Ho hum, Rory McIlroy got off to a sensational start at another tournament. Now, if he finishes what he started, that will be news.
Rory McIlroy suffering from Tiger Woods syndrome?
McIlroy set a course record with an opening-round of 7-under 64 Thursday at the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open - a round that included a 436-yard drive on the 13th hole.
McIlroy has a one-stroke lead over Ricardo Gonzalez and Kristoffer Broberg. All three broke the previous course record of 66
But as the Irish Examiner reports, McIlroy's history of scintillating single rounds during events does not necessarily translate into victories.
Rory McIlroy better at compartmentalizing than Phil Mickelson?
"To cite a few examples, there is a first round course record 63 at the 2008 European Masters but he followed that with a 71 to finish runner-up while he famously set a new Old Course low, also of 63, in the 2010 British Open but came out a day later and recorded an 80," the Irish Examiner reported.
"More recently, he signed off for a 63 in this year's 25th anniversary Dubai Desert Classic but then backed that up with a day-two 70 to finish the week tied (for) ninth.
"In the States, McIlroy's lowest opening scores include a first day 64 to win the 2012 BMW Championship and a pair of 63s he recorded earlier this year at the Honda Classic and the Memorial. However he eventually lost out in a play-off at the Honda and faded badly on day two in Dublin, Ohio with a second round 78 and end tied for 15th.
His one tournament win this year - at the BMW PGA Championship in Surrey, England, McIlroy rallied from a seven-stroke deficit entering the final round, thanks to a 6-under 66 on Sunday.
"It's more mental than anything else," he said, according to the Irish Examiner. "Every time I have played well or had success my mind hasn't been too much on the leaderboard or too much on my position in the tournament.
"Where I feel I've gotten myself into the lead or I shoot 63 like I did in the Memorial or I'm in the top-10 going into a weekend at the US Open or whatever, I've sort of focused a little too much on that part of it. So tomorrow I am going to really focus on trying to keep the lead and just play a solid round of golf."
With the British Open taking place next week, McIroy's priority might be just to make sure his game is ready, rather than winning this week.
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