In the eight years since he last won a major, the sport has chosen to define greatness as the fact that he hasn't won in a while. He has found success on the Tour, but a return to glory is something he has yet to achieve. There is a chance that this weekend will change that. After a big win at the Canadian Open last weekend, the four-time major champion, once hailed as the next Tiger Woods, may have finally found the fire he's been looking for to put him back over the edge once again. He became the fourth player in history to win four majors by the age of 25, but he has struggled to maintain that level of play. His prayers may be answered by LIV Golf.
He said last weekend that the first LIV tournament in London doesn't mean anything apart from collecting a ton of money. He wrote himself in as one of the heroes of the story, which is a classic example of good vs. evil. To win the faceoff at the U.S. Open, the good guys have to beat the bad guys.
The opening-round 67 was the best score of the day, but it was also the most emotional of the day, as he showed his frustration with a bad shot. With all the talk about meaningfulness, this head-to-head clash on the same course as the LIV golfers, sports-movie style, must mean a lot toRory.
Is it important if a LIV golfer wins this? If a golfer who hasn't spoken out wins over a vocal anti-LIV advocate. There is a narrative to be written here, particularly when keeping in mind the Drive to Survive-style show being made this season that is following select golfers along the PGA Tour, and several of whom are currently suspended because of their involvement with LIV.
It's almost certain that it matters to McIlroy, who has made LIV out to be the villain and placed himself as the face of the PGA in this story. He placed himself as a direct foil toDustin Johnson, who abandoned his sponsor in their event to play at the first LIV event.
If we are being realistic, the majors are the real battle ground, and right now, it is the only one. For the first time in nearly a decade, he may find himself back in the fold of his sport's elite for the first time in his career with a fifth major.
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