SPORTS Thursday 20 July 2017
Rory McIlroy hoping to catch his wave at British Open

By DOUG FERGUSON forced him to sit out nearly
AP Golf Writer two months, and then he
SOUTHPORT, England (AP) played only once in two
— Just three years ago, months between the Mas-
Rory McIlroy was the best ters and the U.S. Open in
player in the world without part because it was acting
a trace of argument. He up. It all led to what McIlroy
won the final two majors of describes as a start-and-
the year, with a World Golf stop year, one that to this
Championship title in be- point doesn’t include a tro-
tween. He had reason to phy. “But I’m in good spir-
believe his reign would last its,” McIlroy said. “I feel like
as long as he wanted it to. it’s all coming together. I’m
Now he’s simply trying to just waiting for that round or
get back into the conver- that moment or that week
sation. where it sort of clicks and
The starkest reminder of the I’ll be off and running. I’ve
state of his game was not had little periods like this
so much missing three cuts before in my career, and
in his last four tournaments. I’ve been able to bounce
It was being told on the eve back from them. I’d say I
of the British Open that the was in worse positions than
bookies listed him at 20-1 to this. I feel like my game ... Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy plays a shot from the 5th tee during a practice round ahead of
the British Open Golf Championship, at Royal Birkdale, Southport, England Tuesday, July 18, 2017.
win at Royal Birkdale. the pieces are all there, it’s Associated Press
“Good time to back me,” just about trying to fit them
McIlroy said. “I mean, look, together.” fields of the year at the to get everything back to all there. It’s just a matter of
if I was a betting com- As for his odds? time, and then he slipped feeling where it was,” John- putting it all together.”
pany and I saw my form That speaks to a broader down the stairs on the eve son said. “I’m trying to get He has slipped so far from
over the past few weeks, picture of the 146th edi- of the Masters, wrenched back to that point. It’s defi- the dominant force in golf
yeah, that’s probably a fair tion of the British Open, his back and didn’t swing a nitely a lot harder.” — McIlroy hasn’t been at
enough price. But again, which starts Thursday at club for a month. When he won the British No. 1 since September
all it takes is one week for Royal Birkdale. Dustin John- Jason Day ended last year Open down the coast at 2015 — that he could win
those odds to go back.” son, the No. 1 player in the at No. 1 in the world, and Royal Liverpool in 2014, the next two majors and still
He has been through these world, and Jordan Spieth then found himself emo- McIlroy mentioned an ad- probably not reach John-
mini-slumps more than have taken turns as the fa- tionally wrapped up in age he first heard from Tom son at the top of the rank-
once in the 10 years since vorite by the bookies. Right tending to his mother, who Weiskopf. When a player is ing.
he first played the British behind them is Jon Rahm, was diagnosed with lung going well, he can’t imag- His odds would certainly
Open at Carnoustie. McIl- the dynamic 22-year-old cancer. ine what it was like to play get better, just like when
roy missed four of five cuts from Spain who already McIlroy wouldn’t have seen poorly. And when he’s he was the favorite at just
in 2012, including his title has won twice this year. this coming at the end of playing badly, he can’t about every major. He still
defense in the U.S. Open, Masters champion Sergio last year when he won the imagine what it was like to remembers those days.
and ended the summer by Garcia is right up there. FedEx Cup. play great. “When you ride on the
winning the PGA Champi- There is no clear favorite. “But these things sort of So where is he now? crest of a wave, it’s easy to
onship to return to No. 1 in There is no clear plot that is crop up out of nowhere “I feel like I can hit the ball get caught up with those
the world. any different from the pre- and they challenge us,” he in the fairway, and from expectations and you start
This one has been the most vious few majors, except said. there I can hit the ball on believing them,” he said.
aggravating because it in- for the U.S. Open held on a Maybe it’s one shot, one the green,” McIlroy said. “When I won those three
volves injury. new course in Wisconsin. round, one week to get “And if I get my line, I can tournaments in ‘14 and
The hairline rib fracture he Johnson was close to being that spark. That’s what put the ball in the hole from I was where I was in the
suffered in January during a dominant figure when he Johnson is looking for since there. So it’s not bad. It’s game, of course I thought,
the South African Open is won three straight tourna- his return from back injury. not as if I can’t see myself ‘OK, I really can keep this
no longer an issue, but it ments against the strongest “It’s taken me a long time shooting a good score. It’s going.’q

Pliskova, Murray lead direct-entry

fields for U.S. Open

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (AP) — Muguruza, Petra Kvitova, Sloane Stephens, Anna-
New WTA No. 1 Karolina Francesca Schiavone, Vic- Lena Friedsam, Alja Toml-
Pliskova and top-ranked toria Azarenka and Jelena janovic and Sabine Lisicki
man Andy Murray head- Ostapenko. There are 13 used a special ranking to
line the direct entry lists for Americans among the 99 get into the main draw.
the U.S. Open. Pliskova, the women receiving direct Murray, who won his first
2016 runner-up at Flushing entry, more than any other major title at the U.S. Open
Meadows, is joined by four country. Six-time U.S. Open in 2012, is joined by these
past U.S. Open champions: champion Serena Williams other past champs in the
Angelique Kerber, Venus (pregnant) and Bethanie field: Roger Federer, Ra-
Williams, Sam Stosur and Mattek-Sands (knee sur- fael Nadal, Novak Djokov- In this Tuesday, July 4, 2017 file photo Czech Republic’s Karolina
Svetlana Kuznetsova. Other gery) are among the wom- ic, Stan Wawrinka, Marin Pliskova celebrates after beating Russia’s Evgeniya Rodina dur-
past Grand Slam cham- en who will not be compet- Cilic and Juan Martin del ing their Women’s Singles Match on day two at the Wimbledon
pions in the field: Garbine ing in New York. Azarenka, Potro.q Tennis Championships in London.