Rory McIlroy Silent After Disappointing Saturday at British Open

After a hot start, McIlroy couldn’t find the bottom of the cup—and he didn’t want to talk about it.

Rory McIlroy might have been nine strokes back of British Open leader Brian Harman when Saturday’s round began, but with prime scoring conditions at Royal Liverpool, the door was open for the four-time major champion to make a move. 

Jon Rahm and Cameron Young did exactly that—shooting 63 and 66, respectively. But McIlroy, attempting to end a nine-year major championship drought, couldn’t find the bottom of the cup.

McIlroy posted a 2-under 69 on Saturday despite opening his round with some serious momentum: three seamless birdies in his first five holes. 

But after the third birdie at the par-5 5th, McIlroy failed to make another putt for the rest of the round, and carded a bogey on the par-4 12th. 

After signing his scorecard, the Northern Irishman declined to speak to the media about the round, but it isn’t difficult to figure out why. 

Rory’s declined all media after his round. TV, radio, the works.

— Michael McEwan (@MMcEwanGolf) July 22, 2023

McIlroy’s statistics tell the story: During his past two rounds at the Open, McIlroy hit 33 out of 36 greens in regulation, but only converted five birdies. 

He ranked 65th in strokes-gained putting on Saturday, losing almost two shots on the greens. In strokes-gained approach, however, McIlroy ranked second. McIlroy’s longest holed putt on Saturday was 10’5”.

Coming into the week, the golf world couldn’t have had higher expectations for McIlroy. He won in dramatic fashion last week at the Scottish Open, and last time the Open was hosted at Royal Liverpool in 2014, he clinched his third major victory. 

But after his lackluster performance on Saturday, it looks as though that excitement won’t materialize into McIlroy’s desired result. Heading into the final round of the Open, McIlroy still sits nine shots behind the dominant Brian Harman in a tie for 11th.