The good problem driving Rory McIlroy on the road to the Ryder Cup

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A familiar feeling has consumed Rory McIlroy this year, as a now two-time Masters champion and holder of the career grand slam. The motivation to keep pushing, following the PGA Tour’s hibernation, or rather transformation, since the Tour Championship into the Fall Series.

Another Ryder Cup next year, this time on the Emerald Isle, undoubtedly lights a fire inside McIlroy and the pursuit of three consecutive victories under the leadership of Luke Donald, but until then and that majestic drive down Magnolia Lane in pursuit of a third green jacket, the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth is a convenient launchpad en route to Adare Manor.

“I find it pretty difficult [to motivate myself],” a candid McIlroy remarked. “I certainly found it difficult in ’25. I don’t think I found it as difficult this year, but there was still an underlying, not for the major championships, but for some of the other events that you feel like you’re just filling time to get to the next major championship in some ways, and that’s hard because you don’t want to feel like that.

“You want to bring the best of yourself every week, of course you do, but when you have success earlier in the year, sometimes it can lead to that, or it certainly led to that for me at times.

“But certainly I was better at it this year than I was last year. If I win the Masters again next year, hopefully I’m better at it next year. These are all good problems to have.”

A good problem indeed and while victory this week may not prompt McIlroy to cathartically sink to his knees, as he did so iconically at Augusta, a second title in what is close to being a home fixture would bring validation, particular during a time when he is tinkering with his swing and enduring mixed results, such as the tied-41st place at the Irish Open last week, 22 strokes behind winner Shane Lowry.

After victory here in 2014, the flagship tournament on the DP World Tour, now cosying up once more with the PGA Tour following the demise of LIV 1.0, has eluded McIlroy. The 37-year-old jokes with good friend Lowry about how his 2022 win, limited to just three rounds, might have slipped away with 18 more holes, as McIlroy finished just a stroke back in second.

After many of his European teammates sampled Adare Manor this week on a scouting mission, the hint of a US rivalry lines the Back 9 on the DP World Tour, with McIlroy’s rival Patrick Reed the front-runner in the Race to Dubai.

Now 840 points behind Reed, a late surge is required from McIlroy to clinch an eighth title at the Earth Course, adding motivation at just the right time to serve as a bridge to 2027.

“I’d love to give myself a chance again,” McIlroy added. “Last week wasn’t a great week for me in terms of the overall points. Patrick had a good week, and I didn’t have such a great week.

“I’m certainly motivated to play well for the rest of the year. Still working on some things in my swing, so just trying to have a balance between still keeping an eye on that but trying to play my best golf and give myself some chances to win.

“I think you always need an objective or a slightly longer term goal to then structure your practice and inform what you’re going to do. I think if there’s no real plan in place, you can get almost too curious and go down too many different avenues when looking on ways to improve.

“But I think if you have a clear goal or goals in mind, I think it makes everything – it would be hard if you’re practising and not really able to quantify if you’re moving towards that goal or if you’re getting further away from it. So I think that’s why – and I’ve always been a bit of a goal-setter anyway.”

Among the other stars this week, Jon Rahm remains calm amid a storm and “a long legal process” with LIV and where he will play in 2027.

But Wentworth brings a chance to add context to his game, up close with playing partners Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Rose, but also against an outstanding field that includes Brooks Koepka, Adam Scott, Matt Fitzpatrick, Tyrrell Hatton, Lowry, major winners this year Aaron Rai and Ryan Fox and the defending champion Alex Noren, who was also present at Adare Manor this week, where he will surely at least serve as an assistant captain.

“Nothing has changed” for Rahm and the situation with LIV 1.0, but Wentworth provides comfort after finishes of second, tied-second, fourth and tied-13th.

“I would say the essence of the game feels a little different to me just because of the type of golf being played,” Rahm concluded. “The variety of balls that you have out here is very, very special.

“What I said earlier, because ball striking is at such a premium, I think that’s why I’ve been able to do so well here.”