2026-02-01 12:34:07
Rory McIlroy could “struggle to motivate” himself this year, Sky Sports golf expert Wayne Riley believes.
The Northern Irish golfer completed the career Grand Slam with his victory at The Masters last year and ‘Radar’ is interested to see how McIlroy approaches 2026 safe in the knowledge that he has accomplished everything he dreamed of in the sport.
Writing in his column for Golf Monthly magazine, Riley said: “I’m really intrigued to see how 2026 pans out for McIlroy.
“I think he’ll either play brilliant, pressure-free golf and win a lot of titles or struggle to motivate himself now he’s achieved his career goals. I can’t see much of a middle ground.
“I hope it’s the former scenario as professional golf needs a firing McIlroy right now.”
The former European Tour golfer is tipping McIlroy to win another major at the US PGA Championship, as he feels that the Aronimink course in Pennsylvania will suit the world number two’s game perfectly.
Riley said: “I do think we’ll see him claim the Wanamaker Trophy in May.
“I covered the 2018 BMW PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club and it’s a big property with wide fairways – it feels like the archetypal US PGA layout. It’s a course where the big hitters will rise to the top and there are very few, if any, above Rory on that list.”
McIlroy recently set himself the targets of winning an Olympic medal, The Open Championship at St Andrews and a US Open at a “traditional course” such as Pebble Beach.
The five-time major champion said: “Olympic medal. Open at St Andrews. Maybe a US Open at one of those like old, traditional golf courses whether it’s Shinnecock this year or Winged Foot or Pebble Beach, Merion.
“I would have told you two years ago, if I won The Masters, it would have been great, and I could have retired or whatever. But when you keep doing things, the goal posts keep moving, and you just keep finding new things that you want to do.”
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