Rory McIlroy shows true colours after brutal run with another chance to end cruel streak

Rory McIlroy has shown his fortitude astatine Wentworth by putting himself successful contention for triumph again aft enduring different cruel section successful his heartbreaking play past week astatine the Irish Open

Rory McIlroy insists helium has taken the assemblage blows of a brutal play successful his stride arsenic helium vies to enactment a summertime of wounded down him astatine Wentworth connected Sunday.

The 35-year-old carded a six-under-par 65 connected Saturday to determination to 15-under and a stock of 2nd spot astatine the BMW PGA Championship, 3 shots adrift of person Matteo Manassero. McIlroy has produced a stellar effect successful Surrey aft missing retired connected triumph astatine the Irish Open past week, erstwhile 2 precocious final-round bogeys allowed Rasmus Hojgaard to triumph by a azygous shot.

The conclusion astatine Royal County Down continued a cruel play for McIlroy, who has not won since missing retired connected US Open glory successful June aft a dramatic illness astatine Pinehurst No. 2. The Ulsterman besides missed retired connected an Olympic medal successful Paris aft coming unstuck connected the backmost 9 successful the last round.

The world No. 3 prides himself connected his warring spirit, and helium says the harsh results of this play person not affected him arsenic overmuch arsenic radical mightiness assume. He says helium is "due" a triumph soon.

"I support saying immoderate radical deliberation I took it harder than I really did," McIlroy said aft his 3rd round. "I'm playing well. I'm moving connected my game. I'm going immoderate bully practise portion I'm here. Trying to instrumentality to what I know, which is going retired determination and trying to sprout the champion scores that I perchance tin and spot wherever it leaves maine astatine the extremity of the week.

"I deliberation it's been a acquainted communicative with my career. I person setbacks and I usually travel backmost beauteous good from them. Some are harder than others, obviously, but I deliberation successful this crippled you person to beryllium resilient.

"You person to recognize and recognise that you're going to suffer a batch much than you win, and you person to beryllium good with that and you person to judge that. I've decidedly been connected that accepting broadside this year, but it's bully to beryllium backmost successful the mix.

"I haven't won since whitethorn but fixed myself plentifulness of chances. I'm owed but that doesn't mean it's needfully going to happen. I've ever liked being successful this position, a mates back, trying to get disconnected to a accelerated start. Hopefully I tin bash that and enactment immoderate unit connected aboriginal doors."

McIlroy – who volition walk his evening supporting Anthony Joshua successful his heavyweight rubric combat against Daniel Dubois from the beforehand enactment astatine Wembley Stadium – has fond memories of coming from down astatine Wentworth, overturning a seven-shot shortage successful the last circular to assistance the trophy 10 years ago.

"I don't person to travel from 7 backmost tomorrow, conscionable three," McIlroy said. "Hopefully spot what Matteo is doing arsenic good and hopefully beryllium the successful last radical with them. It's inactive a pugnacious task, particularly with however bully he's playing. But if I get disconnected to a accelerated start, it's crippled on."