[intro music] >>Brandon Tonkovich: Hey, everyone. Brandon Tonkovich here with Golf Galaxy. Today, we’ve got exclusive access with Rory
McIlroy. Come check it out. >>Tonkovich: All right, Rory. So, we got a par 3 in front of us here. We’re about 192, 193. Obviously, we’ve got some trouble short,
trouble right. Just kind of talk to us about what you’re
thinking about how you’re going to execute the shot. >>Rory McIlroy: Yeah. So, I’ll just say that we’ve got, like,
yeah, it’s, you know, plan low 190s. Massive green pins tucked on the right side. You know, for me, looking at this, you know,
my eyes always go towards the bigger target.
So, the fat part of the green, you know, over
on the left side here. And for me, you know, I always want to try
to hit something into the sort of middle of the green and I try to work it back to the
pin so that if it doesn’t work back to the pin, it’s still going to be in the middle
of the green and I’ll have a putt for birdie. You know, what I like- you know, I see, you
know, looking at the clouds – the wind is a little bit off the right. So, you know, I can try and sort of hold this
against the wind and get it back there. So, I’m taking the club that I know is definitely
going to get there. If anything, it could go a little long. But if I sort of, you know, hold it against
the wind, it should take a few yards off and it should be perfect. >>Tonkovich: Yeah. Let’s see it. Oh, yeah.
Great shot. Nice ball. >>McIlroy: Yeah. A little right of where I wanted…[Chuckle]…but
it worked out pretty good. >>Tonkovich: To the right, but now you’re
safe. >>McIlroy: Yes. >>Tonkovich: All right. So, what are you doing now to fill your time
kind of away from golfing between the off-season? >>McIlroy: Yeah. >>Tonkovich: I know you’re working out,
getting in shape. But what do you like to do for fun? Just relax? >>McIlroy: Yeah. I mean, you know, I’ve started to play a
lot more tennis again. We moved into a new house and we’ve got
a tennis court and I bought a ball machine. >>Tonkovich: Yeah? >>McIlroy: And I’ve been, like- it holds
200 balls and I’ve been out there grinding most days that I’ve been off and trying
to work on my backhand.
And it’s so good. I mean, I was never- I never really knew how
good ball machines are, but you don’t have to rely on anyone to feed you or to come over
and play with you. It’s just, yeah, you know, I set this thing
up and just get these balls going to my backhand and just work on a few things. And so, I’ve been playing a lot of tennis,
which has been- it’s been a nice escape from golf. >>Tonkovich: Good. >>McIlroy: Yeah. >>Tonkovich: Yeah, that’s good stuff. So, kind of walk me through the approach you
take in reading putts. You hit a great shot in here… >>McIlroy: Yeah. >>Tonkovich: …you got a good birdie look. >>McIlroy: So, I think- I’ve been playing
this game my whole life. Subconsciously, I think as soon as I start
getting up to the green, I’m scanning, right? >>Tonkovich: Yep. >>McIlroy: I’m- hey, where are the slopes
coming from, you know, what I may see in this putt and even walking up to this putt, I know
that it’s going to be a right to left putt.
It looks a little uphill. So, I have a fair idea of what it’s going
to do. >>Tonkovich: Mm-hmm. >>McIlroy: But then, once you get to your
ball, that’s when you can sort of go into detail, like, okay, you know, how much is
it going to break? You know, how slow is it going to be? And sort of really get into it. But I always try to- I like to have a general
idea of what the putt is going to do before I start my read. And, you know, so it’s a, you know, it’s
a guide. >>Tonkovich: Sure. >>McIlroy: It’s a rough guide of, you know,
what it is going to do. And then you sort of dial it in from there.
>>Tonkovich: Good, good. Are you a pin-in or pin-out guy? >>McIlroy: Oh, pin-out. >>Tonkovich: Yeah, I’ll get it for you. >>McIlroy: Yeah. >>Tonkovich: All right. >>McIlroy: McIlroy: It’s been a- it’s
obviously a big debate in golf right now. >>Tonkovich: It is. >>McIlroy: McIlroy: Yeah, so me, for what
I like to do when I’m reading a putt is while I know this is right to left, but if
I know that it looks like a more of a constant slope, like, there’s not two different sort
of slopes within the putt… >>Tonkovich: Mm-hmm.
>>McIlroy: McIlroy:…I sort of like to visualize
if I started this ball straight at the middle of the hole… >>Tonkovich: Mm-hmm. >>McIlroy: McIlroy:…high far left to the
hole would have missed. I think if I started this straight at the
hole, that ball would miss somewhere around here. >>Tonkovich: Yeah. >>McIlroy: So then, to me, that means that,
okay, if I want this ball to go in the middle of the hole, I should go somewhere here, right? >>Tonkovich: Sure. >>McIlroy: Just sort of a difference on the
other side. So, that’s how I try to- if it’s just
a one constant slope, that’s how I read a putt. So, I sort of think this is like a cup and
a half, right to left, a little bit uphill. I can kind of keep the speed on it.
So then, I’ll- what I’ll try to do is
pick an intermediate target so I can aim at that. And then I’ll pick it, I go in. Got my spot right there. Isn’t that cool? [Crosstalk] >>Tonkovich: Yeah, great putt. >>McIlroy: There you go. >>Tonkovich: Roll. Easy as that. >>McIlroy: Perfect. >>Tonkovich: Nice birdie. >>McIlroy: Thank you. >>Tonkovich: Well done. Nice little tee shot on this next hole here. >>McIlroy: Okay. >>Tonkovich: Pretty. You got bunkers down both sides, woods left. A little par 4. >>McIlroy: Is it up here? >>Tonkovich: This is us here, yeah. >>McIlroy: Yeah, nice hole. Short 40. >>Tonkovich: Yep. All right. So, we got shortish par 4. >>McIlroy: Yeah. >>Tonkovich: Some trouble down the left. We’ve got fairway bunkers and out-of-bounds
on the left. >>McIlroy: Yes. >>Tonkovich: Big fairway bunker down the right. Kind of talk me through what you see here
and what you’re thinking. >>McIlroy: The tee box is sort of aiming me
down the right side here, which is nice.
It’s pointing in a direction that you sort
of want to go. For me, what it looks like, what I want to
try to do here – just like the last hole, the par 3, where I was trying to hit a cut
into that – I’m always trying to hit a shot where if I hit a straight shot where
I’m aiming, it’s not going to be much trouble. >>Tonkovich: Mm-hmm. >>McIlroy: So, for me, I rather aim this sort
of on the right side, sort of at the left edge up the right bunker. >>Tonkovich: Yep. >>McIlroy: And the wind, again, is a little
off the right. If I can hit a solid drive and let the wind
just move it a little left onto the fairway, it sort of follows the shape of the hole and,
you know, I should be in good shape to, you know, have a nice approach in.
>>Tonkovich: All right, great. Let’s see it. >>McIlroy: Not best. All right. Oof. >>Tonkovich: All right, Rory. So, hit a good drive right down the middle
here. We’ve got about 104 to the flag. >>McIlroy: Yep. >>Tonkovich: It looks like the pin is way
out of the left, right over a bunker. >>McIlroy: Yeah.
>>Tonkovich: Kind of talk me through your
approach to this shot. >>McIlroy: Yeah, so, sometimes it’s difficult. Whenever, you know, you know what the
yardage is and you know where the pin is on the green, but you can’t see the bottom
of the flag – I think sometimes that can be a little tricky, you know, right? I think it’s a lot easier to see where you
really want the ball to land, where a shot like this we’re not able to see where that
ball lands. So, that’s where it really comes into knowing
how far you hit every club, trusting your numbers.
And that’s been a big thing I’ve worked
on this year is just really trying to get my yardages dialed in with my wedges. At 104, for me, is, you know, I need to take
a little bit off a sand wedge, ‘cause it should be a good number for that. >>Tonkovich: Great, great. Like a good one. >>McIlroy: I think so.
>>Tonkovich: Yeah. >>McIlroy: Okay. If I started this ball straight in the middle
of the cup, where would it actually finish? And that sort of gives me a decent idea of
how far out I need to hit it. >>Tonkovich: Mm-hmm. >>McIlroy: So, to me, if I started this straight,
it’s going to finish a good six inches right to the hole. So, I think I’m going to have to, you know,
I’m hitting this nearly half a foot.
I’ve got a pretty good target here of where
I want this ball to start. And I know I need to keep the speed on it
as well. So, I’m going to hit it pretty hard. >>Tonkovich: All right. >>McIlroy: It’s not a good target. >>Tonkovich: Just roll it in. >>McIlroy: Not enough! >>Tonkovich: Ooo. >>McIlroy: Ahh. Nearly. >>Tonkovich: Yeah, good par. >>McIlroy: Yeah, thanks. >>Tonkovich: Good par. >>McIlroy: Really a birdie. But, yeah, that’s the thing. Sometimes overall, you just got to trust that
the ball is going to break as much it is. I think of when I play with a lot of amateurs
and they ask me to read putts, I usually read double the amount of break that they do.
>>Tonkovich: Sure. >>McIlroy: They always- I feel like every
amateur and a lot of pros, as well, we underread putts. >>Tonkovich: Hmm. >>McIlroy: We don’t give them enough break
and, you know, you much rather- if you’re going to miss, you much rather miss on the
high side. >>Tonkovich: Sure. >>McIlroy: I mean, at least the ball has got
a chance to break into the hole, so. >>Tonkovich: Absolutely. >>McIlroy: You know, I knew three feet out
that that ball wasn’t going to go in.
>>Tonkovich: Yeah. >>McIlroy: You know, you much rather be on
the high side than the low side. >>Tonkovich: For sure. It’s good. >>McIlroy: How are you doing? >>Male: How are ya? >>McIlroy: Good, thanks. >>Tonkovich: When you got over, coming off
your golf and you first, you know, hit the tour and maybe won your first big paycheck
or something, what did you treat yourself with? >>McIlroy: For me, I always thought, like,
the real, like, epitome of success was a Ferrari. >>Tonkovich: Yeah. >>McIlroy: Like, I just wanted a Ferrari so
bad. And when I won my first tournament in Dubai,
I was 19 years old and the first thing I did was go onto, like, a website and be, like,
right, “I’m getting myself one” So…[Chuckle] >>Tonkovich: All right, Rory. So, we’ve got a par 5 here.
>>McIlroy: Yes. >>Tonkovich: It’s about 575… >>McIlroy: Okay. >>Tonkovich: …from here. So, kind of just take us through your approach
on how you’re going to play this hole here on the par 5. >>McIlroy: You know, as you can see – it’s
pretty generous off the tee. >>Tonkovich: Yep. >>McIlroy: Wind is sort of helping a little
out of the left. You know, I’ll probably try to aim something
right up the middle of the fairway, head a little draw against the wind, you know, and
hopefully, it’ll hold there. And, you know, if I, you know, make a good
swing, you know, get it right there – I should have a good chance to get to the green,
too. >>Tonkovich: All right. Let’s see it. A beauty. Right down the middle, good swing. >>McIlroy: Thank you. >>Tonkovich: I know we talked a lot about
your driver back there, but I’ve been so impressed with how you’ve been rolling the
ball, putting. >>McIlroy: Yeah. >>Tonkovich: You started working with Brad
Faxon, right? >>McIlroy: Yeah.
>>Tonkovich: A little bit. >>McIlroy: Yeah, so, Fax and I- it’s more
of a- I wouldn’t say it’s a player/coach relationship. It’s more of a friendship. >>Tonkovich: Yeah. >>McIlroy: And, you know, it’s more of we
catch up every time. We live 10 minutes from each other. Some of the best putting lessons I’ve had
with Brad have not even been on the putting green. >>Tonkovich: Really? >>McIlroy: It’s been talking. It’s been having a coffee and chatting about
stuff. >>Tonkovich: Sure. >>McIlroy: You know, mentally, he was very
good on the greens and it’s just been a change in mindset that’s really helped me
to, you know, it’s been a lot of acceptance.
You know, if I hit a putt, it’s a good putt,
but it doesn’t go in – you know, that’s all I can do. >>Tonkovich: Yeah. >>McIlroy: All I can do is hit a good putt
and if it goes in, it goes in. If it doesn’t, you know, try again on the
next putt. All right. >>Tonkovich: All right. So, another good drive right in the middle. >>McIlroy: Yeah.
>>Tonkovich: You’ve got about 263 to the
flag. >>McIlroy: Yeah. >>Tonkovich: 275 back. 248 to the front. See what you’re thinking into this hole
here. >>McIlroy: Yeah, so, again, like, it looks
like the pin is, like, way over on the right side of the green. It’s 275 to the back. It’s sort of right in between a 5-wood and
a 3-wood for me. I could probably use a 5-wood yardage. But just where the pin is and stuff, I’m
going to try to cut a 3-wood in. >>Tonkovich: Okay. >>McIlroy: Sort of really try to shape one
in there. I think it’s probably the easiest way for
me to get this ball close. >>Tonkovich: All right. Let’s do it. Great one there. >>McIlroy: Go, just a bit, I think. >>Tonkovich: All right. Pretty good swing. >>McIlroy: You think? >>Tonkovich: Yeah. I think it’s good. >>McIlroy: Let’s see. >>Tonkovich: Let’s go check it out. >>McIlroy: Yeah. >>Tonkovich: How do you go about practicing
wedges, short game, in particular, to dial in all those different swings? Is it just a feel of how far you’re going
back? >>McIlroy: It’s a- yeah, I think… So, there’s two different ways to it.
It’s you- you control it by your length
of the swing or the speed of the swing. >>Tonkovich: Mm-hmm. >>McIlroy: And it really depends on what you’re
most comfortable with. I find that
sometimes, for me, trying to control the speed isn’t one of my strong points. So, I try to swing with the same acceleration
through the ball but with just length of swings and that seems to work a little bit better
for me. >>Tonkovich: Good. >>McIlroy: And then I feel. Just go on, you know, track that and just
feel like dial it in… >>Tonkovich: Sure. >>McIlroy: …and try to do it that way. >>Tonkovich: Sure. All right, Rory. So, you cut a nice little 3-wood in here,
came up just short of the flag. Got a little pitch shot in front of you. So, kind of walk me through how you’re going
to approach this shot for eagle here.
>>McIlroy: Yeah. I just came up a little bit short. You know, it’s Bermuda rough. Sometimes it can be a little bit unpredictable. So, I think, for me, what I try to do is with
Bermuda rough, I try open the club face up quite a lot but then keep the speed on it
on the way through. So, you know, you can hit it hard enough,
but you’ve got enough loft on it that it’s not really going to get away from you too
much. So, yeah, so really try to open it up. Try to get a little bit of speed on it. I don’t have that much room to work with
in terms of green, but I still want to… With the way I see this shot, I still want
to land this ball on the green. >>Tonkovich: Gotcha. >>McIlroy: Let’s see if I can practice what
I preach.
Just how I drew it up, go! Get in. >>Tonkovich: Ahh, great shot. >>McIlroy: Thank you. >>Tonkovich: Nicely done. >>McIlroy: Thank you very much. >>Tonkovich: Yeah. Let’s clean this one up real quick here. >>McIlroy: Yep. I could leave the pit in for this one. >>Tonkovich: Yes, you can. [Laughter] >>McIlroy: I don’t mind that. >>Tonkovich: All right. >>McIlroy: That’s easy. >>Tonkovich: All right. Great birdie. >>McIlroy: Yeah, thanks. >>Tonkovich: Thanks very much. It’s great of you…[Crosstalk] >>McIlroy: My pleasure. >>Tonkovich: …come out and play a few holes
with us. >>McIlroy: Yeah, I know. >>Tonkovich: Good luck this season. >>McIlroy: No, it was great. Thank you very much. >>Tonkovich: Thank you very much. [outro music].