GULLANE, Scotland — Two weeks ago, after Rory McIlroy missed the cut at the Irish Open, he spoke openly about how he felt “lost’’ with his game.
In the first round of the British Open yesterday at Muirfield, McIlroy looked the part — and then some — shooting an 8-over-par 79 that has left him with little realistic chance of making the 36-hole cut today.
“I can’t really fathom it at the minute,’’ McIlroy said.
What’s difficult to fathom is how a 34-year-old unknown qualifier from England named Richard McEvoy was six strokes better than McIlroy, who’s a two-time major championship winner and was ranked No. 1 in the world last year.
“It’s hard to stand up here and tell you guys [reporters] what’s really wrong,’’ McIlroy said. “It’s nothing to do with technique. It’s all mental out there. Sometimes I feel like I’m walking around out there unconscious.’’
McIlroy called his state of mind “brain-dead,’’ adding, “Seriously, I feel like I’ve been walking around out there like that for the last couple months. I’m trying to get out of it. I just don’t quite know why [it’s happening].’’
McIlroy has listened to recent criticisms and analysis about his focus — particularly from Nick Faldo — and insisted he is not distracted by outside interests.
“I’m fully focused on golf out there,’’ he said. “It’s a very alien feeling. This is just something I’ve never experienced before.’’
McIlroy, who has a spotty British Open record (20-over par in five starts), said he has not lost hope for making the cut with a super-low round today, calling it “very important’’ for him to make the cut.
For his part in criticizing McIlroy, Faldo, who is playing this week and shot the same score as McIlroy, tried to make it clear he is simply trying to help.
“I’m friends of Rory; don’t write it any other way,’’ Faldo said. “I’ve known him since he’s 12. I’m like big granddad, here, saying those things. I’m trying to give him a little caring, loving help here. I like the kid. He’s a friend. I can speak from experience. All I’m trying to say is I’ve been there, seen it, I know what can happen.
“As I said, right from the word go, I thought the equipment change [from Titleist to Nike] was very dangerous and trying to explain the feel factor, and feel his confidence.
“He looks [like] a different person, let alone a different golfer right now than when I saw him before [the] PGA [Championship last year] and he said, ‘Every part of my game is good.’ He wouldn’t say that now, would he?’’