McIlroy Needs a 62 to Win The Open

Rory McIlroy has struggled to find his best form at Royal Birkdale this week, posting rounds of 72, 67 and 69. The 37‑year‑old sits two‑under par after three rounds, a far cry from the high expectations he entered The Open with. He admitted he simply hasn’t played much over the past two months, a slump evident in his recent four or five tournaments. The Northern Irish champion has yet to rediscover the sharpness that made him a major contender earlier in his career.

McIlroy set a modest goal of shooting 66 on Saturday, but ended up with a 69, falling short of his target. He explained that if he had managed a five‑under total after his round, putting him three strokes behind leader Ryan Fox, he would have felt more confident about his chances. The gap left him feeling “probably a little too far back” heading into the final day. Can he still close the gap and claim the title? His outlook remains cautiously optimistic.

McIlroy’s Struggling Open Performance

The Open is not delivering the usual fireworks from McIlroy, who has not performed at his peak in recent events. His rounds show inconsistency, with the first and third rounds particularly disappointing. The lack of recent competitive play appears to have cost him feel and rhythm. Even his respectable 67 shows that he can still fire, but the overall pattern suggests he is out of sync.

Can McIlroy Still Claim The Open Title?

In a candid post‑round interview, McIlroy addressed his lingering hopes. “Yeah, I’m probably, you know, I think if I could have got in today at five-under for the tournament, three behind Foxy, I feel like I would have had more of a chance,” he replied. “We’ll see. I’ll be out early enough again tomorrow and see what happens. But probably a little too far back.” To mount a comeback, he will need to post something extraordinary on Sunday. The leaderboard shows a steep hill to climb, but McIlroy insists he is more than capable of the leap.

To succeed, McIlroy must match the electrifying 62 that Ryan Fox posted earlier in the week. Birkdale has already seen several 62s, highlighting how aggressive the course can be under the right conditions. The leader’s round was described as “a hell of a round” despite benign winds and quiet conditions. McIlroy knows he will have to eclipse that performance to stay in contention.

McIlroy on Fox’s 62 and His Own Chances

When asked about Fox’s scintillating 62, McIlroy offered insight into what it takes to nail such a score. “I think the first thing is you have to be in the fairway to then be able to impart enough spin on the ball to access the pins,” he said. He also praised the variety Fox displayed, noting the need for precise trajectory, whether high approach shots or wedge skips. “Foxy flights the ball as well as anyone out here,” McIlroy added, calling the effort “really impressive.”

Now McIlroy faces the daunting task of matching that 62 on Sunday if he hopes to keep the title alive. The pressure is high, but his own capability suggests it is not impossible. He knows the course can swallow up scores, and he is ready to try anything to get back into the mix. The final round will be a test of skill, mental fortitude, and a bit of luck.

Rory McIlroy has been nowhere near his best during the first three rounds of The Open this week.

McIlroy has shot rounds of 72, 67 and 69, and he currently sits at two-under par through three rounds of The Open.

Advertisement

The 37-year-old simply hasn’t played much over the past two months and that has shown over his previous four or five tournaments.

Despite that, Rory McIlroy entered the week at The Open with high hopes.

However, he has flattered to deceive for the most part at Royal Birkdale.

McIlroy set himself a target of shooting 66 at worst on Saturday at The Open, but he had to make do with a 69 in the end.

Can he still win, though?

Rory McIlroy responds when asked if he can still win The Open

McIlroy spoke to reporters after his third round at Royal Birkdale on Saturday.

The Northern Irishman was asked whether he believes he can still win despite the huge deficit that he will have to overcome on Sunday.

Advertisement

“Yeah, I’m probably, you know, I think if I could have got in today at five-under for the tournament, three behind Foxy, I feel like I would have had more of a chance,“ he replied.

“We’ll see. I’ll be out early enough again tomorrow and see what happens.

“But probably a little too far back.“

McIlroy will have to go seriously low on Sunday if he is to have any chance whatsoever of winning The Open, but he’s certainly more than capable.

62 has been shot multiple times already this week at Birkdale, so why can’t McIlroy do it?

Rory McIlroy reacts to Ryan Fox’s 62 at The Open

McIlroy responded when asked what he made of Ryan Fox’s scintillating 62 on Saturday.

Advertisement

“I think the first thing is you have to be in the fairway to then be able to impart enough spin on the ball to access the pins,“ McIlroy said.

“But then you have to hit the ball with the right trajectory, whether it’s hitting it high into some holes or maybe hitting wedge shots that sort of skip up the green for you.

“I think with the approach shots this week, you’ve definitely had to show a lot of variety in your game and in your approach shots. Foxy flights the ball as well as anyone out here.

“Yeah, 62, he got — the wind wasn’t up and the conditions were quite benign this morning, but it was still a hell of a round. He’s got himself in the lead on his own, which we’ll see where it stands at the end of the day, but really impressive.“

Now Rory McIlroy will have to match that score at the very least on Sunday, if he is to put himself in the mix to win The Open.