Why we shouldn’t worry about Rory

On Saturday evening, fresh from a third round that meant he would go into the final round of the Masters with a four stroke lead, Rory McIlroy was interviewed by the BBC.

As is his way, he gave a candid and charming interview about the position he was in. Hazel Irvine – the BBC’s golf anchor – then reminded the young Irishman of all the support he was getting back home. ‘Andy Murray has also been on Twitter wishing you well’.

How Britain’s number one tennis player must be sympathising with him right now.

There couldn’t have been anyone watching who has played the game at any level who couldn’t appreciate the collapse McIlroy suffered, missing tiddler putts as he tried to put a bad hole to the back of his mind. Peter Aliss said McIlroy’s brain would be feeling like guacamole, and that’s exactly what it looked like was happening.

But I wouldn’t worry. The only question mark I see is with his choice of caddy. Here, more than ever, was a situation where McIlroy needed to be told to focus, carry on and concentrate on the opportunities he could create over the further eight holes – two of which were par fives well within his range. Easier said than done, of course.

He would do well to keep tabs on Ronan Flood, currently Padraig Harrington’s bag man. He was credited with keeping Harrington on the straight and narrow as he came back from the disappointment of a double-bogey six on the final hole of the 2007 Open which left Sergio Garcia a par away from winning. Garcia missed the putt and Harrington – with the help of Flood – regrouped to win a four-hole play-off.

But that would be my only immediate worry. McIlroy says it will only bother him for a few days and I believe him. That is the attitude of a 21 year old. Many comparisons have been made with Greg Norman’s collapse in 1996, but he was 41 when he capitulated and probably realised his last chance was gone.

A lot of nonsense has been written about how this will affect McIlroy, regardless of what he has gone on record as saying. I, for one, don’t have any worries. He isn’t the first to blow a lead in the final round of a major. Nick Watney (three up going into final round of the USPGA) and Dustin Johnson (again, a three shot lead going into final round of the US Open) did it only last year. He won’t be the last either.

And who won the WGC-Cadillac Championship at Doral in March? Yep, Nick Watney. Runner up? Dustin Johnson. Didn’t seem to affect them, did it? Golfers get used to losing – they do it all the time, even if they are good.

McIlroy will get over this and will win a major. Boss of the Moss is backing him to go close around Royal St George’s at The Open in July. Links golf is where he can find his redemption.