Rory McIlroy seemed to have a slight hangover from his PGA Championship victory two weeks ago, never getting himself into contention this week at The Barclays Championship at Bethpage Black.
McIlroy finished 1-under and now plans to hang out in New York for a few days to visit with his tennis star girlfriend, Caroline Wozniacki, who is playing in the U.S. Open.
“I feel like I hit the ball very well from tee to green. My putting just sort of let me down on the weekend,’’ McIlroy said. “The putter just wasn’t working throughout the week. That was the biggest disappointment. I felt like I played well enough to be in contention.’’
McIlroy said he plans to go to Boston for the Deutsche Bank on Wednesday night in time to play the Thursday pro-am. The tournament starts Friday.
* Sergio Garcia, who has taken his share of verbal jabs from the crowds at Bethpage Black, said he thought the venue would be a perfect place for a Ryder Cup — with a caveat.
“It could be a great for the Ryder Cup if you keep the right attitude and be respectful of all the players,’’ said Garcia. “These are probably the best crowds in America for golf. But if they go a little bit overboard then it could get over the top. But I think this place would be a great place for a Ryder Cup.’’
There has been speculation inside golf circles that Phil Mickelson, whose world-wide popularity is at its peak with New Yorkers, would be the perfect captain for a Bethpage Black Ryder Cup.
Much the way he felt about being inducted into the Golf Hall of Fame earlier this year, Mickelson, 42, is too focused on competing and trying to win majors to fathom the thought of being a Ryder Cup captain, though there are those who know him who believe captaining at Bethpage might entice him.
The Ryder Cup sites are booked through 2020 at Whistling Straits. That would mean the earliest Bethpage could host one would be 2024 when Mickelson is 54.
* Padraig Harrington, who began the week taking the first-round lead with a 7-under 64, finished at 2-under and remains a long shot to be picked to the European Ryder Cup team by captain Jose Maria Olazabal.
Two weeks ago, Olazabal told reporters Harrington would have to do “something extraordinary’’ to be picked. Harrington tied for 19th.
Nick Watney has won five times on the PGA Tour and in all five of them, he’s come back to do it. Yesterday, he began two shots behind Garcia. … Low round of the day came from Graham DeLaet, who shot 65 to finish at 5-under.