Golf: McIlroy says he's playing his best as rowdy Phoenix Open looms

SCOTTSDALE, Arizona – Top-ranked Rory McIlroy, fresh off a victory in Dubai, says he is playing the best golf of his career as he prepares to tee off on Thursday at the PGA Phoenix Open.

The 33-year-old Northern Ireland star beat Patrick Reed by one stroke two weeks ago for his third career Dubai title, then came home to push his game to a peak level.

“I don’t feel like I’ve ever been as complete of a player as I am right now,” McIlroy said on Wednesday.

“I feel like my base level now is just a little bit higher and a little more consistent.”

World No. 2 Scottie Scheffler, the reigning US Masters champion, and Spain’s third-ranked Jon Rahm, who won two PGA events last month, can overtake McIlroy for the top spot with top-two efforts this week.

Said Scheffler: ”Right now, I’m ranked No. 2, but I would say I’m not playing the second-best golf in the world. I think Rory and Jon are pretty much neck-and-neck for playing the best golf in the world right now... but I don’t like being No. 2. I’d rather be No. 1.”

But McIlroy says he feels like the world’s top player right now.

“I’m playing well. I feel like, consistency-wise, I’ve been as good as I’ve been ever in my career,” the four-time Major winner said.

“If you just look at my statistical categories, there’s no real glaring weaknesses there. I’ve worked really hard on that, to try to become a more well-rounded player. I think the results speak for themselves.”

McIlroy will have his first true taste of the rowdy Arizona desert crowd at TPC Scottsdale.

Only 5,000 spectators were allowed due to Covid-19 safety issues in 2021, his only previous appearance at Phoenix. More than that will scream from the par-three 16th “coliseum” holes surrounding grandstands this week.

“I haven’t had the full experience of this event yet,” McIlroy said. “I’m looking forward to it, but it’s going to be an experience.”

The Phoenix Open was made one of the PGA’s select tournaments with an elevated purse and commitments from most top players to appear, moves made to help keep players from bolting to the richer events of the Saudi-backed rival LIV Golf league.

“This tournament is a wonderful spectacle,” McIlroy said. “To have hundreds of thousands of fans at this event, I think it was obvious that this was one that needed to have that status.”

Rahm added: “I think this was a designated event before we ever knew what they were going to be.

“No matter what the purse is, this tournament is going to be what it is. Very few sporting events in the world can comfortably happen in the same week as the Super Bowl and still have the impact that they have like this one.”

Super Bowl LVII will take place on Sunday in Glendale, 12km away.

“With that said, I don’t think it’s everybody’s favourite,” Rahm added. “Either you love it or hate it. There’s no in between. With my case, I love it. I want to come every year.” AFP, REUTERS